Stem cells are cells that have the ability to become many other cell types. In the proposed project, we will inject adult bone marrow stem cells into dogs with diseases that modern veterinary medicine lacks an effective cure. It is anticipated that the plastic stem cells will change into a form beneficial to the dog patient and improve the disease. Diseases that we will investigate for benefit from stem cells include dilated cardiomyopathy, degenerative myelopathy, inflammatory bowel disease and correction of inborn errors of metabolism. Modern veterinary medicine lacks effective cures for all of these diseases and we hope to develop methods for dealing with them.