Hip Dysplasia - Stem cell research?

[StayingHopeful]

I just got back from the vet only to find out that my 1 year-old 35lb dog not only has hip dysplasia on both sides, but also according to the x-rays it is fairly advanced and she already has arthritic bone spurs on both sides. I know this is not a forum for medical advice, I'm just really lost because the vet told me it is too advanced for surgery even though she is just a year old and he said my best bet was to look into getting a vet to write it up and doing stem cell treatment. How would I even go about finding somebody?? I'm so lost. Any help is GREATLY appreciated. Thank you in advance!!

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[Qwerty85]

What kind of dog do you have? One of my Goldens has mild OCD in his shoulder.

 

[No Imagination]

Stem Cell Research? I don't know much about hip dysplasia, but it there a cellular regenerative aspect to it i'm not familiar with?

 

[alliecat44]

I just got back from the vet only to find out that my 1 year-old 35lb dog not only has hip dysplasia on both sides, but also according to the x-rays it is fairly advanced and she already has arthritic bone spurs on both sides. I know this is not a forum for medical advice, I'm just really lost because the vet told me it is too advanced for surgery even though she is just a year old and he said my best bet was to look into getting a vet to write it up and doing stem cell treatment. How would I even go about finding somebody?? I'm so lost. Any help is GREATLY appreciated. Thank you in advance!!

I imagine a board-certified surgeon might be able to help you figure out what is appropriate for your dog, +/- looking for stem cell stuff. They tend to be pretty knowledgeable about current studies/research/what patients are candidates for what, etc. As well as other options available.

Good luck.

 

[AidanEvieCleo]

Here at Davis we just opened up a new lab for Stem cell research for large animals, but maybe they will expand and do some small animal research also I am a LA girl so I don't know any of the SA researchers. It will be worth asking about the potential at the VMTH though! Good luck, and I am sorry for the bad news!

 

[StayingHopeful]

She's a Lagotto Romagnolo. The vet today said it is too advanced to do the TPO surgery. I'll look into the study at Davis - do you know who is in charge of the study?

 

[alliecat44]

Was the vet a boarded surgeon? There are other surgical options for hip dysplasia besides TPO. And if your dog is not a candidate for any of them, a surgeon will likely know exactly who to contact where, etc.

Just my $0.02 having worked with boarded surgeons for three years.

Poor baby! Hope your dog feels better soon!

 

[AidanEvieCleo]

On of the main stem cell researchers is Dr. Larry Galupo, but again he only does horse. I don't know who else is part of the new regenerative medicine lab. Check out this news article about it: http://www.news.ucdavis.edu/search/news_detail.lasso?id=9090

 

[thereservoirdog]

Here's the website to find vets that can do stem cell treatments: http://www.vet-stem.com

I think it's really cool, I've heard of it being done in small animals for ligament and tendon injuries or arthritis.

 

[dreamvet]

what were the signs that your dog had hip dysp.?

I have an 8 mos old mastiff/pit mix and i'm worried he's suffering as well.
I set up a vet appt for monday, but i can't help but research until then.

at first i thought he had injured one of his knees playing with another dog two days ago, because yesterday he suddenly favored his right leg and was having trouble sitting and lying down. also going up stairs.

this morning, he refuses to go up stairs at all and will not sit for me.
in hindsight, he always looked a little funny. he never looked quite right doing stairs and he never once jumped into my car or on my bed or anything.

I'm dreading a hip dysp diagnosis as i am starting vet school this fall and definitely cannot afford any sort of hip surgeries. I just got him neutered and got a bilateral lower eyelid entropion done for him one month ago. . .

well. . .any advice on how to reduce the discomfort until the appt on monday? other than rest in the kennel?

 

[critterologist]

Was the vet who said the hip displasia was too advanced for surgery a boarded surgeon? I would be inclined to get another opinion on that before I went looking for stem cell treatments.

In addition to being VERY expensive, all the research I've seen relating to the efficacy of treatment with mesenchymal stem cells from companies such as Vet Stem is very anecdotal (and I've done a fair bit of looking). Actually, from general researchers as well. The use of mesenchymal stem cells for the regeration of bone, tendons, etc. is still in it's infancy, and although there is a fair bit of promise, there aren't the sort of controlled studies that you would expect to see for something being offered as an established treatment.

Boarded surgeons in your area can be found here:
http://www.acvs.org/AnimalOwners/FindaSurgeoninYourArea/

Vet Stem Practitioners can be found here:
http://www.vet-stem.com/locatevet/smallanimal.php

Good Luck!

 

[ladybug5]

Time did a great article on stem cell treatments for dogs and horses and the company that conducts the treatments. It addresses hip dysplasia.

Hope this helps!

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1817572,00.html

 

[critterologist]

Interesting article. I noticed that TIME calls it a "cure-all."

