When a horse is lame, so-called regenerative therapies play an increasingly important role. But what is behind it? What procedures are there? And can horse owners insure themselves against the costs? pferde.de lists six facts that you should know.
There are many reasons for lameness in horses. One of the most common causes is, for example, inflammation of the coffin joint. But tendon and ligament damage can also be a trigger. In addition to traditional treatments, there are now also new forms of therapy for these diseases – regenerative therapies.
1. Regenerative therapies – from man to horse
Regenerative is derived from the Latin words regeneratio (in English: new creation) and regenerare (in English: to reproduce). In medicine, regenerative therapies are a comparatively young discipline. She deals with the healing of diseases by strengthening the body’s own regenerative powers.
The basic principle of these therapies is the targeted use of the body’s own cells and growth factors to relieve inflammation and regenerate damaged tissue. In human medicine, for example, regenerative therapies are almost part of everyday life. Veterinarians are now also using the experience and have already achieved significant success with horses.
2. IRAP therapy for joint diseases
IRAP therapy (IRAP is the abbreviation for Interleukin Receptor Antagonist Protein) can help with an acute or chronic joint disease such as arthrosis. Aim of the treatment: The joint-destroying process should be stopped.
First, the vet takes some blood from your horse’s jugular vein. This is processed in a special, complex process so that the protein interleukin1 receptor antagonist is increasingly formed. The prepared blood is then injected into the joint, the bursa or a tendon sheath. The effect: In the horse’s body, the “protective protein” occupies the receptors in the joint membrane, thereby suppressing the inflammation.
3. PRP therapy for tendons and ligaments
In the case of injured tendons or ligaments, PRP therapy (Platelet Rich Plasma) also uses blood. As with IRAP therapy, the vet first takes blood from your horse’s jugular vein. The blood is then specially prepared: The platelets are extracted from the blood using two different centrifugation steps and subsequent filtration and then dissolved in a small amount of plasma. The PRP is then injected directly into the tendon lesions, usually under ultrasound control.
The effect: These blood platelets support the formation of new tissue and blood vessels. In addition, these platelets have an anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effect. After the treatment, the injection site is bandaged for about two days.
4. Stem cell therapy for inflammation
Stem cells are very special cells: They have the ability to develop into cell types of different tissues, for example into fat, cartilage, bone or tendon cells. The areas of application are correspondingly large: Stem cell therapy can help with tendon, joint and eye inflammation.
There are currently two sources of stem cells – bone marrow and adipose tissue:
- The vet takes the stem cells from the horse’s breastbone. The liquid obtained is concentrated and then injected into the inflamed area.
- The veterinarian removes the stem cells from the horse’s fatty tissue using liposuction. A special enzyme is added to the serum, it is isolated and concentrated. After about two hours, the veterinarian can inject the stem cells.
So-called chondrogenic stem cells are commercially available for joint treatments. For this purpose, the stem cells were first obtained from the umbilical cord blood of newborn foals. The stem cells are multiplied in a special laboratory and then deep-frozen. The advantage: Since foals have not yet formed any antibodies, this serum can be injected into any other horse.
The effect: the “new” stem cells replace cells that have been lost in the tendon, for example, and regenerate the corresponding tissue. To do this, stem cells release a number of growth factors that are also intended to promote the healing process.
5. Benefits of regenerative therapies
So far, “classic” agents such as cortisone have often been used in the treatment. They work primarily against pain and inhibit inflammation. Regenerative therapies can do more – they can help against the cause of the disease. And they offer other advantages:
- There are hardly any side effects, since the body’s own regenerative and healing powers are used during the treatment.
- They accelerate the healing process and inhibit tissue-destroying inflammatory processes.
- These therapies are often successful even when conventional treatment methods are no longer effective.
6. Regenerative therapies: costs – and the appropriate protection
Unfortunately, if you decide to use regenerative therapy, there is a disadvantage: it costs quite a bit of money:
- IRAP therapy: is often billed as a flat rate of around 1,000 euros,
- PRP therapy between 400 euros and 700 euros,
- Stem cell therapy from 1,000 euros to 2,000 euros.
In addition, there will be further examinations and possibly accommodation in a veterinary clinic. In short: the costs quickly increase to several thousand euros. The good thing: You can sign up with a Equine Surgery Insurance protect against financial burdens. With the Uelzener insurance companies, for example, up to seven days of aftercare and treatment and regenerative therapies are insured up to 500 euros in the premium package.
