Treatment: Police Dog Healed with Own Stem Cells |
Fat cells used to replenish muscle tissue |
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Editors published 2/10/2009 11:06:48 AM
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Cris, a Fremont PD police dog was given stem cell therapy to repair a torn muscle. Eleven weeks after Dr. Gary Brown, a veterinary surgeon, extracted the dog's own fat cells and injected them into Cris, the cells look like normal muscle.
Instead of surgery, Brown opted for an emerging treatment using Cris' own stem cells. After removing body fat from the stomach area, Brown sent them to a lab in San Diego which extracted the cells and returned them in less than 48 hours.
"So, we sterily injected an aliquot of stem cells next to the muscle at the injury, at the other side, and some of it intravenously through a filter," Brown said, explaining the process.
"And, at eleven weeks it's starting to look like normal muscle; the dog is clinically normal and so we put him into rehabilitee stretching rehab," Brown said.
Eventually, Cris was able to chase down suspects during drills. His progress continued to the point that he was able to rejoin the force two months ago.
The technology is marketed by a San Diego company called Vet-Stem, which says it is also being used to treat hip dysplasia and joint problems, so far, without evidence of complications.
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