Platelet Rich Plasma
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) uses a patient’s own blood components to stimulate healing response in damaged tissues. In response to an injury or tissue damage, the body naturally redirects platelets (clotting cells) and white blood cells from the blood to the injured area to initiate a healing response. Platelets store numerous growth factors that are released in response to signals from the injured tissue.
When a concentrated solution of platelets and white blood cells from the patient’s own blood is injected directly into injured tissue, the same healing response is stimulated, but in a more powerful form. By enhancing the body’s natural healing capacity, the treatment may lead to a more rapid, more efficient, and more thorough restoration of the tissue.
What conditions can be treated with PRP?
What conditions can be treated with PRP?Treatable conditions are:
- Tendonitis
- Ligament sprains or tears
- Bursitis
- Osteoarthritis
- Hip dysplasia
- Elbow dysplasia
- Muscle tears
What is involved in PRP therapy?
Blood is first drawn from your pet. The blood is then separated into its red blood cell, white blood cell, plasma, and platelet components in our in-house laboratory. The platelets are carefully concentrated under strict guidelines for sterility and quality control. Your pet is then placed under a local or short general anesthesia and the platelet rich concentrate is injected into the injured site(s).
Depending on the severity and duration of your pet’s injury, one injection of PRP is usually recommended. About two weeks after the initial treatment with PRP, your pet will return here for a follow-up visit, during which your pet will undergo a full evaluation by the veterinarian. We will also ask you about your personal observations regarding your pet’s condition after the treatment. Depending on the findings, a decision will be made regarding the need for additional treatments. In general, we find that a single PRP treatment seems to provide relief in most pets for about 3-6 months. In both acute and chronic injuries, injections may be combined with other medications, supplements, exercise, physical therapy program, or weight loss to enhance the success of the treatment.
What should I expect after PRP treatment?
For most pets, this is a “day procedure”, meaning your pet can come home the afternoon of the procedure. Following the initial injection, your pet will experience some soreness at the site of the treatment. In our experience, about 75-80% of the patients treated with PRP have a noticeable improvement in their mobility within a week to 10 days. Most pets can resume normal activity after a week. The recovery and rehabilitation instructions will always be tailored to the specifics of your pet’s needs and abilities.
Are PRP injections safe?
Research and clinical data has shown that PRP injections are extremely safe, with minimal risk for any adverse reaction or complication. Because PRP is produced from your pet’s own blood, there is no concern for rejection or disease transmission. There is a small risk of infection from any injection into the body, but this is rare, and minimized by our use of strict sterile technique. Recent research studies suggests that PRP may have an antibacterial property that can protect the body against possible infection.
How do I find out if PRP is right for my pet?
If your pet had a recent injury, or has one or more joints with arthritis, they may be an excellent candidate for this treatment. Please contact us to schedule an evaluation.