Specialized Therapies

Therapeutic Laser for Dogs and Cats

Therapy laser is a non-invasive treatment used to aid in a variety of medical conditions in both canines and felines. Our exclusive Class IV K-Laser utilizes four specific wavelengths of light to interact with soft tissues. By drawing water, oxygen and nutrients to the damaged area, this laser energy promotes healing; reducing inflammation, swelling, stiffness and pain in dogs, cats and other pets. The treatment effects are cumulative so we will often recommend several weeks of therapy at decreasing frequency and then create a long term therapy plan for your pet. Therapy laser offers a pain management solution that can help reduce the amount of pain medications and NSAIDS needed for your pet.

Common uses of the laser are:

  • Joint Pain
  • Arthritis
  • Muscle strains
  • Wounds
  • Post-surgical pain
  • Neck & Back Pain
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Rehabilitation
  • Post-traumatic Injury
  • Inflammation
  • Chronic Pain

Check out more information on http://www.myklaserpet.com

Therapeutic Laser for Dogs and Cats

Platelet Rich Plasma Treatment (Autologous Conditioned Plasma)

Proteins in the blood have primary roles in promoting effective healing and repair after an injury. Many proteins involved in the healing process come from the components of blood called platelets.

Platelets are small, colorless, cell fragments in the blood. They are formed in the bone marrow and are freely passing through the bloodstream in a resting state. However, when an injury occurs, the platelets become activated and start to gather at the injury site to release beneficial proteins called growth factors. This is the beginning of the healing process.

Autologous Conditioned Plasma is a specific blood product made by concentrating a patient’s own platelets and growth factors in a small volume of plasma. ACP can then be used as a concentrated version of the patient’s own growth factors to improve signaling and recruitment of cells to an injury site and optimize healing.

The veterinarian or technician will take a blood sample using a needle and a specially designed syringe. The blood then goes through a rapid spinning process that separates and concentrates the platelets and other beneficial growth factors in the plasma portion of the blood. The plasma containing these platelets and growth factors is injected into the injured muscle, tendon, ligament, joint or wound.

ACP has been used for many years in orthopedic procedures in people, including joint replacement, fracture repair, and joint fusions. ACP has been reported to improve bone and soft tissue healing in these types of cases. In addition, ACP may help prevent excessive blood loss, decrease the risk of infection, enhance wound healing, and reduce pain such that less pain-relieving drugs are required by the patient. ACP is a superior option for those pets that cannot tolerate NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications) to manage their discomfort.

ACP uses the patient’s own natural healing properties to treat the injury. Side effects utilizing ACP are very uncommon. Although some have reported pain at the site of injection for several days after the treatment.

Platelet Rich Plasma Treatment

Stem Cell Therapy

We offer stem cell therapy for dogs and cats suffering from osteoarthritis, hip dysplasia and other degenerative diseases. This new state-of-the-art medicine is now being performed right here in Wilmington and we are proud to be one of the few hospitals that offers this incredible and innovative technology!

Adipose(fat) derived stem cell therapy allows for a minimally invasive procedure to harvest adult stem cell cells from animals who are seeking pain relief. This technology does not involve embryonic stem cells. The procedure uses the animal’s own adult stem cells from fat tissue to heal and repair, therefore there are no ethical or FDA issues as the method is extremely safe. If you have pet insurance, some companies may cover up to 80% of the cost.

Regenerative medicine procedures for orthopedic conditions have recently been performed on athletes such as New York Yankee’s pitcher Bartolo Colon and PGA golfer Tiger Woods. Plasma and stem cell treatments allow for a natural process to speed healing time and reduce inflammation, improving general well-being of the patients. Now, with the help of MediVet Biologics, animal owners seeking relief for their beloved pets have a new cutting edge option in regenerative medicine.

Owners report improvements in range of motion and mobility in three to ten days. The stem cells will continue healing from weeks to months and the effects last a year or more. Depending on the extent of the joint injury and the age of the animal when they first receive regenerative medicine, some animals may need periodic re-treatment. Click here to read more.

Stem Cell Therapy