If clinical trials are successful, then this could spell the end of arthritis for dogs. Veterinarians across the U.S. say it’s not just old age, but arthritis that’s causing your dog pain, and a new drug trial is working to make your furry companion feel better.
One of the clinics testing the new drug is Paradise Animal Hospital in Catonsville. Dr. Cheryl Burke says to qualify for the trial, dogs have to have obvious signs of arthritis and cannot have cancer. At the clinic, they conduct blood tests, x-rays and a physical exam.
Hannah, a blonde chow mix, came in for the procedure.
“She has a lot of trouble getting up and when she goes to walk up and down the stairs, she stares, like can I do this? Can I do this? Breaks my heart when I see that,” Hannah’s mom, Donna Foster said.
The trial was created in San Diego, by Animal Cell Therapies, and uses canine stem cells to grow cartilage in the joint, so the dog has more cushion when he/she walks or runs.
“Stem cells are the body’s primitive precursor cells and we all have them, and when we’re born, there’s a huge population of them in our umbilical cord,” Dr. Burke said.
The clinic is doing the entire trial for free, to get FDA approval, so other pet parents can one day buy the drug. Part of the study requires that the test be double blind, meaning no one, even Dr. Burke can see which drug is given to the dog.
Each dog undergoes the same procedure. Then pet parents come back for a one month, three month and six month check up to see how the dog is progressing. If the study is approved any dog who didn’t get the drug will get it for free. “If it’s approved, it could be a few years, before it’s on the market but it could be wonderful,” Dr. Burke said.
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