dr stewart halperin bvms mrcvs healing your dog’s arthritis: … · 2020. 8. 4. · arthritis...

Healing your dog’s arthritis:

stemcellvetwww.stemcellvet.co.uk

Dr Stewart Halperin BVMS MRCVS

The Stem Cell Therapy guide

Arthritis, or Osteoarthritis, is a very common disease affecting 1 in 5 adult dogs. It is more common in older medium-to-large breed dogs, but dogs of any age and size can be affected by this painful degenerative disease.

The symptoms can include reduced activity, lameness, difficulty getting up or stiffness in the legs (especially after rest).

Osteoarthritis is caused when the cartilage within the joints becomes worn away and the synovial fluid which lubricates the joints becomes thin and watery. When this happens, this creates friction and pain when your dog moves. The joints may also become swollen which adds to the discomfort.

Osteoarthritis at its worst, and especially if left untreated, can cause chronic pain, difficulty moving and a decline in your dog’s quality of life.

As the disease develops slowly, it is often assumed that it’s just old age and that nothing can be done. Fortunately, this is not true and there are a variety of treatments available.

Have you noticed any of the following?

• Reduced activity• Reluctance to walk or play• Stiffness in the legs (especially

after rest)• Difficulty getting up• Limping/lameness• Difficulty climbing stairs/steps

or jumping into the car• Lagging on walks• Licking or chewing at joints• Yelping in pain when touched• Personality changes (Possibly

aggression)• Reduced appetite

Don’t assume it’s just old age and that nothing can be done. Your pet may be in pain and something can be done. If your dog is showing any of the above signs or symptoms, then it may be time for a check-up. Winter is the time of year when our dogs suffer the most from arthritis, but the pain can last all year long. As Osteoarthritis progresses, the pain becomes much worse, so the sooner the problem is recognised, the sooner your pet can be helped.

Is your dog suffering from arthritis?

What is Arthritis?

Knowing the signs


Free Phone Consult 0345 2200 236

Page 1 of 15

https://appurl.io/N5n83Sw8D

What is Arthritis?

Most of the joints in the body depend on a layer of cartilage, acting as a shock-absorber inside the joint, which also provides a smooth surface so the adjoining bones can move freely over each other. This is also assisted by the lubrication provided by synovial fluid in the joints.

What causes arthritis and what’s happening inside your dog?

With arthritis, the cartilage deteriorates and becomes rough, sometimes allowing the bones themselves to rub together. The synovial fluid becomes thin and watery, losing some of its lubricating properties. These changes together create friction and pain inside the joint.

The above is often caused by the cumulative effects of abnormal stresses placed on the joints. It can occur with abnormal alignment of bones that make up the joint, or with trauma, ageing and continual wear/tear on the joint structures.

Pets that are overweight get arthritis at an earlier age and more severely, as the joints are carrying a greater load than that they are designed for.

Arthritis can affect one or more joints and any joint can be affected, but the most common joints are the hips, knees, shoulders, elbows and the spine.

stemcellvetwww.stemcellvet.co.ukstemcellvetwww.stemcellvet.co.uk


Page 2 of 15

Treatment

As a result of the changes that occur in the affected joints, arthritis is a condition that can’t be completely cured, but treatment is available to help and the pain/discomfort can usually be very effectively controlled and managed.

Arthritis care has advanced a lot in recent years and excellent treatments are now available, in some ways the treatments for canine Osteoarthritis are better than those available for humans.

Treatment of arthritis and how you can help

The 6 important areas of therapyVeterinary consultationIf your dog is showing any of the symptoms previously mentioned then the first step is to bring your dog in for an examination by one of our experienced vets.

Weight controlIf your dog is overweight then there is a greater load that the joints must bear and this accelerates the damage to the cartilage, which then adds pain and discomfort to the joints.

EnvironmentBedding is very important. Make sure that your dog has a warm, dry, comfortable place to sleep, up off the cold floor and away from draughts. If a kennel is used then it must provide protection from the wind and rain, and the bed should be raised up off the ground to prevent chills coming through. Good padding will prevent excess pressure being applied to the joints. Also, try to reduce the number of stairs, steps and steepness of slopes that your dog must use on a regular basis. We provide a 17 point detailed home assesement form at our consultations.

ExerciseThis must be in moderation, and an arthritic dog may not cope with long walks anymore and strenuous exercise may put too much strain on the joints, but equally not enough exercise will lead to greater stiffness and muscle wastage. Gentle regular exercise is best as this keeps the joints moving and the muscles in tone. Try daily swimming if possible. In some cases gentle physiotherapy can be helpful.

