A few weeks ago, the first human trials involving stem cell therapy were approved, but a growing number of other patients are already benefitting from stem cell treatment, like dogs. Cris, a police dog, is a five-year-old German Shepherd which tore a muscle last year in his rear leg during training.
Cris ‘works’ at the Fremont Police Department, where dogs are expected to do everything from sniffing out drugs to chasing down fleeing suspects. His type of injury is often repetitive and instead of surgery, officials tried an emerging treatment using Cris’ own stem cells. After removing body fat from the stomach area, they were sent to a lab in San Diego, which extracted the cells and returned them in less than 48 hours.

The doctors injected an aliquot of stem cells next to the muscle at the injury and some of it intravenously through a filter. Afterwards, they monitored ultrasounds which showed the return of normal muscle growth over several months. The technique is still considered experimental in dogs, but it has already been used for five years in horses.

Cris is now able to chase down suspects in drills again, and his progress continued to the point that he was able to rejoin the force two months ago. This new technology is marketed by Vet-Stem, which says it is also being used to treat hip dysplasia and joint problems, with no current complications.
In related news, rumors say that British patients could take the pioneering treatment in as little as a year, as scientists have worked out a technique where human bone marrow cells are turned into human heart stem cells and then injected into the heart.