Drawing blood for PRP processing.
Regenerative and biologic therapies provide steroid-free options beneficial for patients with metabolic disorders like Cushing’s disease or insulin resistance, reducing laminitis risk and avoiding steroid-related side effects such as cartilage damage. These treatments aim to reduce joint inflammation, pain, and arthritis progression. For tendon and ligament injuries, regenerative therapies lessen inflammation and scarring, improving healing and lowering re-injury risk. Soft tissue injections are often performed using ultrasound guidance for precise medication delivery. All therapies can be conveniently administered stall side.
| Treatment/Product | Main Use | Mechanism/Key Features |
Benefits | Additional Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha-2 Macroglobulin (a2M) |
Injected into joints |
Natural anti-inflammatory |
Relieves pain, increases longevity of horse’s career, heals, removes pain, decreases enzymes that lead to cartilage breakdown | One sample treats multiple joints; remaining product can be frozen up to a year; portable, stall-side treatment |
| Amniotic Tissues (Renovo, Regenaflex, Strydaflex) |
Tendon and ligament injuries, sore joints |
Contain biologically active factors, growth factors, amino acids, hyaluronic acid, proteoglycans, proteins |
Anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, wound healing, decreases scar tissue formation, tissue healing |
No processing or extra equipment required |
| Polyacrylamide gels (Arthramid, Noltrex) |
Arthritis, sore joints | Adheres to synovium, decreases joint inflammation |
Pain relief, slows progression of osteo-arthritis, improves joint health, great joint lubrication |
Injection intervals can last up to 18 months; best for joints without radiographic signs of arthritis, bno equipment needed |
| Spryng | Joints with cartilage loss or defects |
Collagen-elastin product; absorbs and releases joint fluid in response to mechanical stress |
Shock absorbing property | Injected into the joint |
| Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) (ProVet®, Pro-stride) |
Tendon and ligament injuries, sore joints |
Uses horse’s own blood to create concentrated platelets |
Decreases inflammation, aids healing process |
Portable stallside use, can be frozen for later use |