The therapeutic use of canine mesenchymal stem cells (cMSC) is rapidly expanding. MSC are stromalcells, which show multipotent stem cell properties in vitro. They possess trophic, immunoregulatory,antimicrobial and hematopoiesis-supportive properties. Moreover, injected MSC are able to migrate tosites of hypoxia and inflammation. Recently, more evidence has become available showing that MSCmay originate from pericytes. Different microenvironments as well as non-standardized methods fortheir isolation and expansion lead to heterogeneous cell populations. Further research is essential inorder to use these promising therapies without restrictions in dogs.