What Is Regenerative Medicine for Pets?
Pet regenerative medicine is a category of treatment that uses your pet’s own biological material — in this case, blood platelets or stem cells — to support healing in damaged tissue. These therapies have been used in equine medicine for years and are increasingly available in small animal practice as a meaningful option for conditions that haven’t fully responded to traditional approaches.
At Springs Road Animal Hospital, we offer two regenerative therapies for dogs and cats: Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy and autologous stem cell therapy. Both are performed in-house, both use your pet’s own cells (which means no risk of rejection), and both can be used alongside other treatments, such as laser therapy and joint supplements, for an integrated approach to pain management and tissue repair.
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy for Pets
PRP therapy uses your pet’s own blood to deliver concentrated healing factors directly to damaged tissue. The process is straightforward: we draw a small blood sample from your pet, process it in our office to concentrate the platelets, and inject the resulting PRP into the affected joint or area. The growth factors naturally present in those platelets stimulate tissue repair, reduce inflammation, and support healing.
A few practical details about PRP at Springs Road:
- The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis under light sedation
- Joint injections are the most common application, typically for osteoarthritis
- Effects generally last 3 to 6 months, and can last longer when combined with laser therapy in the affected joints
- PRP can be used alongside Adequan injections, Type II collagen (Flexadin), glucosamine/chondroitin supplements, or anti-inflammatory medications
- For pets who can’t tolerate long-term NSAIDs, PRP can serve as a meaningful alternative
Autologous Stem Cell Therapy
Stem cell therapy takes the regenerative concept a step further. Mesenchymal stem cells — harvested from your pet’s own fat tissue (adipose) — have the remarkable ability to develop into different types of cells, which means they can support repair in joints, tendons, and other connective tissues in ways that PRP alone cannot.
The Springs Road process for stem cell therapy:
- Under anesthesia, our veterinarians harvest a small sample of adipose tissue from your pet
- The sample is processed in our office to isolate the mesenchymal stem cells
- The concentrated stem cells are then injected into the joints or sites of concern
- Effects typically last 6 to 12 months, sometimes longer, depending on the severity of the underlying condition
- Pets typically show improvement within weeks to months and continue to improve over that time
Stem cell therapy is especially useful for dogs with osteoarthritis, tendinopathies, and other degenerative or chronic conditions. For cats, we use it to support pets with arthritis, chronic stomatitis, autoimmune conditions, and certain skin conditions.
Stem Cell Banking for Future Use
One of the benefits of harvesting stem cells from adipose tissue is that we can collect and bank cells for future use through cryopreservation. This means stem cells can be harvested during a routine surgery (such as a spay or neuter) and stored for later — giving your pet access to regenerative treatment down the road without needing another anesthetic event to collect cells.
We also offer proactive stem cell banking for younger, healthy pets whose parents want to invest in long-term wellness options. Talk with us about whether banking makes sense for your pet’s situation.
When Is Regenerative Medicine the Right Choice?
Regenerative therapies are most commonly used for osteoarthritis, but they can also be valuable for a range of other conditions, including:
- Degenerative joint disease and hip dysplasia
- Tendon and ligament injuries
- Post-surgical recovery support
- Chronic inflammatory conditions
- Autoimmune diseases
- Certain skin conditions
- Chronic stomatitis (especially in cats)
Like all medical treatments, regenerative therapy isn’t right for every pet. The most important consideration is your pet’s overall health — for stem cell therapy specifically, we want to make sure your pet is healthy enough to undergo anesthesia. Additionally, the presence of metastatic neoplasia (cancer) is a contraindication to the procedure. We’ll talk through whether regenerative medicine is a good fit for your pet’s specific situation.
To learn more about regenerative medicine for your dog or cat, request an appointment or call us at (828) 256-2151. We’re happy to talk through whether PRP, stem cell therapy, or a combined approach makes sense for your pet.
Book Now