Below, you'll find the transcription of each video, shedding light on topics like biologics, hydrogels, and more. Delve into the world of joint health and learn how to best care for your horse's well-being. Watch, read, and gain a deeper understanding of the cutting-edge therapies available for your equine partner's optimal joint health.
In this comprehensive video series, we delve into the world of joint health, exploring various products available on the market, and helping you choose the ideal treatment for your horse. Let's start with the fundamental components of a joint to comprehend what leads to issues and discomfort.
Understanding the unseen factors that contribute to joint problems is crucial for effective joint care. Stay tuned as we review different joint products in the upcoming videos. Send us your questions, and together, let's ensure your horse's joint health remains in peak condition. Thanks for joining us!
Welcome back, everyone! Today, we're diving into the world of joint health and therapies. Let's discuss the classic combination of a steroid and hyaluronic acid (HA) and how they work together to alleviate joint issues.
Each veterinarian may have their preferences based on experience and patient needs. The key is to tailor the treatment to your horse's specific condition and optimize joint health.
Read on for more insights on various joint therapies.
Welcome back, everyone! Today, we're excited to introduce IRAP, a groundbreaking product that has been transforming joint health for the past decade or more. IRAP belongs to a category called Orthobiologics, which focuses on biologic approaches to address orthopedic diseases.
IRAP stands for Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist Protein, but we'll keep it simple and refer to it as IRAP. When a horse's joint produces interleukin-1, it needs to bind to a receptor to continue the inflammatory cascade. The amazing thing about IRAP is that it naturally blocks this receptor, hindering the binding process and breaking the inflammatory cycle. IRAP also contains low levels of growth hormones that aid in joint healing.
To harness the incredible benefits of IRAP therapy, we follow a carefully designed process. First, we sterilely prep the jugular vein and draw 60 milliliters of whole blood into a syringe. The blood is then transferred to a tube containing chromium beads, which help enhance the expression of the IRAP protein. After incubating the tube for approximately 16 hours, we separate the IRAP-rich serum using a centrifuge. The extracted serum is divided into individual syringes, with the dosage tailored to each specific joint.
IRAP Treatment:
IRAP therapy is typically administered as a series of injections. The standard protocol involves one injection per week for three weeks, followed by booster shots as needed.
IRAP offers a revolutionary approach to controlling orthopedic diseases by naturally blocking inflammatory processes and supporting joint healing. The treatment is well-established and has shown impressive results over the years.
Read on for our discussion on Pro-Stride.
Introducing Pro-Stride: The Powerful Combination of PRP and IRAP for Optimal Joint Health
Welcome back, horse enthusiasts! We hope you're finding our joint health series informative and valuable. Last time, we discussed IRAP, and today, we're thrilled to present another cutting-edge product called Pro-Stride.
Pro-Stride is a revolutionary combination of two potent biologic components - PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) and IRAP (Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist Protein). These two elements work in tandem to provide exceptional benefits for your horse's joint health.
Let's break it down into the two main components:
Pro-Stride offers a powerful combination of inflammation control and joint healing. It's particularly valuable in cases where traditional steroids and HA haven't provided satisfactory results. Moreover, Pro-Stride is an excellent option for horses at risk of laminitis, such as those with Cushing's disease, insulin resistance, or equine metabolic syndrome. With Pro-Stride, we're promoting natural healing within the joint, which can lead to longer-lasting joint health.
The process of administering Pro-Stride is straightforward and can be done stall-side. We start by drawing approximately 60 milliliters of blood from your horse, similar to a routine IV blood draw. The blood is then processed using a centrifuge, separating it into red and white cells, platelet-rich plasma, and platelet-poor plasma. The platelet-rich plasma is combined with a powder containing chromium, which triggers the expression of the IRAP protein. After another centrifugation step, we are left with approximately three milliliters of Pro-Stride, which can be injected directly into the affected joint.
While Pro-Stride may not work as rapidly as traditional steroids and HA, the long-term benefits are remarkable. In some cases, you might see results within 30 days, but it may take a bit longer. However, the overall joint health and reduced need for frequent injections make it an excellent choice.
At Countryside Veterinary Services, we have witnessed the positive impact of Pro-Stride on numerous occasions and are proud to offer this groundbreaking treatment to our equine companions.
We'd love to hear your questions and comments. Reach out to us anytime, and thank you for being part of our joint health series. Read on for our discussion on Hydrogels.
Welcome back to our joint health series! We've been on a journey, exploring the therapies available for inflamed joints and maintaining joint health in horses. In our previous videos, we covered topics like synovitis, capsulitis, and arthritis, as well as the benefits of biologics such as IRAP and Pro-Stride. Today, we're delving into the world of synthetic molecules, particularly hydrogels, which have been making a significant impact in the field of joint therapy. The two main hydrogel products we'll discuss are Arthramid® Vet and Noltrex® Vet, and we'll highlight their similarities, differences, and when to use each.
Arthramid® Vet and Noltrex® Vet Hydrogels, specifically polyacrylamide hydrogels, are a cutting-edge class of synthetic molecules used in joint therapy. Let's explore how these two remarkable products function and their unique properties.
Noltrex® Vet is a 4% hydrogel with a specific focus on articular cartilage within the joint. In healthy joints, articular cartilage appears smooth, but under an electron microscope, small chondrocytes with gaps can be observed. The gaps are normally filled by polysulfated glycosaminoglycans (PGAGs) in the synovial fluid, providing rigidity to the cartilage. However, in damaged joints with eroded cartilage, the gaps become larger, making it challenging for PGAGs to effectively fill them.
This is where Noltrex® Vet comes to the rescue! With its larger molecular size, Noltrex® Vet can fit into these enlarged spaces, attract water, and restore rigidity to the articular cartilage. I often use Noltrex® Vet in cases where MRI results indicate cartilage erosion or arthrosis, especially in joints like coffin joints, fetlocks, or navicular bursa with gliding surface erosions.
Arthramid® Vet, a 2% polyacrylamide hydrogel, has a different role within the joint. Rather than acting on articular cartilage, Arthramid® Vet targets the joint capsule and synovial lining. When injected into the joint, Arthramid® Vet creates a supportive scaffold within the synovium, promoting the growth of synoviocytes. The growth of synoviocytes is a positive sign as saving the synovium is crucial for preserving joint health.
A healthier synovium results in improved synovial fluid production, leading to a happier joint. I often turn to Arthramid® Vet for joints that are not in the end stage but have undergone chronic inflammation or have thicker, unhealthy synovium. A good example is a joint with complete loss of synovium in the palmar pouch, where Arthramid® Vet can significantly benefit the joint.
Both Arthramid® Vet and Noltrex® Vet are hydrogels, but the difference in their molecular structures determines their specific functions within the joint. The concentration of the hydrogel (2% for Arthramid® Vet and 4% for Noltrex® Vet) is not an indicator of superiority; rather, it dictates their distinct roles.
To make an informed decision about which product to use, it is essential to have a clear understanding of what's happening within the joint. Joint health is a complex matter, and proper diagnosis and selection of the right therapy are vital for effective treatment. Whether a joint requires a biologic or a hydrogel, we aim to restore the joint's well-being and promote the horse's overall health and performance.
We hope this series on joint health has been enlightening for you. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to reach out. We're here to help, so let us know how we can assist you. Thanks for joining us on this journey, and take care of your horse's joints!
