Stem Cells Give Horses a Hoof Up.

Here's an interesting article about new research being used to treat horse's injuries.

While American scientists struggle with the science and ethics of human stem-cell research, a California company is routinely using stem cells successfully as a therapy -- in horses.

Vet-Stem in Poway is treating both prize race horses and well-loved average equines for bowed tendons, injured ligaments and fractures using stem cells derived from the animal's own fat cells. And Vet-Stem's work is instructing researchers who want to learn how stem cells can treat humans.One company is using adult horse's own fat to then distill stem cells. The stem cells are the injected into the injured area of the horse.

Vet-Stem executives said horse injuries heal faster and with less scarring using the stem cells than with more traditional techniques like physical therapy, ultrasound, ice and rest.

Vet-Stem hopes to prevent injuries in horses and to treat other equine disorders, including compressive spinal cord disease and laminitis, an inflammatory foot disease.

Comments

[Molly]

That is so fasinating! Thanks for sharing this information. I thought a bowed tendon was pretty much a dead end. And laminitis, for goodness sake.
I poked around your nice site and met all your cute horses.

[Maddy]

Glad you liked the article. We thought it was pretty interesting as well. We loved and appreciated the post on your first horse. We certainly agree, the prettiest horse in the barn is not always the best horse in the barn!

[risingrainbow]

Wow, this is very interesting. Who'd of thought that stem cells could heal injuries like this? I wonder how expensive this treatment is?