Equine Regenerative Medicine

We offer novel treatment modalities including extracorporeal shockwave therapy, IRAP II, Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), and stem cell therapy.

IRAP II

IRAP II competes with the degrading force of pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 (IL-1) for the same receptor sites in the horse’s affected joint; therefore, by adding it into a damaged joint, IL-1 will not be able to harm your horse. Our veterinarians routinely use this product in young horses with relatively benign synovitis and capsulitis, horses in training with developing osteoarthritis and post-surgically if cartilage loss would otherwise decrease the prognosis for an athlete to return to competition. Used early enough, IRAP II treatment can halt the degradative cycle before it spirals out of control.

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)

The use of PRP for the treatment of a variety of soft tissue tendon and ligament injuries is rapidly expanding. After taking a sample of the patient’s blood, in minutes a portable filtration system separates blood plasma rich in platelets from red blood cells. This PRP, along with its associated growth factors, is then immediately injected via ultrasound guided techniques into the soft tissue lesions creating what some call a “super-clot” that serves to help create a biologic scaffold upon which the body’s own cells migrate. These cells produce new collagen fibrils along lines of tension in the structure being treated. Sometimes even used in conjunction with stem cell treatment, PRP is a fast, inexpensive treatment that uses the horse’s own cells and molecules to stimulate more rapid and stronger healing in a variety of structures. We use this often for flexor tendon core lesions and suspensory ligament desmitis.

Stem Cell Therapy

By using cultured bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) or fat-derived stem cells, our veterinarians can perform the newest procedures for our patients in the aggressive treatment of severe, career jeopardizing soft tissue injuries involving tendons, ligaments and joints.

Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy ESWT

Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy ESWT is a noninvasive procedure that uses high energy sound waves to increase pressure as it travels through tissues. This stimulates an increase in blood flow and new blood supply, an increase in cytokine release, blocks nerve pain, and reorganizes connective tissue, fibrin and scar tissue. We use ESWT to treat musculoskeletal disorders such as pulled or strained muscles, bowed tendons, suspensory ligament desmitis, stress fractures, osteochondrosis (OCD) lesions, sore backs, and sore necks.