What is Regenerative Medicine?
Regenerative medicine is using the body’s own cells to heal and regenerate damaged tissues. After reviewing the evidence and doing some further study in 2020, John and Laura decided to invest in the equipment to offer regenerative medicine to our patients in 2021.
Therapies included are Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) and Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC) Stem Cells.
What can these therapies be used for?
We are using the therapies to treat dogs with arthritis, and soft tissue injuries.
What is Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)?
PRP involves taking a blood sample from your dog, and concentrating it so that it contains cells called platelets and the fluid portion of the blood (plasma). The resulting product is then injected directly into the area of injury, while the pet is under sedation or general anaesthetic. The PRP works by recruiting cells to the area of injury to clean up, and by releasing proteins called ‘growth factors’ which are responsible for tissue regeneration. For dogs with arthritis, an improvement can be seen for 6-12 months following the injection.
What are Stem Cells?
Stem cells are those which can become any type of cell. They can also help recruit other cells to aid in wound healing and tissue repair. The process of collecting stem cells from your dog is more involved, in that a small amount of bone marrow is collected from the thigh bone under general anaesthesia. The sample is processed, to isolate and concentrate the stem cells, and the cells are then injected directly into the area of injury (under the same anaesthetic). Improvement in dogs with arthritis can be seen for a year or more following one treatment.
These therapies can be used alongside other treatments, such as laser therapy, and can reduce the dog’s reliance on pain medication.
If you want to learn more about this type of therapy visit this website.
To discuss whether your dog may benefit from treatment, please book an appointment with one of our vets. Alternatively, if your dog is already under treatment for arthritis with us, give us a call or drop us an email and one of the vets can review your dog’s notes and get in touch.