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Prolotherapy: An alternative for repair of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries In Dogs
By Dr Andrew | January 23, 2012
Prolotherapy is defined as “proliferation therapy,” or “proliferative injection therapy”.
It involves injecting an irritant type solution into the region of tendons or ligmaents to strengthen the weak tissues, causing scar tissue to form, and help re-stabilize the joint.
Prolotherapy has been used for over 30 years to repair joint injuries in people.
The injected material produces a thickening of the joint capsule and of the external ligaments of the joint.
Over time the thickened ligaments eventually come together, strengthening the joint.
Prolotherapy is usually performed over takes place in 5 to 6 sessions 3 weeks apart.
The joint is clipped, and cleaned with a surgical scrub.
Injections are carefully placed in the area where the cruciate ligament attaches to the joint.
During the procedure most dogs are sedated, but not anesthetized.
Veterinarians performing this claim to see positive results typically after 3 treatments.
There are few veterinary practitioners performing this procedure, although clearly it is worthy of some research; especially in light of the costs associated with ACL surgical repair.
This would be a procedure best geared towards a dog with a partial ACL tear, using some physiotherapy, and hydrotherapy to strengthen the joint.
Long term the dog should be an effective joint supplement.
Here is a video of prolotherapy on a person:
Dr. Andrew J
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Topics: Dog Care, Dog Health, Pet Care, Pet health | 2 Comments »
January 24th, 2012 at 7:00 am
This is a Big NO!
It may be a very temperary sort of relief but not a fix!
If in doubt go see a Orthropaedic Doctor for humans or canines.
January 24th, 2012 at 7:21 am
I work at the Vet School in Missouri and in a Orthopaedic research Lab. We work with Cartilage and Synovium tissue. If it were that easy by injection of irritant type solution, research on ACL, cartilage, Synovium repair would be at a stand still. We have a long way to go but there are many really good procedures for an injury of the Orthopaedic type.