Pain reliefNew developments in drug research have led to the introduction of treatments that can relieve pain associated with Osteoarthritis in dogs. It is important to talk to us about pain relief medications. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories can provide immediate and ongoing pain relief for animals with arthritis. These come in liquid or tablet form and some dogs respond better to one than another. All are available by prescription only.

Anti-arthritic drugsThese are drugs and some natural remedies that can also contribute greatly to the management of Osteoarthritis. These come in liquid, injectable or tablet form.



Page 3 of 15

Stem Cell Therapy

When all other treatment options have been exhausted, surgical intervention may be required to relieve a dog’s pain and restore some measure of mobility. In extreme cases the diseased joints are removed and replaced with artificial joints. However, we prefer to look at stem cell therapy if we can avoid surgery.

What are stem cells?Stem cells are powerful healing cells in the body that can become other types of cells. There are many adult stem cells in fat tissue, however they lie dormant. Stem cell therapy allows us to isolate stem cells from an animal’s own fat tissue, activate them, and re-inject them directly into damaged areas. For example, in the case of arthritis, stem cells can become new cartilage cells, reducing pain and increasing mobility.

What is so great about Stem Cell Therapy?Stem cells treat the source of the problem by becoming new tissue to replace damaged tissue. Other treatments, such as drugs, though very useful, merely attempt to reduce symptoms. The treatment is very low risk, because it uses the animals own stem cells and with Stem Cell Vets technology and protocols we are producing extraordinary results.

How long has this been available?Stem cell therapy for animals has been commercially available since 2004, and thousands of animals have been treated around the world. The technology has only recently come to the UK.

Is it safe?This procedure is very safe. We do carry out a short general anaesthetic, to remove the fat tissue from which we isolate the stem cells. We always perform a full pre-anaesthetic blood test and use the safest available anaesthetics. Typically, the fat is collected in about 30 minutes. Processing the sample in our lab takes 14-21 days during which the stem cells are isolated, concentrated, counted, assessed for sterility and viability, and activated.

Other treatment options



Page 4 of 15

The Procedure

An initial consultation is carried out where we discuss all your concerns and carry out a full clinical examination.

We will assess the current treatment protocol you have in place and make adjustments or recommendations so that we are happy that you have the benefit of all the most up to date therapies.

This assessment will look at the suitability of any or all the following conventional treatments:

• Hydrotherapy• Non-steroidals• Homeopathy• Nutritional supplements• Acupuncture• Dietary change• Physiotherapy• Laser Therapy• Catrophen injections• Pulse therapy• Home environment assesement

In many cases, the patients we see are being treated with some or all of these but are still struggling with their condition. In these cases, we look at stem cell therapy as an additional benefit.

Here’s an overview of how the treatment process works within our clinic:

• Initial consultation and physical exam• Blood tests to ensure suitability for therapy and anaesthetic• Full radiography service with board certified radiologist review• Injection of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) into joint(s)• Preparation, counting and culture of stem cells• Injection of stem cells into joint(s)• Storage of stem cells for future use in our secure lab• Comprehensive follow-up plan at 30, 60, 90, 180 and 360 days

We are committed to giving every single dog the very best care and outcome that we can. Our dogs are part of our family. Our results speak for themselves.

Stem Cell Therapy



Page 5 of 15

The Benefits of Stem Cell Therapy

Improved quality of lifeStem cell therapy for dogs & cats can improve the quality of their life by reducing pain, increasing mobility and effectively giving your pet a new lease of life.

Improved mobility and pain reductionStem cell therapy for dogs and cats has been shown to have an extraordinary success rate within weeks of treatment and marked improvements are sometimes seen within just a few days.

AffordableThe cost of treatment does vary for each patient depending on the individual clinical condition. Stem Cell therapy is covered by most Pet Insurance companies. We recommend an initial consultation with Dr Halperin during which all treatment and cost considerations are discussed thoroughly.

Quick recovery timeRecovery time is short, your pet will gohome the same day.

Benefits old and new injuriesStem cell therapy will work regardless of the age or extent of the injuries, so it doesn’t matter if your pet has had arthritis for several years or has only just begun to suffer from it.

Cells can be frozen for future useWe can freeze some of the stem cells we harvest for later use which reduces the cost of future treatments, should they be necessary.

