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.

We have discussed VetStem Cell Therapy for feline kidney disease many times on this blog. For a refresher and success stories, click here. But cats are not the only creatures to suffer from this potentially devastating disease. According to the International Renal Interest Society, “The prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been estimated to be 0.5-1.0% in dogs.” While this may seem like a small number, that small percent of dogs may still suffer with a diagnosis like kidney disease.

Unfortunately, like with cats, treatment options for dogs with chronic kidney disease remain limited and can be costly or time consuming. Fortunately, VetStem Cell Therapy has shown some promise in the treatment of canine kidney disease. This is Abby’s story.

Abby is a basset hound mix who was diagnosed with renal disease when she was just one year old. According to her owner, she was very lethargic and would not eat or drink. With minimal treatment options, Abby’s owner elected to pursue treatment with VetStem Cell Therapy.

Abby had her fat collected and received her first stem cell treatment in August 2014. Due to the nature and severity of Abby’s condition, she went on to receive three more stem cell infusions in the four months following her initial treatment. Since then, Abby has continued to receive an intravenous injection of her own stem cells twice yearly and had her most recent treatment just three weeks ago.

According to Abby’s recent bloodwork, her kidney values are in the normal range. Her owner stated, “Six years later and she is doing great. She is a normal, happy healthy dog. I have her injected with her stem cells every six months and monitor her kidney levels through bloodwork twice a year.”

Of course, it is very heartwarming to hear a story like Abby’s. But each patient is different and stem cell therapy may not be an effective treatment option for all patients with kidney disease. If your pet has kidney disease, it is best to speak with your veterinarian to determine if stem cell therapy may be a good option for your pet. Or you can contact us to receive a list of VetStem providers in your area.

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 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.

If your cat is suffering with kidney disease, speak to your veterinarian or contact us to receive a list of VetStem providers in your area to determine if VetStem Cell Therapy may help your cat.

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.

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’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.

A few weeks ago, we shared a blog post about stem cell therapy for arthritic cats.  Similar to stem cell therapy for dogs, there are additional common feline diseases for which stem cells may be beneficial.  These diseases include Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), and Gingivostomatitis. VetStem is still evaluating the use of stem cells for these disease processes with some favorable results being seen.  In part one of this blog series, we will discuss feline Chronic Kidney Disease and how VetStem Regenerative Cell Therapy may provide some relief.

Chronic Kidney Disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in cats.  Common symptoms include lethargy, increased urine output, and weight loss.  Other than a kidney transplant, which is costly and invasive, there really is no definitive cure for CKD.  Current therapies include supportive measures such as subcutaneous fluids and special diets.  The disease process, however, will continue to progress.

VetStem veterinarians have seen some promising results in the treatment of feline CKD.  Based upon data from a small number of feline patients treated with VetStem Regenerative Cell Therapy, blood kidney values were slightly to moderately improved after treatment.  While more evaluation is necessary, these preliminary results suggest that stem cell therapy may be a low-risk treatment option for cats with CKD.

If your cat has Chronic Kidney Disease, stem cell therapy may provide relief.  Contact us today to locate a VetStem Credentialed veterinarian in your area.  And stay tuned for part 2 of this blog series in which we will discuss stem cells for Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

When most people hear about stem cell therapy for pets, they immediately think of arthritis. And for good reason! VetStem Cell Therapy has helped thousands of animals find relief from painful, degenerative joint disease. But did you know stem cell therapy can also help with a range of other medical conditions?

Stem cells are commonly used to treat soft tissue injuries, including tears in ligaments, tendons, and muscles. One of the most frequently addressed conditions with VetStem Cell Therapy is a cruciate ligament tear. Stem cells can aid in the healing process and help minimize scar tissue formation, whether used alone or in conjunction with surgery. In addition to promoting tissue repair, stem cells have the ability to reduce pain and inflammation, offering pets a better quality of life during recovery. This regenerative approach may be especially helpful for animals that have shown limited improvement with conventional treatments, offering a more effective option for long-term recovery and potentially decreasing the risk of future arthritis development.

In addition to orthopedic applications, VetStem Cell Therapy has demonstrated potential in treating various internal medicine conditions. For instance, stem cell therapy has shown encouraging results in managing chronic kidney disease as well as gingivostomatitis in cats. It has also been used with some success in treating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a challenging condition affecting both cats and dogs. Furthermore, promising outcomes have been observed in cases involving allergic skin conditions and immune-mediated diseases.

If your pet is facing a health challenge beyond arthritis, stem cell therapy may still be an option. Talk to your veterinarian to learn whether VetStem Cell Therapy could play a role in your pet’s care plan. You can also contact us to receive a list of VetStem providers near you.

