VetStem recently launched two FDA-reviewed platelet-rich plasma (PRP) products: PrecisePRP™ Canine and PrecisePRP™ Equine. PrecisePRP™ is a freeze-dried off-the-shelf PRP unlike any platelet-rich plasma currently on the market. The primary benefits of PrecisePRP™ include ease of use and consistency. With PrecisePRP, you no longer have to draw blood and process it to obtain the PRP. You simply reconstitute and inject. Additionally, PrecisePRP™ provides a consistent dose of PRP so you know exactly what you’re injecting every single time.

After a few months on the market, numerous veterinarians have begun to routinely incorporate PrecisePRP™ into their practice. We recently spoke with board-certified veterinary surgeon and long-time regenerative medicine provider, Dr. Jeff Christiansen, to learn about his use of platelet-rich plasma and to hear his thoughts after using PrecisePRP™. Below, you will find a brief Q&A followed by a link to the video interview, which goes into more depth.

What are the most common injuries/conditions you treat with PRP?

I use PRP primarily in conjunction with surgeries and/or in combination with stem cell therapy. I most commonly use it for cruciate injuries, either with stem cell therapy and/or with surgery (TTA vs. extracapsular). I also use it with medial patellar luxation +/- stem cell therapy. I have used it in cases of hip dysplasia in combination with stem cell therapy. Other arthropathies I have used PRP for include elbow, shoulder, carpus and, less commonly, tarsus. I frequently use PRP with fracture repairs, with both long bone and joint fractures. I also use it for tendon/ligament injuries, such as common calcaneal/Achilles, collateral, etc. And lastly, any reconstructive surgery, tumor removal, resection of inflamed/infected tissue, etc.

What do you like most about PrecisePRP compared to previous PRP kits you have used?

PrecisePRP requires less work and time. Certainly, PrecisePRP does not require a clean blood draw, which is harder in some small patients, nor is there the risk of the sample clotting and wasting/losing a whole kit. When you take a centrifuge out of the equation, you don’t have to worry about matching/balancing/spinning or technical challenges with the filtration kits. PrecisePRP is also nice with a small or an anemic patient so you don’t have to take their blood.

How do you select patients for PRP?

I recommend PRP in all of the cases listed in #1. For ortho cases, a lot of owners find stem cell therapy cost prohibitive, but they want to do something to help accelerate healing and minimize arthritis, so they do PRP.

Click the image below to watch the full interview where Dr. Christiansen goes into depth about his use of PRP and why he likes PrecisePRP!

July 21^st is World Collie Day so we thought it fitting to share Casey’s VetStem success story. Casey is a Rough Collie who began experiencing symptoms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease when he was around 4 months old. At first, he was not eating regularly. This was followed by frequent bouts of diarrhea and vomiting. After trying multiple diets and medications with no success, numerous diagnostics including X-rays, bloodwork, ultrasound, and biopsies of his GI tract led to a diagnosis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).

IBD is a gastrointestinal disease that can affect both dogs and cats. It is characterized by inflammation of the intestines and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, reduced appetite, and weight loss. IBD can be a frustrating disease because a definitive diagnosis can be time-consuming and costly, traditional treatments are life-long and can be complex, and the animal often continues to experience symptoms of the disease despite treatment.

Though Casey was on a special diet and multiple medications, his symptoms were minimally controlled. This went on for about three years until his bloodwork revealed elevated liver enzymes, which was a result of his steroid medication. It was at this time that his veterinarian recommended treatment with VetStem Cell Therapy.

Stem cells have demonstrated the ability to down regulate inflammation, modulate the immune system, and repair damaged tissue. Multiple animals have been treated with stem cell therapy for IBD and experienced a relief in symptoms and an improved quality of life. After some research, Casey’s owners agreed to move forward with VetStem Cell Therapy.

To begin the process, Casey had fat collected from his abdomen in a minimally invasive anesthetic procedure. The fat was aseptically packaged and shipped to the VetStem processing laboratory. Lab technicians processed the fat to isolate and concentrate the stem and regenerative cells contained therein. Therapeutic doses were then prepared for treatment.

Over the course of 10 months, Casey received 5 separate intravenous doses of his own stem cells. According to his owner, his symptoms improved greatly. He began interacting more and playing with his family and other dogs. He started rolling over for belly rubs, which he had not done in the first 3 years of his life. His appetite improved and he was able to get off all but one of his medications, including being completely off steroids. He has occasional IBD flare ups but nothing to the degree he experienced previously.

Approximately 15 months after his 5^th stem cell treatment, Casey received a 6^th intravenous dose (along with intra-articular doses to treat a few arthritic joints) and hasn’t required additional treatments for over year now. He does, however, have numerous doses left in his stem cell bank, should he ever require future treatments.

If your pet has Inflammatory Bowel Disease, speak to your veterinarian or contact us to find a VetStem provider near you.

Casey

A few weeks ago, we discussed VetStem’s extensive work with numerous exotic species. One example is a Sichuan Takin (rhymes with rockin’) named Xing, who resides at the Saint Louis Zoo. According to the Zoo’s website, Takin are an antelope-like goat ranging in weight from about 500 to over 800 pounds depending on their sex. They are native to China and reside in mountainous bamboo forests.

Sadly, the Sichuan Takin wild population is diminishing, and they face a high risk of extinction in the wild. Fortunately, zoos such as the Saint Louis Zoo participate in the Species Survival Plan for Sichuan Takin, a cooperative breeding program that helps ensure a healthy population of animals.

When Xing was young, he sustained an injury to both his carpal (wrist) joints which predisposed him to arthritis. The Zoo’s animal care and veterinary teams monitored Xing closely for the development of arthritis. Xing was eventually diagnosed with arthritis, and his symptoms included a stiff gait and decreased activity. One of the Zoo’s staff veterinarians, Dr. Rachel Ferris, reached out to us to inquire about helping Xing with stem cell therapy and of course we said yes!

Stem cells have the ability to down regulate inflammation and pain. They have also shown to help regenerate joint tissues, such as damaged cartilage. Just like the thousands of arthritic dogs, cats, and horses that have experienced an improved quality of life as a result of treatment with VetStem Cell Therapy, we believed stem cells could help Xing.

Over the last year, Xing has received three treatments with mesenchymal stem cells. According to Dr. Ferris, his activity level has improved significantly since starting treatment. We love to hear this news! Xing recently celebrated his 8th birthday and continues to thrive.

Xing