Stem Cell Therapy

Book a FREE consult



Page 6 of 15

https://www.stemcellvet.co.uk/contact/

Testimonials

Pet owner stories and testimonials Tracy Spencer: Owner of Kiki the Chow ChowThe difference in Kiki just after 11 days is off the scale. She is running around like we have not seen for over 10 months. Kiki is only 17 months and needed another 5 joint operations which we were not prepared to put here through, we were told about stem cell therapy through a friend. For my Kiki this is best thing I could of done for her. I’m one happy chow chow mummy.

June Chapman: Owner of Amira the GreyhoundAmira is an ex-racing greyhound now 9 years old. Before starting stem-cell treatment she had great difficulty getting to her feet and cried out when trying to stand. Bending her front legs presented difficulty when trying to retrieve anything at floor level. Treatment has proved to be of enormous benefit. There is no difficulty in getting Amira mobile and her enthusiasm for running is quite amazing. She is keen to run alone simply for the joy of it and plays enthusiastically with her 2 year old companion greyhound daily. Long may it continue. I am very happy to recommend Stem Cell Vet.

Mandy Martin: Owner of Ollie the Border CollieStewart and his team have been fabulous in supporting Ollie and us through the treatment, which has significantly improved his mobility. Ollie has issues in his front elbows and his hips and has so far received PRP treatment in all four legs and is clearly in a much more comfort. Ollie is an active 7 year old Border Collie and very much needs to be able to be active to be happy – the team have enabled this to be the case. All of the team care and treat your loved ones as if they were their own :-)

Sue Lloyd-Denman: Owner of Treacle the NewfoundlandAmazing team! Explained everything about the procedure and spent as much time with us as we needed. Nothing was too much trouble. Both Stewart and Ashleigh made sure our beloved Newfoundland Treacle benefitted from their expertise. Their kind and gentle manner was second to none. The improvement in Treacle is way beyond what we hoped. To see her enjoying and playing with her “sisters” in the paddocks is unbelievable!! Pure joy to watch, quite emotional. We cannot recommend this treatment enough especially if administered by Stewart - Stem Cell Vet and Ashleigh his Stem Cell Nurse at Bruton Veterinary Practice. Donna also goes beyond the call of duty! Amazing team, thank you for giving our beautiful girl Treacle an apparently pain free quality life. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Hannah Renier: Owner of Eddie the crossbreedMy biggish mongrel was much too fat. That made his arthritis even worse. Stewart’s PRP treatment made a big difference, but he explained that nothing would work for long without a serious weight reduction programme that attacked the issue on all fronts: much less food but of a special kind, lots of beneficial supplements, and strict prevention of scavenging. It’s taken six months but my dog now weighs 31 kilos instead of 39 and is chasing cats and squirrels again. His arthritis is now well managed and barely notice-able, and he only has one kilo still to lose. He’s bouncy and happy and more like the dog I brought home from a refuge eight years ago. If I keep his weight to 30 kilos he’ll very probably have another eight years - and this really is thanks to Stewart and his brilliant team.

Click above to watch: Tracy & Kiki



Page 7 of 15

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZxfUq8ovrE

Testimonials

Mary Piers: Owner of Tigga the Golden RetrieverI have a Golden Retriever dog called Tigga. He is now just over 10 years old. Tigga has always been a very active dog and I started training for Agility with him. An extremely successful Agility programme followed until the dreaded arthritis reared its head.

Initially anti-inflammatories, enriched oils and acupuncture were given. However after some while on medication I felt Tigga was becoming lethargic and ageing far too quickly. Whilst browsing the internet for other possible remedies to my delight I stumbled across Stem Cell Vet. On further investigation I found this was being pioneered by a vet called Stewart Halperin. One of his surgeries being at Bruton in Somerset only 40 minutes drive from where Tigga and I live.

I immediately sent Stewart an email asking if it would be possible for him to treat Tigga. To my delight later that day I received a reply asking me to telephone him. I had a long discussion with him and arranged to take Tigga to see him. What an amazing practice at Stem Cell Vet. We were given a very warm welcome and then taken in to meet Stewart. Stewart is the most amazing and wonderful man. He spent over an hour examining Tigga and taking video’s of Tigga walking and running. He was so warm and gentle and conveyed total and utter confidence to me. Need I say when it was time for Tigga to go for the X-rays he went off quite happily with Stewart not even looking back to myself. Wonderful!

