Stem cells pep up pooch
More than $7,000 later, 11-year-old German shepherd gets her mojo back
By Jim Gibson, Times Colonist
Sandy Draibye plays with her horse Kinney and German shepherd Micki, who received stem cell injections in hopes it would help her joint problems. Lawyer Sandy Draibye barely paused before calling her veterinarian on hearing about a new -- albeit costly -- stem cell therapy. The therapy sounded like the solution to the decreasing mobility plaguing her then 10-year-old German shepherd Micki.
Micki's veterinarian, Amanda Booth of Sooke's Saseenos Veterinary Services, wasn't surprised by Draibye's call. She describes her Vancouver client as very proactive when it comes to her dog's quality of life.
"This is her kid," Booth says.
Booth didn't instantly agree to the procedure, which involves harvesting stem cells, which are present in most multicellular organisms and possess the ability to renew themselves in an injured area. She was more cautious than her "gung-ho" client about a procedure only just available in Canada.
The procedure began with Booth harvesting fat cells from Micki's thigh and dispatching them to the California lab where the regenerative stem cells are isolated. Two days later, the stem cells came back for injection.
Over the years, Micki developed arthritic joint problems in three legs, and had one ligament operation. The dog was in need of a second ligament operation on the other hind leg.
The aging dog relied heavily on daily anti-inflammatory medication, but their long-term use worried Draibye.
At times, Micki also wore a leg brace.
"If the other three legs had been in good shape, I would have held off on the stem cell surgery," Booth says.
But basically, Micki didn't have a good leg left to stand on.
Vet-Stem, the California company with the rights to the procedure, touts it as a breakthrough for the treatment of arthritis, fractures, tendon and ligament injuries in dogs. By mid-summer more than 1,700 dogs in the U.S. had undergone the therapy since early last year, according to a company representative. No figures were available for Canadian dogs.
Stem cell therapies are not new to veterinary medicine. They have been around for about a decade, if not necessarily at the street level, according to Saanich veterinarian Geoff Gaunt.
Human patients, however, are still waiting for their use in treating arthritis.
Stem cell therapies for arthritis -- as promising as they appear -- are only in the preliminary research stage, according to Victoria orthopedic surgeon Colin Landells. Human medicine demands more extensive testing of drugs and procedures than does veterinary medicine.
Often viewed as a cure-all, stem cell therapy "may not be the panacea that people hope" for veterinary medicine, Gaunt warns.
Booth was guarded about the process new this year to Canada, but available in the U.S. since last year. She would have preferred it had been in use longer to gauge its effectiveness.
"I researched it before I agreed to do it," she says.
Her concern was primarily the efficacy of a treatment costing roughly $2,000 to $2,500 US, atop the local veterinarian's bill. As well, Booth wanted to know of potential side-effects.
"My first [criterion] was finding someone other than the company that says it works," she says.
Booth posted her questions on a veterinary information network. The results were encouraging, if not conclusive.
"It's difficult to be 100 per cent convinced," says Nick Shaw, a Central Saanich veterinarian familiar with the procedure.
"They do have some evidence to support it," he says.
Draibye understood the procedure might be something of "a lottery" for Micki. Roughly 70 per cent of dogs show improvement as Micki has, she says. The company puts the percentage somewhat higher.
As for those treated dogs who show no improvement? "You've spent your money for nothing," Draibye says.
Micki stayed a month recuperating with Draibye's family in Sooke before returning to Vancouver. The dog's exuberant personality proved a challenge. She craved more outdoor activity than her initial controlled five-minute walks allowed.
When Micki runs, there's still a slight hitch to one back leg, not noticeable at the walk or trot. Otherwise, the 11-year-old dog runs and plays much as she once did. This fall, Booth will inject more of Micki's stem cells, now "banked" in California, to further rejuvenate the joints.
However, Micki's vet bill was over $7,000, as it involved more than just the stem cell therapy. It included ligament surgery by a Victoria specialist plus the presence of a Vancouver anesthetist, which Draibye wanted to lessen any risk from the anesthetic with Micki's advancing years.
Booth is one of a handful of veterinarians in the province -- the website lists 28 in Canada -- accredited by Vet-Stem to do its procedure. Still, it isn't a therapy Booth envisions recommending to every owner with an arthritic dog. She just can't see it ever being relatively inexpensive for owners.
Cost seems no deterrent for Draibye when it involves Micki's quality of life.
"It's a lot of money, but she's a lot of dog," the 49-year-old lawyer says.
"I am not wealthy, but I can afford it."
Draibye has had Micki since she was a pup. She's her first dog.
Draibye doesn't consider it a waste of money to spend on an aging dog.
"Everybody adores their dog. I don't think they would give it a second thought," she says.
She finds other dog owners more than empathize with her: "They want to know if it would work for their dog."
Nor does their interest stop at just their dogs.
"They're wondering about their own joints," she says.
jgibson@tc.canwest.com
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