Dog Prolotherapy, also known as nonsurgical ligament reconstruction, is a medical treatment for chronic pain.
“Prolo” is short for proliferation, as the treatment induces 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 proven to increase joint ligament strength by 30-40% in human clinical trials.
Clinical results using cat and dog prolotherapy appear to indicate the same response.
In fact, many elite human athletes use prolotherapy to strengthen weak tissues to prevent future injury.
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.
The mechanism of prolotherapy is simple.
A proliferant (a mild irritant 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, strong, and healthy ligament and tendon tissue. As the tendons and ligaments grow stronger and more capable of supporting and maintaining normal joint stability, the pain resolves.
Prolotherapy helps many different types of chronic musculoskeletal pain including:
- arthritis
- degenerative joint disease
- torn ligaments
- torn tendons and cartilage
- tendonitis
- back pain
- neck pain
- and partially degenerated or herniated vertebral disks.
Prolotherapy is not a substitute for surgery as not all animals are candidates for this type of medical procedure. Each case is evaluated on an individual basis!
Dog Prolotherapy is suitable for:
- animals with chronic osteoarthritic pain that involves one or more joints
- geriatric animals with chronic arthritis or joint pain that are poor anesthetic candidates
- animals with injury or tears of one or both anterior cruciate ligaments
- performance animals (agility, working dogs) with ligament or tendon injuries
- animals that are sensitive or have adverse reactions to conventional pain medications (Rimadyl, Dermaxx)
Prolotherapy for Partial ACL Tears in Large Mix Breed Dogs
From the Desk of Dr. Marc Smith… A Question for the Doctor: I have a 110-pound mix breed (Border Collie/St. Bernard) who was diagnosed with
Watch a Canine Prolotherapy Demonstration
Watch a video of Dr. Smith performing a prolotherapy treatment on a dog. During prolotherapy, the vet injects an irritant solution into damaged or weakened ligaments or tendons to stimulate tissue repair and alleviate chronic pain.
