How does PRP work?

An amount of blood is taken from the horse, and processed to increase the number of platelets and growth factors it contains. This

is done by passing the blood through a filter or by placing it in a centrifuge.  During this process the tubes filled with the horse’s blood are spun, physically separating a majority of the red and white blood cells from the platelets and plasma, thus forming a platelet-rich plasma. The PRP sample can be ready to inject into the horse within 15-30 minutes after taking the blood. This is done at the centre on the day your horse is being treated ensuring that the product used is fresh and at its best.

Platelets release a large number of growth factors when they arrive at a site of tissue injury, including platelet-derived growth factor

(PDGF), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta), insulin-like growth factors (IGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and

connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) that are known to orchestrate the movements of other cells and stimulate the production of repair tissue (extracellular matrix). It is these growth factors that we aim to take advantage of when using PRP.

Platelet Rich Plasma or PRP is a regenerative medicine treatment that delivers a high concentrate of platelets in the form of blood plasma to a lesion increasing the amount of growth factors at the site to help in healing.  Regenerative medicine is one of the most recent and potentially helpful therapies introduced to the equine industry over the last few years. There are three main types of cells in blood circulation: red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Platelets are filled with beneficial growth factors that help repair connective tissues and keep them healthy.

Ligaments and tendons are notoriously slow to heal, and horses frequently re-injure the tendon at the same site. PRP is believed

to stimulate tendon injury repair. PRP can be injected directly into a joint (i.e., intra-articularly) to treat osteoarthritis (OA) and into the thoracic area. We have had much success relating Kissing Spines and Facet joint pain recently.

PRP has been hypothesized to help improve wound healing. In horses, wound healing after surgery or with an injury, can be slow

and in some cases “proud flesh” can develop. A published study on PRP for wound healing in horses found that treated wounds

healed faster than wounds that were simply sutured (stitched) closed.

We are pleased to be able to offer this very healthy treatment to horses and are very pleased with the results we are seeing and

how long they are lasting.