Dogs & Stem Cells
 

Topeka dogs aging backwards after stem cell procedure | KTKA.com

Topeka — Gunner is leading the way for dogs in pain to live a new life. His owner Carrie Hoffman says, "He's like a puppy again. I can't keep up with him. It's wonderful."

His buddy Sherman is proving you can't keep an old dog down. Sherman's owner Bruce Zimmerman says, "He's doing things that he hasn't done for a couple of years. Gets on the couch willingly."


Topeka dogs aging backwards after stem cell procedure
People call the University Animal Clinic to see if they can get the procedure done on themselves.
Both dogs were the first in the state of Kansas to have their own stem cells injected back into their bodies. Their owners say it seems as if the dogs are now aging backward.

Gunner used to drag his feet when he walked from pain in his joints. Now Hoffman says, "Our forth day after the procedure, he picked his feet up and he was prancing and later on that evening he decided to jump up on the sofa."

Sherman's arthritis was so bad he even had a hard time taking care of business. Zimmerman says, "I think it was around day 10, he actually stood on his left leg and peed and it was a pretty major event around our house."

Just one month after the procedure, their vet couldn't be more pleased. UAC Veterinarian Larry Snyder says, "We've been very impressed with what these dogs are doing. Neither dog seems to be in any pain, they're moving well. It's almost like somebody turned back the hands of time."

Both owners say this procedure was their dogs' last chance at a quality of life they deserve. Hoffman says, "It's like an answer to my prayers because he's my baby. He's my baby. He might be big, but he's my big baby."

The vet also noticed a growth on Sherman's nose has gotten visibly smaller since the procedure. He says they may not even know yet all of the benefits these dogs will see.

The University Animal Clinic is located at 2619 Southwest 17th Street in Topeka. You can reach them at (785) 233-3185.

Where'd they get the stem cells?

I asked the same question.

Who did you ask?

From the third paragraph above...

"...dogs were the first in the state of Kansas to have their own stem cells injected back into their bodies."

Now, see, I didn't read the text I just watched the video and clapped a lot.

Right, I got that part, but I didn't think that we (dogs included, most of us are just dogs at heart) have stem cells just hanging out in the stem cell lounge which is right next to pancreas. ;)

OK, my wife went to a bunch of school for this sort of thing, including graduate school. I just asked her. Normally, when you hear folks talking about stem cells, they are talking about fetal stem cells, stem cells from the cord blood or placenta. Most research uses fetal stem cells. But according to her, there are a lot of stem cells just hanging out. Essentially, they'll harvest a few, feed 'em, nurture 'em and breed 'em until you have a bunch.

I read an article a while back where scientists severed the spinal cord of rats, then injected them with stem cells. Apparently the spinal cord reattached and they regained use of their tiny little limbs.

Exactly. A friend of my dad's wouldn't have survived his fight with cancer if it hadn't been for a transplant of his own stem cells.

Oh, OK.

They get them from your Bone Marrow (or the Dog's bone marrow).

It's painful.

Blood cells are made in the marrow.

With Cancer, they take them out, radiate them to kill it, then destroy your immune system.

Then, they put the stem cells back in.

You are brand new. In fact, you have to get your immunizations all over again, even.

Called Autologous when you get your own, it's a transplant when you get someone else's.

A few years back (late 90's) there was a Nasdaq listed company taking stem cells from a newborns umbilical chord and storing it for use later in life. You don't hear as much about stem cell research much anymore.