While it is true that in almost 100% of cases our patients benefited from swift and substantial reductions of their arthritic pain our follow-up studies have shown that, in most cases, ASCT does not provide a permanent reduction or elimination of arthritic pain. In some cases relief can last a long time but in many cases the benefits are lost within a year or so. We do not consider that to be a sufficiently positive outcome to continue to offer the treatment. Consequently, we have not offered ASCT since the completion of our follow-up studies in 2014.

Of course, with such a new treatment we were never able to offer any guarantees and all of our clients who requested the treatment for their pets were advised that we were unable to predict the long term results. However, the initial results for most patients were so positive that we really hoped they indicated a genuine long term solution.

Unfortunately that is not the case and we can no longer suggest ASCT as a preferred treatment. There are other effective treatments for arthritis that are considerably cheaper than ASCT.

We remain optimistic that stem cells, whether produced from embryonic cells or from the patient’s own cells, will eventually lead to a better and more permanent cure but, currently, such treatments are not only vastly more complex but are so expensive as to be out of the reach of the average pet owner.

Rather than delete our original news stories on our ASCT trials we will leave them available for pet owners to read and form their own judgements. 

Original post. We continue to be amazed at the results we are seeing from our Stem Cell Transplants. One of our more recent recipients of Adipose Stem Cells was Freyja, who suffered very severe arthritis. Prior to her treatment her condition was such that she found exercise or movement of any kind difficult, if not impossible. Her pain and lack of mobility was severe enough that she had to be lifted onto her bed.

Freyja received her Stem Cell treatment on 29 December 2011. Within a week of the procedure she was showing clear signs of improved comfort levels and increased mobility. By the time of her first ‘official’ follow-up check — two weeks after her treatment — she was running, jumping and happily playing with her kennel mates, with no signs of pain. She is also happily leaping onto her bed without help.

Freyja is just one of an increasing number of dogs we have been able to help defeat the pain of severe arthritis by transplanting Adipose Stem Cells taken from fatty tissue directly into the affected joints.

Since our first transplant procedure in November 2011 we have given this cutting edge biotechnology treatment to a large number of patients, and are now doing a few every week. So far, in every case we have seen very substantial improvements in mobility and pain reduction. In some cases, like Freyja’s, the results have been truly remarkable.

It can take up to three months for results to be fully measurable so we cannot yet report on all the patients treated but, based on results so far, we are pretty confident that all of our patients in this programme will, in time, show similar improvements.

It is still early days of course but we are deeply impressed with the results so far. Sufficiently so for us to feel confident in strongly recommending Adipose Stem Cell Therapy (SCT) as the current most effective way to combat the onset of severe arthritis in dogs.

Previous peer-reviewed studies indicate that the results of SCT are, in most case, effective over the long-term. However, we plan to conduct our own research on this important aspect of Stem Cell Treatments and all of the patients treated in the Alpine Animal Doctors’ SCT programme will be regularly checked to measure their improvement over a two year period.

With our techniques for SCT as a potent weapon against arthritis now refined and established, we are beginning to look at the exciting potential for this remarkable technology in treating other serious and life threatening diseases. Currently we are looking for suitable candidates — dogs and cats — for the use of SCT in renal failure (kidney disease).

You can find full details of how SCT can benefit your pet, and an FAQ for this amazing treatment here.