VetStem Cell Therapy, while commonly used to treat orthopedic conditions in dogs and horses, has also been successfully used to treat a number of other diseases. One such disease is kidney disease in cats. Nearly 250 cats have received VetStem Cell Therapy for kidney disease.
Kidney disease is one of the most common causes of sickness and death in cats. Common symptoms can include weight loss, lethargy, variable appetite, and poor coat quality. Some cats may also drink and urinate more, vomit, or have diarrhea.
Unfortunately, treatment options for cats with kidney disease are limited and can be costly. The good news is, based upon our own data as well as the data of others, we believe that stem cells may help improve the symptoms and quality of life in some cats with kidney disease. In fact, a review of a small number of feline patients treated with VetStem Cell Therapy showed that blood kidney values were slightly to moderately improved after treatment.
Anecdotal data from pet owners and veterinarians suggests that treatment with VetStem Cell Therapy helps to improve symptoms associated with kidney disease. Owners have reported improved appetites, weight gain, and increased energy. That being said, more data is necessary regarding the use of VetStem Cell Therapy for cats with kidney disease. Thus, we continue to research the use of stem cells for this condition under one of VetStem’s clinical research programs.
If you think your cat may benefit from treatment with VetStem Cell Therapy, speak to your veterinarian or contact us to receive a list of qualified VetStem providers near you.
Based on 15+ years of data, veterinarians primarily use VetStem Cell Therapy to treat dogs and horses. But cats have also benefited from stem cell therapy. In previous blogs, we have discussed stem cell therapy for various diseases in cats. For a good overview, read this blog.
VetStem Cell Therapy for Feline Kidney Disease
VetStem has processed nearly 400 feline fat samples to provide stem cells. Of these samples, over 50% have been for cats with kidney disease. Unfortunately, kidney failure may be the number one cause of sickness and death in older cats. Yet treatment options are limited and do not cure the disease.
Veterinarians have been treating feline kidney disease with VetStem Cell Therapy for over a decade. And we have seen some promising results! But nothing is as good as hearing about a kitty who experienced those results firsthand. This is Trinity’s story.
Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment Plan
Trinity is a ragdoll cat who was diagnosed with renal failure when she was twelve years old. She had several symptoms including vomiting, not eating, lethargy, weakness, and weight loss. She was uninterested and spent a lot of time hiding. Her mom worked with several vets to find an effective treatment protocol for Trinity, but she continued to feel bad, and her blood kidney values kept going up.
Eventually, Trinity’s mom found Dr. Tamera Cole at The Animal Hospital at Steiner Ranch. Dr. Cole started Trinity on fluids and multiple medications to ease her symptoms and support her kidneys. Though Trinity’s mom noticed improvement, she continued to research additional treatment options.
Treatment with VetStem Cell Therapy
In her research, Trinity’s mom came across VetStem Cell Therapy and brought it up to Dr. Cole. Dr. Cole was already credentialed to perform the VetStem procedure and agreed that stem cell therapy may help Trinity.
She moved forward with the process and collected a sample of fat tissue from Trinity in a minimally invasive anesthetic procedure. The fat was processed at the VetStem laboratory and Trinity’s stem cells were extracted, concentrated, and divided into doses for treatment. Trinity received an intravenous dose of her own stem cells approximately 48 hours after the initial fat collection procedure. She went on to receive a second intravenous dose approximately two weeks later.
Trinity
Trinity Gets Her Quality of Life Back
After stem cell therapy, Trinity’s owner maintained the previous treatment protocol with fluids and medications. Several months later, Dr. Cole tested Trinity’s blood work which showed no signs of kidney disease!
Her owner continued the treatment protocol and Trinity remained healthy, started eating again, and gained back all the weight she lost and more. Trinity’s mom stated, “I’m so thankful that I’ve been able to spend so many more years with Trinity. She is a continuous blessing in my life and as you can see from the picture, still shows up to work every day at my home office.”
Trinity is among several cats who have benefitted from VetStem Cell Therapy for kidney disease. Based upon data from a small number of feline patients treated with VetStem Cell Therapy, blood kidney values were slightly to moderately improved after treatment. More evaluation is necessary, however these preliminary results suggest that stem cell therapy may be a viable treatment option for cats with kidney disease.
It is officially December and we all know what that means: it’s
National Cat Lovers’ Month! To celebrate, we have a special feline success
story to share. You may remember from previous blogs such as this
one, that many veterinarians use VetStem Cell Therapy to treat a number of
internal medicine conditions in cats including kidney disease. One such patient
is Kitters, who received VetStem Cell Therapy for kidney disease over seven
years ago!
