All Cats Considered – Episode 311
In this episode of All Cats Considered, Dr. Cathy Lund sits down with Dr. Rebecca Windsor, DVM, DACVIM, a board-certified veterinary neurologist who now serves as Director of Veterinary Affairs at Gallant. Dr. Windsor shares her fascinating journey from clinical practice to the cutting edge of regenerative medicine, where she’s helping bring stem cell therapy to market for one of the most challenging conditions in feline medicine: chronic gingivostomatitis (FCGS). Drawing on her two decades of experience treating neuroinflammatory diseases, Dr. Windsor explains how stem cells work as immunomodulatory agents that can actually address the root causes of immune-mediated conditions rather than just managing symptoms. The therapy shows remarkable promise, with 75% of cats showing improvement at 90 days and approximately 65% maintaining long-term benefits—including 22% achieving complete resolution of their disease.
Dr. Windsor breaks down the science behind why stem cells are so effective for FCGS, explaining how they combat viral infections like feline calicivirus, rebalance inflammatory cytokines, and may even help restore a healthy oral microbiome. With conditional FDA approval expected in spring 2025, this therapy offers hope for cats who haven’t responded to full-mouth extractions and medical management. As Dr. Windsor emphasizes, this represents a fundamentally different approach to treatment—one that helps cats truly heal rather than simply managing their pain and inflammation with lifelong medications.
Additional Resources:
JFMS article: Clinical Field Study Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of Allogenic Uterine-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Refractory Feline Chronic Gingivostomatitis (FCGS)