Dr. Ragona performed prolo and O-Zone therapy on this Labrador who has had chronic problems with his knees. The prolo and O-Zone therapy brought him instant relief overnight. Every case is custom and the extent of joint disease will determine number of treatments needed.
Prolotherapy is an effective and non-invasive way to alleviate chronic joint pain in your companion. Call now to get more information (321) 684-7060.
“Prolo” is short for proliferation, because the treatment causes the proliferation (growth, formation) of new connective tissue in areas where it has become weak. Prolotherapy is primarily used to treat joint pain, and has been clinically shown to increase joint ligament strength by 30-40% in humans. Clinical results using prolotherapy in dogs and cats appear to indicate the same response. Many elite human athletes use prolotherapy to strengthen their weak ligamentous tissues to prevent against future tears and injury.
What’s Involved
Prolotherapy involves the treatment of weak or torn tendons and ligaments. A tendon attaches muscle to bone, and ligaments connect bone to bone, both are important for the stability and normal movement of joints. How prolotherapy works is simple.
A proliferant (collagen producing solution) is injected into the affected ligaments or tendons causing a localized inflammation which “turns on” the healing process and directly stimulates the growth of new collagen to strengthen damaged and weak ligament and tendon tissue. As the tendons and ligaments grow stronger and more capable of supporting and maintaining normal joint stability, the pain is alleviated.
How can Prolotherapy be Helpful to my Pet?
Prolotherapy is helpful for many different types of chronic musculoskeletal pain including:
- Arthritis
- Degenerative Joint Disease
- Torn Ligaments
- Tendons and Cartilage
- Tendonitis
- Back Pain
- Neck Pain
- Partially Degenerated or Herniated Inter-Vertebral Disks
Beneficial For Both Cats and Dogs
Prolotherapy can be performed on both dogs and cats, however it is used most commonly in middle aged to geriatric dogs. Most owners report a 50-80% reduction in pain within the first two treatments.
The type of patient for which prolotherapy is appropriate includes but is not limited to:
- Animals with chronic osteoarthritis pain that involves one or more joints, often these animals have lameness involving the front and rear legs
- Geriatric animals with chronic arthritis or joint pain that are a high anesthetic risk animals with injury or tears of one or both anterior cruciate ligaments; prolotherapy treatment can protect the cruciate ligament in the non-surgical leg from rupture in cases where one ligament has already been repaired
- Animals post-surgery with genetic orthopedic disease (hip, shoulder and elbow dysplasia) and chronic lameness and pain despite surgical correction
- Performance animals (agility, working dogs) with ligament or tendon injuries
- Animals that are sensitive or have adverse reactions to conventional pain medications (Rimadyl, Dermaxx etc), or for which pain medications are ineffective
Prolotherapy is not a substitute for surgery; not all animals are candidates for this type of medical procedure. Each case is evaluated on an individual basis, and an examination is required to determine if prolotherapy is an appropriate therapy for your pet.
