Press Releases
Stem Cell Therapy for Feline Kidney Disease, a Video Testimonial by a Pleased Pet Owner Gives Hope for Cats Suffering with the Disease
2014-02-06 --
Stem Cell Therapy for Feline Kidney Disease is a special interest piece produced by Nicky Sims, the owner of Kitters, who recently had Vet-Stem Regenerative Cell Therapy for his Feline Kidney Disease. Nicky highlights Kitters’ journey through diagnosis of the disease and his recent stem cell therapy, as well as educating about stem cells and their benefits.
Nicky’s film explains that Kitters began showing signs of kidney failure at the age of 15, exhibiting classic symptoms; lack of appetite, excessive thirst, nausea and lethargy. In 2012 Kitters was officially diagnosed with Chronic Renal Failure, or kidney disease. He was prescribed a low protein diet and subcutaneous fluids for rehydration. This has been the standard treatment for decades although it has only been shown to slow the progression of the disease; not reverse it.
Dr. Richter at Montclair Veterinary Hospital thinks that there is something else that can help. In recent years his hospital has begun using stem cells to treat animals for various orthopedic conditions such as pain from arthritis and dysplasia. In October 2013 Kitters would be the first cat he had treated with stem cell therapy for Feline Kidney Disease.
Dr. Richter explains why this could work for Kitters, “Stem cells are cells within your body that are able to turn into any other cell in the body. Kitters has kidney issues, so what we’ve done is harvested some fat from his abdomen and sent that fat to Vet-Stem in San Diego, and what they do is isolate the stem cells from the fatty tissue. They concentrate them and send them back to us. In the case of an animal with kidney disease, we just give the stem cells intravenously. What that is going to do is begin the healing and rebuilding process.”
Nicky’s film explores the importance of kidneys stating they play a vital role, ridding the body of toxins. As kidney disease progresses scar tissue develops making it harder to filter toxins. Damage to the kidneys makes the animal vulnerable to a number of other health conditions. Unfortunately the disease usually goes undiagnosed given that the symptoms of the disease often do not show until 2/3 of the kidneys are damaged.
Kitters’ own stem cells were used with the hope of repairing his damaged tissue Dr. Richter goes on, “The nice thing about stem cells is that there is no issue of tissue rejection, since it is Kitters’ own stem cells. Additionally, if there is anything else going on in his body beyond the kidneys it’s going to address that as well. So, it is a really wonderful systemic treatment.”
To find out more or view the special interest piece by Nicky Sims, Stem Cell Therapy for Feline Kidney Disease.
About Vet-Stem, Inc.
Vet-Stem, Inc. was formed in 2002 to bring regenerative medicine to the veterinary profession. The privately held company is working to develop therapies in veterinary medicine that apply regenerative technologies while utilizing the natural healing properties inherent in all animals. As the first company in the United States to provide an adipose-derived stem cell service to veterinarians for their patients, Vet-Stem, Inc. pioneered the use of regenerative stem cells in veterinary medicine. The company holds exclusive licenses to over 50 patents including world-wide veterinary rights for use of adipose derived stem cells. In the last decade over 10,000 animals have been treated using Vet-Stem, Inc.’s services, and Vet-Stem is actively investigating stem cell therapy for immune-mediated and inflammatory disease, as well as organ disease and failure.
