Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy
Is your pet suffering from osteoarthritis, or a tendon or ligament injury?
What is Platelet-Rich Plasma, or PRP?
Platelet-Rich Plasma, or PRP, is blood plasma that contains concentrated amounts of platelets and growth factors. PRP is a non-surgical and advanced means of providing high doses of the body’s own healing factors directly to the area where they are needed.
How does it work?
At Nickel City Animal Hospital, we use Ardent’s Platelet Rich Plasma Kit. This PRP kit breakthrough product for pets utilizing blood plasma with concentrated platelets that once activated accelerate the healing properties of the isolated growth factors.
Platelets that are found in whole blood contain many healing growth factors and bioactive proteins. These bioactive proteins can initiate tissues healing and assist with inflammation. The treatment offers an affordable all-natural alternative to drugs and steroids.
- A blood sample is drawn from the pet patient needing treatment
- Using special equipment, the blood is spun until the liquid part of the blood (also known as the plasma) and the platelets can be divided from the red and white blood cells. In doing so, the plasma consists of the greater concentration of platelets.
- These platelets are then activated using a series of substances and procedures that will stimulate the release of their growth factors
- The liquid is then injected into the affected area to initiate healing
How does it benefit your pet?
PRP can be introduced topically in or around an injured joint, tendon or used in its gel form to treat large burns or wounds. PRP is not limited to acute injuries, it can also be used for chronic conditions.
- Tendon/Ligament injuries
- Osteoarthritis (all grades)
- Hip Dysplasia
- Wound Healing
- Bone healing
- Cruciate Ligament Injuries (sometimes a series of injections are needed)
What are the risks of PRP therapy?
Since PRP therapy requires using a patient's own blood to harvest the sample (autologous), side effects appear to be minimal, but they may include pain, irritation, bleeding at the site of the injection, or joint infection.
Patients often require sedation (or general anesthesia) when receiving PRP therapy, as it is injected directly into the affected joint or site. Some patients will require multiple injections in order for the treatment to be effective.
A FLARE (mild discomfort or inflammatory response) can sometimes occur in the first 24-72 hours following the injection and can be managed with pain medications.
Watch this video to learn more about PRP Therapy!