I know several vets who use vet stem, and all of them shrug when asked if it works. Sometimes the animals get better, sometimes they don't. Occasionally (though rarely), they even get worse. Even when the animal does get better, they generally can't say that it's from the stem cells. Many of those animals might have gotten better over time anyway.

I also noticed that in the article the dog they were taking about showed improvement in 36 hours. If the improvement was attributable to the stem cells, I have a hard time believing you would see it in 36 hours. That isn't really enough time for a stem cell to do much. The cell need engraft, release cytokines, attract other cells, and proliferate to make a difference. I think improvement when seen generally occurs in the realm of weeks or months.

 

[VeganSoprano]

I know Davis does some things with dogs and stem cell therapy. We have a client who is flying a doctor from Davis to DC (!) to do stem cell therapy on their dog as part of a clinical study. This dog has a neuro. condition, not hip dysplasia, but I imagine they are doing other things too.

The therapy itself doesn't seem like a big deal for the dog - it mostly involved a few hours of IVF and a few IV injections. So even if it doesn't have any effect, it seems like it's not putting the dog through an excessive amount of stress or discomfort.

 

[Bill59]

There are several ongoing clinical trials evaluating stem cell therapy for osteoarthritis. Most of the published results have been in elbows. Bottom line is so far the results are mixed.

For severe hip dysplasia, total hip replacement often provides the best results. Since there are specific indications and contraindications, a board-certified surgeon is the best person to make recommendations about an individual patient.

 

[StayingHopeful]

Thank you for all your responses - it helps a lot to be directed to research or websites.

 

[chagheill]

If you have the money, denervation now and then bilateral hip replacement when the dog is old enough. We had a nearly identical case at work this week but the owners elected to euthanize due to cost.

 

[david594]

http://www.vet.ohio-state.edu/777.htm

Some info from OSU about Total hip replacement.

Stupid question, but are FHO's ever done for cases like this? If not, whats the contraindication?

 

[alliecat44]

http://www.vet.ohio-state.edu/777.htm

Some info from OSU about Total hip replacement.

Stupid question, but are FHO's ever done for cases like this? If not, whats the contraindication?

The boarded surgeons I worked for would absolutely consider bilateral FHOs for something like this (assuming the info is complete and accurate blah blah blah insert disclaimer here). And much much easier and more financially feasible.

 

[Caninerepro]

Just FYI, and for those wondering about hip and or elbow dysplasia, this is the website for info:
www.offa.org

 

[Bill59]

Just understand that an FHO will make a future THR more difficult or may even rule it out. So make sure you get good advice before deciding.

 

[StayingHopeful]

What is an FHO? I'm realizing more and more I know so little about this condition and treatments. Is that when they surgically remove the femoral head? I read about a case like that, if that's what you are talking about.

 

[Caninerepro]

Yes, Femoral Head Osteoectomy (sp). Others further along can give you better details, plus my surgical books are packed for my move, but this is where they remove the head of the femur, then allow the muscles surrounding the joint to basically hold everything in place.

 

[Crazy Hippos]

There's a doctor in Colorado that does stem cell therapy. His name is Dr. Gaynor. From what I've heard, he's had great results. You can find his info here: www.coloradopetrehabilitation.com

Good luck!

 

[Shanomong]

Stupid question, but are FHO's ever done for cases like this? If not, whats the contraindication?

They're frequently done at our practice of ~5 board certified surgeons. I think the biggest limiting factor is the age of the dog? But I work for the emergency dept, not surgery, so I'm not really sure.... I know my new dog has hip dysplasia with a luxation on the right side, and they've told me that an FHO is a better choice than a total hip for her... which was a huge relief for me financially.

What's OCD and TPO?

 

[kiki1983]

The Afiliated Veterinary Specialists (AVS) in the Orlando/Maitland area have been doing clinical trials on stem cell therapy for hip dysplasia. I believe the treatment was significantly discounted (possibly even free?) for clients volunteering to have their dogs be a part of the trial. Several months back they published an interesting article with their findings so far. It looked very promising.

 

[david594]

What's OCD and TPO?

TPO is a triple pelvic osteotomy. Its a procedure done on dogs with bad hip dysplasia before arthritis develops in the joint. Its meant to help prevent the progress of degenerative joint disease in the joint, so if the animal is already having pain issues there is no benefit form the procedure. So the procedure is typically done in young dogs.

The name is from the fact that the procedure involves breaking the pelvis in three places. This allows them to reorient the joint and then reset the breaks.

 

[Bill59]

What's OCD and TPO?

Yeah, this thread is getting AOD (abbreviation overdose)

OCD is osteochondritis dissecans, which is abnormal development of cartilage in a joint where a fragment of cartilage in the joint becomes partially or completely detached from the rest of the cartilage. It's most common in young, large breed dogs and can occur in the shoulder, elbow or hock.

 

[Shanomong]

Thanks