Symptoms and Diagnosis
At the age of 15, Kitters was diagnosed with kidney disease. He exhibited
many of the common symptoms of renal failure such as lack of appetite,
excessive thirst, nausea, lethargy, and weight loss. He was prescribed a
typical protocol for kidney disease which included a prescription, low protein
diet and subcutaneous fluids. While these treatments can potentially slow the progression
of the disease, they will not reverse it.
Kitters receiving an IV dose of his own stem cells
Treatment with VetStem Cell Therapy
Fortunately for Kitters, his owner found a veterinarian who was willing
to try VetStem Cell Therapy to potentially help him feel better. She drove
Kitters from Los Angeles to Oakland, California to visit Dr. Gary Richter of Montclair Veterinary Hospital. Kitters
underwent a fat tissue collection procedure to begin the VetStem process. His
fat was processed at our laboratory where his stem and regenerative cells were
extracted and concentrated. An injectable dose of Kitters’ stem cells was
shipped back to Dr. Richter for intravenous injection back into Kitters. Two
weeks later, he received a follow up intravenous injection.
Feeling Like Himself Again
Approximately 35 days after treatment with stem cells, Kitters was
clearly feeling better. He was eating more, his energy was up, and he began
putting on the weight he previously lost. His blood kidney values also went
down after treatment. His mom made a great and very informative video
documenting Kitters’ journey. You can watch it here.
VetStem Cell Therapy for Feline Kidney Disease
Kitters was originally treated back in 2013, and though he was not the
first cat to receive VetStem Cell Therapy for kidney disease, many veterinarians
were not aware of this potential treatment option back then. In recent years
however, more and more veterinarians are beginning to offer VetStem Cell Therapy
for both cats and dogs with kidney disease. As of December 2020, nearly 200
cats have received VetStem Cell Therapy for kidney disease and the outcome data
collected from these cases appears promising.
If your cat has kidney disease, speak to your veterinarian to see if
VetStem Cell Therapy may help. You can also contact us to find a VetStem provider
near you.
We’ve shared many blog posts about treating cats with stem cells. Although
we primarily process fat from dogs and horses for VetStem Cell Therapy, we’ve
provided cell processing services for over 350 cats. Like dogs, cats may
benefit from VetStem Cell Therapy for the treatment of osteoarthritis. Veterinarians
have also treated cats for a variety of internal medicine diseases utilizing VetStem
Cell Therapy. These diseases include Gingivostomatitis, Inflammatory Bowel
Disease, and Chronic Kidney Disease. For more information about stem cell
therapy for these conditions, this blog is very helpful: Stem Cells for
Cats: An Overview.
One VetStem recipient, a domestic short haired cat name Bender, received
VetStem Cell Therapy for kidney disease and had a positive outcome. Bender’s
renal issues began when he was four years old. He ingested an unknown poison
and ended up in the emergency hospital on IV fluids for seven days. Following
this episode, Bender’s bloodwork showed elevated kidney values and he was
diagnosed with stage 3 kidney disease.
Bender
Bender’s owner began researching potential treatment options and came
across the VetStem website. She requested a list of stem cell providers in her area
and was referred to Dr. Mark Parchman of Bend Veterinary Specialty and
Emergency Center. Together, Dr. Parchman and Bender’s owner agreed to move forward
with VetStem Cell Therapy.
To begin the process, Dr. Parchman collected fat from Bender. This fat
was shipped to the VetStem laboratory and aseptically processed to extract
Bender’s stem and regenerative cells. These cells were divided into doses and
one dose was shipped back to Dr. Parchman for treatment approximately 48 hours
after the fat collection. Bender received a series of three intravenous doses one
week apart. The rest of his doses were cryopreserved
for future treatment.
Approximately six months after
his third stem cell injection, Bender’s owner stated that, “By all appearances
he seems happy, healthy, playful, and active. Though he has suffered some
permanent kidney damage.”
Approximately two years after
his initial round of stem cell injections, he received a follow up intravenous
injection from his stem cell bank. That was over three years ago and according
to his owner he’s still doing well. His owner stated, “Bender is stable with
basically high normal values, lots of energy, playful and continues to do very
well considering he was so near not surviving. I believe that stem cell
treatments have helped his body recover and remain stable over five years
later. Thank you VetStem for blazing a trail for my cat.”
Bender is not the only cat with
kidney disease to benefit from VetStem Cell Therapy. Other cats have received
VetStem Cell Therapy for the treatment of kidney disease and many have
experienced positive outcomes. If your cat has kidney disease and you think
VetStem Cell Therapy may help, contact
us to receive a list of VetStem providers in your area.
