Adult animal stem cell transplant surgery for dogs.

The use of the science in animals is relatively new, but promising.

For most of his life, Max has lived with constant pain.

The 11-year-old Rottweiler-Labrador mix was hit by a car before his first birthday. A surgeon repaired his broken right hind leg using a pin that was too long.

Photo Credit: Art Gentile/Staff Photographer
11-year-old Rottweiler-Labrador mix (Max) being shaved pre-surgery.

As a result of the injury and surgery, Max developed osteoarthritis in his ankle and knee, which require daily doses of anti-inflammatory drugs. Still, his vet and owners believe that Max experiences significant discomfort from his old injury.

But soon he could be feeling like a new puppy again.

On Tuesday, Max underwent the first adult animal stem cell transplant performed in a Bucks County veterinarian’s office. The doctor removed fat tissue from Max, then extracted and activated millions of dormant stem cells, a process that takes four hours, before injecting them into the injury site.

If all goes as expected, Max should be feeling better today and his leg will continue improving during the upcoming weeks, said Dr. Przemyslaw Romiszewski, who performed the surgery at the Animal Medical Center in Buckingham.

Romiszewski called the stem cell transplant revolutionary.

“It’s a fantastic procedure,” he said. “The results, which I have seen with this procedure, are phenomenal.”

Adult stem cell replacement has been used in humans for more than 40 years, mainly through bone marrow transplantations as a treatment for blood cancers and blood disorders.

Stem cells are the building blocks for other cells, organs and tissue. The cells are undifferentiated, meaning they are “blank” with no specific function. Under proper conditions, stem cells begin to develop into specialized tissues and organs.

In humans, adult stem cells from liposuctioned adipose (fat) tissue are useful for reconstructive surgery, according to the medical community.

An ongoing approved clinical trial in Europe involves breast cancer patients using adipose-derived adult stem cells for breast reconstruction and interim results have been promising in growing new breast tissue.

Like with its human counterpart, adult animal stem cell technology uses the body’s regenerative healing process to grow new tissue, cartilage and bone.

The procedure is used on dogs, cats and horses with osteoarthritis, hip dysplasia and tendon and cartilage and fracture injuries and other degenerative diseases.

Check out the full story:
Adult animal stem cell transplant surgery for dogs.