Igor, a Siberian tiger at a Hungarian zoo, has received stem cell therapy to heal his worn hip and continue living pain-free. Igor is a 13-year-old tiger residing at the zoo in Szeged, Hungary. His hip has been painful for years.
Stem cell therapy, which is much more commonly used on humans, treats injured joints with tissue taken from the patient’s fat that contains regenerative stem cells, veterinarians reported. The cells are injected into the painful joints.
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– The essence of stem cell therapy is to improve the quality of life for patients for whom surgery or conventional medications cannot help, said veterinarian Robert Gippert, who injected stem cells into Igor.
– Just like in humans, Igor’s worn joint will heal thanks to the regenerative effects of stem cells, without the use of external materials, Gippert added.
Sedated Igor tolerated the procedure well. In two to three weeks, veterinarians will be able to assess whether there has been progress in his movement.
