ohmidog!

A German shepherd named Schultz has been having his own fat cells removed, shipped to San Diego to have the stem cells extracted, then having those injected back into his hips to treat dysplasia.

The experimental therapy, being tested by several veterinarians in western Pennsylvania, is promising, but expensive: Depending on how many joints need injections, the cost ranges from $2,400 to $3,000.

But, as veterinarian Mike Hutchinson, owner of Animal General, points out in a recent Pittsburgh Tribune-Review article, that’s still less than half the cost of hip replacement surgery.

“Basically, we make an incision behind the dog’s shoulder and take out a couple teaspoons of fat,” Hutchinson said  “We pack it up and ship it to Vet-Stem, they separate out the stem cells, send them back to us and we inject the cells back into the dog, where he needs them.”

Vet-Stem in San Diego says it has perfected its process of removing hundreds of thousands of adult stem cells from a few teaspoons of fat. Stem cells are found in many parts of the body and have the ability to turn into specialized cells that can repair injuries and replace damaged cells.

Typically, the fat is removed from an incision behind the dog’s front shoulder, and sent overnight to Vet-Stem. The company separates out the stem cells, puts them in ready-to-inject vials and mails them back to the vet, who then injects the cells into the dog’s joints to target problem areas, and circulates cells throughout the body through an IV.

The German shepherd’s owner, Goldie Demko, who adopted Schultz after someone left him tied behind an animal shelter in February 2001, considered hip replacement surgery, but decided it would be too traumatic for an 11-year-old old dog. Then she learned about the stem cell therapy at Animal General in Cranberry.

The fat stem cells appear to repair damaged joints and alleviate pain. A University of Pittsburgh researcher says the science behind the therapy is sound, but it could be several years before researchers have enough long-term data to offer such treatments to people.

Nationwide, 1,200 dogs have received the therapy, along with a smaller number of cats. For Schultz, who got his injection about three weeks ago, it seems to be working.

“I’d give Schultz my whole 401(k) if I had to, to keep him alive. He can have my pension check,” said Demko. “I can understand, though, where people could have a problem with it if they didn’t have that much money. But I’m retired, and I don’t go out much, so even though it’s expensive, I can do it.”