When I collected a slightly drowsy Tigga in the evening Stewart again spent over an hour discussing the X-rays and it was decided that initially the PRP procedure (platelet-rich plasma) would be given, followed a month or so later by the Stem Cell Procedure. After the PRP I could see a change in Tigga. He became more alert and interested in life and instead of plodding along on a walk he had a definite spring in his stride. His spark had come back. I was so delighted and wondered what the next procedure would do for Tigga.

Tigga has now had the Stem Cell Procedure and is recovering extremely well. He has had both his hips, elbows and right knee treated and there is absolutely no inflammation or swelling. Exercise, at present, is understandably limited much to Tigga’s disgust. He is so full of energy and the joy of living once again, it is marvellous.

All this has only been possible due to the phenomenal expertise of Stewart. His warmth and understanding is so re-assuring. He gives clear, detailed explanations and leaves one totally at ease about the entire procedure. He asks for continual updates both by telephone and email. I cannot thank him enough for all he has done for Tigga. He has given him a full life once again. His staff are extremely attentive and caring, and my deepest gratitude to them.

It goes without saying that I feel truly blessed to have met Stewart and his staff and if anyone has any doubts about remedies for arthritis, speak to Stewart and I recommend the Stem Cell procedure for arthritis with total conviction.

Book a FREE consult



Page 8 of 15

https://www.stemcellvet.co.uk/contact/

Do you treat all patients with Stem Cell Therapy?We take a multi-modal approach to each individual patient in order to achieve the best possible outcome. Our single goal is to significantly improve the lives of the patients under our care, and this may mean we advise treatments to compliment the Stem Cell and regenerative therapies we use, including but not limited to:

Is Stem Cell Therapy covered on insurance?Stem cell treatments are covered by most insurance policies. However please do get in contact with your insurance company to find out if this treatment is covered under your policy.

What are my payment options?Insurance: most insurance companies will cover the costs of Stem Cell Therapy.

Finance: we offer interest free and low interest payment options through our finance provider, CarefreeCredit.

Debit/credit cards: we accept Visa and Master-card debit/credit cards.

How many cases have been treated with Stem Cell Therapy/PRP Therapy?Thousands of animals have been successfully treated with Stem Cell and Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy.

Which conditions can be treated with Stem Cell Therapy?We are currently treating cases of osteoarthritis, hip dysplasia, cruciate ligament injuries, hepatitis/liver disease and inflammatory bowel disease in dogs. We also treat cats for arthritis, feline chronic gingivostomatitis, gingivitis, stomatitis and kidney disease/damage.

FAQs

• Non steroidals• Nutritional

supplements• Dietary change

• Laser therapy• Pulse therapy• Hydrotherapy• Homeopathy

• Acupuncture• Physiotherapy• Cartrophen

injections



Page 9 of 15

Can other conditions be treated with Stem Cell Therapy?There are conditions we may treat under ‘compassionate use’. Some of the previously mentioned conditions may fall under this usage.

Are there any animals that you don’t treat?Yes. Because we don’t know exactly what happens when cancer patients are treated with stem cells based on human studies, we do not treat those patients, and it is for this reason that we may take a chest x-ray on the day of the procedure.

What does the service include?• Full initial consultation and physical exam with assessment and

recommendations• Blood tests to ensure suitability for regenerative medicine therapy• Full radiograph service under anaesthetic• Injection of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) into joint(s)• Preparation, counting and culture of stem cells• Injection of stem cells into joint(s)• Storage of stem cells for future use in our dedicated lab• Follow up consultations at 30, 60 and 90 days

FAQs



Page 10 of 15

What happens at the consultation?An initial consultation is carried out where we discuss all your concerns and carry out a full clinical examination. We will assess the current treatment protocol you have in place and make adjustments or recommendations so that we are happy that you have the benefit of all the most up to date therapies.

What happens to my pet when they come in for stem cell therapy?The procedure is carried out in one day as an outpatient, and patients generally do not need an overnight stay with us.

We need some blood tests for anaesthetic safety. Once we are happy with these, we administer a short general anaesthetic. Typically, this lasts 30 to 90 minutes.We need to take x-rays of the affected areas and also sometimes a chest x-ray. Where recent x-rays are available from your own vet, we will not need to repeat these.

We then harvest approximately 40 grams of fat from a site behind the shoulder or just inside the tummy. At this time we may inject Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) into the affected joints. This reduces inflammation and pain in the joint and prepares it to receive stem cells. Your pet is then woken from the anaesthetic.

