Regenerative Medicine For Dogs And Cats – Part 2

Want to slow the aging process in your animal companion? Part two of this article focuses on therapeutic options used in regenerative medicine, and how they promote better health and longevity. 

Regenerative medicine is making headlines for its healing potential in dogs, cats, and humans. In the first part of this article (AW, Winter 24/25), we examined how it works and why it’s making waves in how we care for our animal companions.  Now we’ll explore in detail some of the therapeutic options used in regenerative medicine for dogs and cats.

Go within to find the source of all healing 

Numerous resources already address the healing benefits of supplements, food, and nutraceuticals, so I’m going to introduce the more esoteric forms of regeneration found within our bodies. 

Fast fact: Aging is a progressive degenerative state. 

As aging progresses, it depletes tissue stem cells, causes inflammation, alters the matrix, induces cellular senescence, and disrupts metabolic functions. 

These changes reflect underlying molecular aberrations in mitochondria, intercellular communication, nutrient sensing, epigenetics and DNA repair. This results in genomic instability and damage, including telomere dysfunction.

Cellular health, replication and division is the hallmark of longevity and total body health. 

It relies on the proper function, expression and repair mechanisms of DNA in the cells.

A cell has hundreds of thousands of parts that need to work together in an innate intelligently orchestrated process. This ensures a long and healthy life for that cell. What can we do to support this process?

Telomeres and telomerase 

Telomeres are genetic, repetitive, non-coding regions at the ends of a chromosome. A telomere gets shorter each time a cell divides. When it gets too short, the cell stops dividing and either dies or becomes a senescent cell. The length of a telomere predicts aging and disease. 

Fast fact: A telomere is much like the aglet at the end of a shoelace.

Telomere dysfunction coincides with many changes in the body, including:

• Widespread tissue stem cell depletion
• Progressive tissue atrophy
• Germ cell depletion
• Reduced ability to reproduce
• Impaired adaptive immunity
• Decreased memory
• Delayed wound healing
• Diminished stress responses
• Increased hair graying and loss
• Diminished cardiac function
• Weakened skeletal frame
• Increased cancer incidence
• Overall frailty.

Telomerase is an enzyme that prevents telomere destruction. Interestingly, cancer cells that don’t undergo apoptosis (cell death) have an abundance of this enzyme. The main focus of anti-aging and regenerative medicine is research into the use and production of telomerase.

Conventional medicine is looking for ways to use uncertain and potentially dangerous gene therapies, but more natural methods can create this effect. 

Mind-body medicine, which uses supplements, breathwork, sound therapy, and deep meditative and transcendental states, can yield positive physiological changes, biological upgrades, and DNA repair in the body. Supplements and nutrients like cat’s claw, astragalus root extract, milk thistle seed extract, and Korean ginseng extract may activate telomerase.

Stem cell therapy

Stem cells maintain the body’s overall health and integrity. A stem cell serves as a reserve cell that replicates and either remains in its reserve pool or replaces a damaged or aging cell. 

Fast fact: A stem cell has the potential to differentiate into any type of cell in the body. 

This gives stem cells the power to replace worn out, damaged, or diseased tissues. The possibility of rejuvenation and greater levels of recovery are the result. We’ve known about the existence and behavior of stem cells for the last 50 years and have been studying them as a form of regenerative treatment for 20 years.

There are many types of stem cells, each with distinct characteristics and purposes. It’s therefore crucial to understand these different types, their limitations, and their potential benefits before doing any stem cell treatment. The type of cell line used, along with the activation process, depends on the knowledge and skill level of the veterinary practitioner. 

Because of their maleable and transformative nature, and their existence within our bodies and those of our dogs and cats, stem cells can be harnessed, processed, activated, and infused back into the body. 

Early research shows that stem cells can become any cell, depending on the environment they are exposed to and the culture medium they are in. 

Fast fact: Inside the body (in vivo), our blood serves as the culture medium. 

Our blood and cells orchestrate a deeply complex symphony of cell signaling mechanisms. Energetic, biochemical, hormonal, and intracellular processes send “information” to stem cells, activating their mechanisms of proliferation and differentiation — essentially determining what they become and how many they will be. 

Studies show that biochemicals released by certain emotional states play an integral role in how cells behave. Substances like oxytocin, growth factor, dopamine, vasopressin and DHEA are secreted in response to elevated and positive emotions such as love, care, appreciation, and gratitude. 

Conversely, substances like cortisol, epinephrine, norepinephrine and histamine are released in response to the negative emotions of fear, anxiety, anger, and frustration. 

In the presence of these rejuvenating or depleting molecular compounds, all cells will either proliferate and grow or go into complete cell arrest and death. 

Energy or frequency medicine

Our world is bathed in the electromagnetic frequencies of light, sound, and quantum fields. Everything from subatomic particles to global body systems has a vibration and is surrounded by fields of energy. We can use vibration to interface with these fields to rebalance the distortions we call disease. 

Fast fact: We and our dogs and cats are all essentially energy.

Many studies have shown that cells communicate with each other via light and sound. Information is carried through biofields and other fields of energy that connect us with our animal companions. These fields of energy information interlink all organs and systems of the body and can be stimulated by light and sound frequencies. 

We can do this by utilizing different frequencies measured in hertz (for sound) and nanometers (for light). Objects and technologies such as tuning forks, sound bowls, Tibetan gongs, music, toning, infrared and far-infrared light can be used.  

In humans, more intangible therapies such as meditation, visualization, journeying, and guided prayer positively impact well-being, relationships, and overall life satisfaction. People report feeling more connected to their spirituality, experiencing a deep sense of peace and purpose, and finding guidance and clarity in life decisions.

In other words, frequency medicine acts as a catalyst to support the body’s natural healing processes. 

In conclusion

We are not passive recipients of life’s circumstances. We are active participants in crafting our destiny. Our relationships with each other, and our dogs and cats, are entangled and interwoven through deep emotional bonds.

Regenerative medicine for dogs and cats supports and utilizes the body’s own healing mechanisms. It accomplishes this through technology such as stem cell therapy, frequency medicine, nutritional therapy, and supplements.

A simple exercise to try at home

Set aside a dedicated time for you and your animal. Pick a quiet comfortable space without distractions. Play soft soothing music that resonates with you. Breathe deeply to oxygenate, visualize the healing mechanisms creating a healed state in your body, or that of your dog or cat, and embrace the regeneration. 

Factors that affect telomerase

Decrease telomerase:

• Poor nutrition
• Mental and emotional stresses
• Lack of self-love or loss of love
• Lack of purpose

Increase telomerase:

• Good nutrition
• Exercise
• Gratitude, positive outlook, feelings of hope
• Self-love and love
• Sense of purpose, being in service

Telomerase in action 

The Immortal Sea Jelly (Turritopsis dorhnii), a type of jellyfish, uses telomerase to regenerate under stress. 

Under trauma, or any other situation that may threaten its life, this unique creature takes a pause to become very introspective. It becomes desensitized to its outer world, secretes large amounts of telomerase, and focuses all its energy into DNA repair and rejuvenation. 

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