RottnBullies Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 LINK A pit bull that suffered severe burns when it was left outside on a rooftop in the scorching heat for 10 hours last month has been given a second chance at a normal life due to a first-of-its-kind stem-cell treatment. A Spring Township veterinarian donated his time to perform the experimental treatment using foreign-source cells to regrow the pads on the dog's paws, which were burned off on the hot roof, according to an official from the Animal Rescue League of Berks County. Chris Shaughness, the ARL spokesman, said the young pit bull, dubbed Bernie by the shelter's staff, was brought to the shelter July 19 after a Reading police officer found the dog stranded on the roof of a building in the 700 block of North Front Street. When the dog was brought to the shelter, an examination found he also had burn marks on his spine and his nipples. Officials believe the dog received those burns by lying down on the hot roof, trying to take weight off his painful paws. "I don't think I've seen anything that bad in 25 years," said Dr. Boyd Wagner, veterinarian and owner of the Wyomissing Animal Hospital. "They were severe, third-degree burns." Wagner said the shelter had brought Bernie to the animal hospital for treatment of his burned-off pads. Wagner came up with an idea for helping Bernie: regrowing his pads with stem cells. The veterinarian had been working with Celavet Inc., a California-based biotechnology firm conducting stem-cell research in horses, cats and dogs. Animal stem-cell research has been around for a while, but Bernie's treatment was the first case of using another animal's stem cells that have been programmed to grow into specialized types of cells, Wagner said. "The stem cells increase the re-epithelialization at a faster pace and a more uniform pace," he said, describing the natural process of growing new skin during wound healing. In short, the pit bull would be injected with stem cells to re-grow his pads at a quicker rate. The procedure, performed Aug. 4, was the first of its kind for a canine and required special permission from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Wagner said. "This is a phenomenal story, to attempt to grow his paws," Shaughness said. Law enforcement officials are still looking for the pit bull's owner. Crime Alert Berks County is offering a reward for information leading to the owner's arrest, Shaughness said Bernie has been staying at the ARL's boarding kennel while recovering from surgery. "We're trying to find a foster home for him," she said. "We don't know the outcome of the treatment yet so we don't want to adopt him out until he's truly recovered." But while Bernie rests and recovers from the burn surgery, he will be taken back to the animal hospital periodically for progress checkups, Wagner said. The veterinarian said it's unknown how long it will take to know if the experimental procedure was successful. "But he seems to be happy," Wagner said. "He's a tough little guy." Hopefully It's a success Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inevitablue Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 (edited) Hopefully it is a success. Luckily here in Australia the APVMA have allowed this type of stem cells, known as allogeneic stem cells. Whereas the FDA in the US has to approve every case. Cultured (allogeneic) stem cells are available for Australian dogs and horses. One more meeting at Monash University tomorrow and everyone will start hearing about this next phase in stem cells. It is so unbelievably exciting, remember they have grown back a US Marines finger. The price is becoming much more affordable, and being cultured cells, there is no need to harvest fat from your animal anymore. EFS Edited August 16, 2011 by Inevitablue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeckoTree Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 Should be lots more of it, OT I watched som show a couple weeks back I think 60mins, and the stem cell treatments doing great for paraplegics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inevitablue Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 For anyone interested http://www.australianstemcells.com.au/ The allogeneic is the exciting research. In the above article they also refer to 'pathfinder' cells, which is still under trial situations. Instead of blank cells, they are set upon a differentiation path prior to injection. The hope is that you will be able to give your renal failure pet (as one example) cells via an IV drip and the cells already know to head straight to the kidneys. Same for CHF, DCM, diabetes ( pancreatic), and a whole host of other disorders. Monash Uni are the world leaders in bringing this to commercial reality. Plus, finally some credibility for the commercial availability of stem cells Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RottnBullies Posted August 16, 2011 Author Share Posted August 16, 2011 It is so unbelievably exciting, remember they have grown back a US Marines finger. Wow!, I never knew they did that! Lol need to venture out a bit more apart from dog stuff! Thanks for that link too It does sound all very exciting on what can be possible and achieved with It all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inevitablue Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 You might find this article interesting http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/22/sunday/main3960219.shtml Whole bladders have been grown from scratch, here in Australia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katie P Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 Wow!! Science and technology is improving at such a rapid rate..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandgrubber Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 (edited) Not all animal testing is bad. Hope that good results here add to understanding, and eventually to better health for both dogs and humans. On the other hand, what sort of dick head would leave a dog on a burning-hot roof for 10 hours!!!! Poor dog . . . pads burned off . . . even nipples burned from trying to give the paws some respite from the burn. Then the sub-human a##-hole was brazen enough to leave the dog in a shelter. Shame!!!! Edited August 16, 2011 by sandgrubber Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RottnBullies Posted August 17, 2011 Author Share Posted August 17, 2011 Not all animal testing is bad. Hope that good results here add to understanding, and eventually to better health for both dogs and humans. On the other hand, what sort of dick head would leave a dog on a burning-hot roof for 10 hours!!!! Poor dog . . . pads burned off . . . even nipples burned from trying to give the paws some respite from the burn. Then the sub-human a##-hole was brazen enough to leave the dog in a shelter. Shame!!!! I couldn't agree more, but they are still looking for this dogs owner, It was someone else who brought Him to the shelter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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