FAQs



Page 11 of 15

FAQs

The fat is processed in our lab to isolate, concentrate and activate stem cells and this takes 14-21 days. Once we have the healthy stem cells, we organise a second appointment for a sedative to allow us to inject the cells directly into the affected joints.

We’ll then book you follow up consultations at 30, 60 and 90 days.

We ask you to send us follow up videos and updates on a weekly basis so we can keep a close eye on progress. Where repeat visits are difficult because of travel distances, we can arrange telephone consultations.

What is the recovery period?Recovery time is short, your pet will go home the same day.

How quickly does Stem Cell Therapy/PRP work and when would you expect to see an improvement?PRP and stem cells start to work in the body immediately, and we expect to see an improvement within 3 to 6 weeks, but many cases respond much sooner, within days.

How long do the improvements last? What happens if my pet starts having trouble again?We typically see 1-3 years of relief after the initial treatment, and most dogs only need one treatment. We will bank additional stem cells, so repeat treatment is easy. If symptoms return, we request a dose of cells from our cell bank, and inject them.

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) treatment generally lasts for between 9 and 12 months. Some dogs then will benefit from a repeat treatment, while others only ever need one treatment. In some cases we recommend an initial course of treatment requiring two or three injections, 3-4 weeks apart.



Page 12 of 15

How does Stem Cell Therapy work to treat arthritic conditions?PRP works in three main ways:

• To Initiate and accelerate tendon, ligament and cartilage repair.• To decrease inflammatory mediators in the joint• To reduce pain and improve joint function in cases of arthritis.

PRP enhances the recruitment, proliferation and differentiation of cells involved in tissue regeneration.

Stem cells work to orchestrate the healing process. We like to say they act as the ‘conductor’ of the body’s own healing response.

Stem cells do this by acting in the following ways;• They contribute to generating new tissue• Supply growth factors• Attract progenitor cells• Make extracellular matrix• Help with blood vessel creation• Prevent cell death• They are anti-inflammatory

Stem Cells regenerate and replace injured or diseased tissue:

• Via cell differentiation• By modulating signalling pathways to

reduce progression of disease• By activating resident stem cells

What is the difference between Stem Cell Therapy and PRP Therapy?The difference between PRP and Stem Cell therapy is one of degree. PRP provides stimulation to improve the quality and speed of the body in providing a healing local response to an injury, whereas stem cells infer to the area an ability to regenerate tissues.

FAQs



Page 13 of 15

Who are weStem Cell Vet is a team of veterinary surgeons and nurses dedicated to improving the lives of cats and dogs in the UK. Headed up by veterinary surgeon Dr Stewart Halperin BVMS MRCVS, we have been trained in stem cell technology and techniques by Dr Mike Hutchinson DVM, who has personally carried out hundreds of stem cell procedures on dogs and cats in the USA. We attend regenerative medicine conferences and keep up to date with the latest techniques, publications and trials, as well as publishing our own articles.

What we doWe carry out Stem Cell Therapy for dogs & cats with arthritis and bone and tendon injuries. This includes hip dysplasia, degenerative joint disease, calcification, common degeneration and inflammation, as well as cruciate ligament damage.

Stem cell therapy is a very useful addition to conventional treatments for arthritis that may not be effective enough in limiting pain or improving mobility.

These treatments may include drugs, surgery, physiotherapy, laser therapy, hydrotherapy and acupuncture, and cartrophen injections. We find that in some cases, many of these treatment options may be limited in their usefulness.

Before we see you, we will already have obtained a full clinical history from your own vet so that we are aware of all current treatments and problems.

During an initial consultation each pet we see is assessed and an individual treatment plan is given, according to the type of condition, the severity, and your own preference of treatment options.

We believe that stem cell therapy offers a safe, affordable and effective treatment for arthritic conditions in dogs and cats.

We follow in the footsteps of our colleagues in the US and Australia who have been using this therapy in pets since 2005 with dramatic results, and we add to the body of evidence supporting the use of stem cells so that it becomes more widely available for both animal and human use.

Stem cell therapy represents a great leap forward in the treatment of arthritis conditions and we are very excited to be at the forefront of this new technology.

About us



Page 14 of 15

Contact us

Stem Cell Vet25 High Street

Bruton, Somerset.BA10 0AH

Email: [email protected]: 0345 2200 236


Page 15 of 15

mailto:enquiry%40stemcellvet.co.uk?subject=

https://appurl.io/N5n83Sw8D

dr stewart halperin bvms mrcvs healing your dog’s arthritis: … · 2020. 8. 4. · arthritis...

Documents