Treatment Modalities for Lameness

Joint Therapy

Often the process of joint disease is characterized by inflammation of the joint capsule followed by progressive destruction of the articular cartilage. There are a number of therapies that can be used to treat the early stages of osteoarthritis, these include: ice therapy, oral bute, Pentosan injections, Hyaluronic acid injections and intra-articular corticosteroids.

Nutraceutical supplementation

The additions of products including Glucosamine, Chondroitin, Hyaluronic acid, and PSGAG’s may help ease the pain of ongoing pathology as well as slow the disease’s progression.

Platelet Rich Plasma

Platelet Rich Plasma is the result of processing whole blood to obtain the blood fraction that has the highest concentration of platelets. Platelets contain growth factors that are released when the cells are activated. Platelet derived growth factors, transforming growth factors, insulin-like growth factors, epidermal growth factors and others act to enhance access of healthy inflammatory cells to the area of tissue injury, angiogenesis, fibroplasias, and re-epithelialization. PRP is used in new tendon and ligament injuries as well as chronic injuries that have not healed despite traditional rest and rehabilitation.

Rehabilitation

Many lameness cases require a period of rest to reduce inflammation and allow for tissue healing. The time of confinement may range from a few days to several months and may require intermittent re-evaluation to help determine when and how much work your horse will be able to do.

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