A PowerPoint presentation describing the breakthroughs and research occuring with veterinary stem cell therapy

1. Vets use stem cells to manage pets’ pain A closer look on the matter by: Andrew Coldrick

2. Brief Background The article discusses how the benefits of adult stem-cell therapy are being used on animals, particularly dogs, as well as humans The article in particular focuses on one particular dog named Macha who received the benefits of animal stem cell therapy in order to cure her arthritis The article briefly describes the process in which animal stem cells are retrieved, the availability of such treatment, and how it affects the pets that receive it

3. Macha’s Story Macha is a 10 year old Labrador retreiver that began to experience the first signs of arthritis 4 years ago. Her concerned owner took her to a doctor, and was referred to Dr. James Gaynor , one of 300 specialists in the country permitted by the FDA to carry out animal stem cell therapy After 2 treatments over the course of two years, Macha was cured of her arthritis, making her and her owner pleased once again and allowing Macha to be able to carry out her favorite activities

4. The Science Behind It Like human adult stem cells, they are extracted from a part of the pet’s body, and then later re-injected into the animal, where they are partially differentiated and help to heal the part of the body that is injured The stem cells are anti-inflammatory, and can be used to regenerate tissue, bone, cartilage, nerve cells, and blood vessels The stem cells in this particular case were taken from fatty tissue of Macha, and were later processed and re-injected into her joints

5. Status of Animal Stem Cell Research Unlike other forms of stem cell research, animal stem cell research is well researched and heavily funded Some people have even gone as far to say that the level of progress obtained with animal stem cell research out-ranks the progress made with human stem cell research First work done with stem cells occurred with animals, such as with the cloned sheep Dolly, and continued experimentation on animals could lead to breakthroughs with humans

6. Stem Cell Therapy for Other Animals Alongside dogs, stem cell therapy is being researched as a cure for ailments regarding other domesticated animals Research is underway to determine whether or not stem cell therapies can be used to treat chronic kidney disease in elderly cats Stem cell therapies are currently underway for racing horses who have developed injuries on the track Adult pluripotent stem cells are used in this instance as well, the only different is that they are extracted from the horse’s bone marrow

7. Relevant Diagrams A detailed description of how adult stem cells are retrieved from bone marrow in order to be used for medical treatments, for humans, dogs, and race horses A diagram showing how developments in embryonic stem cell research can be used to benefit animals, in this case lab mice, as well as humans

8. Assorted Information Animal stem cell therapy is not cheap, with treatments costing from around $2000 to $4000 dollars, but many of its proponents feel that its benefits are well worth the cost Dr. Richard Johnson, one of the specialized doctors authorized to carry out animal stem cell therapy, says that out of the 50 animals that he has treated with such therapy, 75 to 85 percent of the cases have resulted in a positive outcome Stem cell therapy is part of a new line of alternative veterinary medicine, which includes veterinary acupuncture, chiropractic therapies, herbal remedies, and even aquatic therapy It is rumored that up to 20 million dogs in the United States have canine arthritis, and animal stem cell therapy can aid in helping these dogs do away with their pain, and have happier, more fulfilling lives

9. In Conclusion The examples of Macha and other dogs and animals who have undergone animal stem cell therapy are indicative of the beneficial consequences that result from such treatment and are also indicative of the future benefits that adult stem cell therapy can have for humans as well as for animals. Even though this is a fairly new science, there is a lot of promise in this field of research, and such research could be used to create treatments that make all of our lives, human and animal, happier and healthier

10. This Has Been A Coldrick Science Production Credit to the Biloxi Sun-Herald and SanDiego.com for the information contained in this PowerPoint