YARMOUTH, Maine, Aug. 31, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Yarmouth veterinarian Dr. Louise LeBoeuf and her colleagues at Yarmouth Veterinary Center are offering revolutionary stem cell therapy for pets. According to Dr. LeBoeuf, stem cell therapy employs a pet's own cells to generate new, healthy tissues to replace and regenerate damaged ones. She says they commonly apply stem cell therapy to help pets suffering from arthritis, cruciate ligament disease (ACL), hip and elbow dysplasia, and other joint and orthopedic conditions. Dr. LeBoeuf adds that stem cell therapy has also shown promise against many other diseases in pets.
The Yarmouth veterinarian says stem cell therapy opens many new doors for improving and lengthening the quality of life for pets with painful conditions and diseases. "When you have the ability to literally regenerate a pet's own tissues in a healthy form, it's amazing. Because these are a pet's own stem cells regenerating new, healthy tissues to replace damaged ones, there is virtually no chance of an allergic reaction, or of the body rejecting the new tissue. This process also reduces inflammation and pain naturally. It's been a miracle for many of our patients."
Dr. LeBoeuf explains that the initial stem cell preparation and treatment usually takes less than one day to complete. They first collect a blood sample from the pet in the morning and prepare a platelet-rich plasma from this sample to help develop the stem cells. Then, while the pet is under anesthesia, they collect a fat sample.
Dr. LeBoeuf explains that while the pet is resting for a few hours, the staff prepares the stem cells. When they are ready, she says her team can either inject the stem cell mixture in or around the affected joints, or give them intravenously.
Once the stem cells are inside the pet, Dr. LeBoeuf says they circulate through the bloodstream to the parts of the body that have been injured, inflamed or are degenerated. Once they arrive, they generate anti-inflammatory biochemical substances and start forming new cells of the same type that have been damaged. Stem cells even encourage surrounding cells to start regenerating.
While the veterinarian says the most common uses for stem cell therapy in pets have so far been for joint and orthopedic problems, she adds that there have been successes treating everything from diabetes and gastrointestinal disorders to kidney disease, thyroid problems, and skin conditions.
Dr. LeBoeuf adds, "Stem cell therapy is an amazingly helpful alternative for many pets. On average, over 60% of the pets we've treated have been able to drastically reduce or quit NSAID painkillers altogether. If you have a pet in pain, it's definitely something to investigate."
Yarmouth Veterinary Center is a full-service animal hospital providing veterinary wellness, dental, surgical and medical care for dogs, cats, birds, small mammals, reptiles, amphibians and fish.