VetStem had the privilege of exhibiting at the 2025 Western Veterinary Conference (WVC) this week, one of the largest and most anticipated events in veterinary medicine. As leaders in regenerative medicine, VetStem showcased its innovative stem cell therapy and off-the-shelf PRP products, which are revolutionizing how veterinarians treat a number of diseases and injuries.

This year, we were excited to announce the news that we entered into an Exclusive License and Supply Agreement with Petvivo Animal Health, Inc. to commercialize our innovative allogeneic orthobiologic products, PrecisePRP™ Canine and PrecisePRP™ Equine. PrecisePRP™ is a groundbreaking, off-the-shelf platelet-rich plasma (PRP) product designed for ease of use by veterinarians. Unlike traditional PRP mechanical kits that require a blood draw and centrifugation, PrecisePRP™ is ready-to-use, offering veterinarians a truly off-the-shelf product that is easy and convenient. More importantly, PrecisePRP™ ensures uniformity and consistency with its unique patent-pending manufacturing process and quality testing.

Additionally, attendees had the opportunity to learn about VetStem’s groundbreaking advancements in stem cell technology, which are helping thousands of pets recover from injuries, arthritis, and other challenging conditions like renal disease, inflammatory bowel disease, gingivostomatitis, back pain/IVDD, and dry eye.

We were thrilled to connect with veterinarians and industry professionals at the event. It was a great opportunity to share how VetStem’s regenerative solutions are improving the health and quality of life for animals everywhere. Thank you to everyone who stopped by and made our time at WVC 2025 such a success. We look forward to continuing to drive advancements in veterinary care and supporting the veterinary community in the years to come!

As we celebrate National Cat Health Month, it’s important to recognize the silent struggles many cats face. Cats are notorious for hiding pain, a trait that evolved to protect them in the wild. Unfortunately, this means many conditions go unnoticed until they reach an advanced stage. One such condition is osteoarthritis, which affects a significant number of older cats but is often undiagnosed because the signs are subtle. Limping, reduced activity, and difficulty jumping may seem like just signs of aging, but these are often indications of joint pain. With VetStem Cell Therapy, cats suffering from osteoarthritis may find relief, as stem cells can help reduce pain and inflammation and promote tissue repair, thereby improving their mobility and comfort.

While stem cell therapy is widely known for treating joints and soft tissue injuries, its benefits extend beyond osteoarthritis. VetStem Cell Therapy has shown promise in treating alternative conditions like kidney disease, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and gingivostomatitis. Stem cells have unique regenerative properties that can help reduce inflammation and support tissue repair in the kidneys, intestines, and gums. For cats with chronic kidney disease, stem cell therapy may help slow the progression of the disease and improve quality of life. In cases of IBD, stem cells can help reduce gut inflammation and modulate the immune system, thereby reducing symptoms associated with the disease. The same is true for cats suffering from gingivostomatitis, a painful inflammatory condition affecting the mouth. Stem cell therapy can promote healing of the tissues, reduce pain, and control the immune response.

As cat owners, we want the best for our feline companions, and stem cell therapy is emerging as a promising solution for a variety of conditions. By leveraging the body’s regenerative abilities, stem cell therapy can not only improve the quality of life for cats but also help manage chronic conditions that have limited treatment options. This National Cat Health Month, consider discussing stem cell therapy with your veterinarian to learn how it might benefit your cat.

Contact us to receive a list of VetStem providers near you.

Last weekend, the VetStem Sales and Marketing team had the privilege of sponsoring, speaking, and exhibiting at the DVM360 Fetch Veterinary Conference in Long Beach, CA. Attending these veterinary conferences is always a fantastic opportunity for us to connect with both current and potential clients in person. At nearly every conference, we run into someone who has had their own pet treated with VetStem Cell Therapy. It’s always inspiring to hear their success stories firsthand!

At this year’s Fetch Long Beach event, our CEO, Dr. Bob Harman, co-presented with pain specialist and VetStem enthusiast, Dr. Jamie Gaynor. Their first lecture focused on a comprehensive approach to managing osteoarthritis. While stem cell therapy is a valuable option for pets with arthritis, many animals benefit from a multimodal treatment plan. The session explored the combination of traditional treatments like NSAIDs and physical rehabilitation with cutting-edge therapies, including CBD and regenerative medicine techniques like stem cell therapy and platelet-rich plasma (PRP). A holistic approach to canine osteoarthritis could lead to more effective outcomes.

In their second lecture, Drs. Harman and Gaynor discussed the broad range of conditions for which pets have received both VetStem Cell Therapy and PRP. While orthopedic conditions such as osteoarthritis and soft tissue injuries continue to be the primary use for stem cells, many pets have also received stem cell therapy for internal medicine conditions such as kidney disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and more! Likewise, PRP has been used for a number of years to manage conditions such as wound healing and corneal ulcers.

As we conclude the 2024 conference season, we want to express our gratitude to everyone who visited our booth and attended our presentations. We are excited to collaborate with many of you in the year ahead!