PRP for Partial Cruciate Tear: Pearl Is Running Again

Dogs with different clinical conditions with different outcome goals, including musculoskeletal conditions, can benefit from platelet therapy.

Pearl’s story

Pearl was found as a stray on the streets. She was a bloody little malnourished baby girl. Veterinarians were not able to determine exactly what caused her leg disfigurement. However, because of the scar tissue and the scarring around her torso, it was unlikely she was born that way.

Since Pearl was a puppy she had always gotten along just fine with three and a 3/4 legs. 

Pearl’s owner, Julia, had a prosthetic leg made for her at a young age. This helped Pearl to keep up with the other dogs. Pearl loved to run, swim, fetch balls, jump and play with other dogs.

Pearl’s non-healing wound

At approximately 3 years of age, she began to develop a wound on her stump. 

They tried antibiotics, several different wound dressings, nutritional supplements, and laser therapy. The wound stopped Pearl from being able to wear her prosthetic. It quickly became a chronic wound that was constantly bleeding. The only solution Pearl’s veterinarian had for how to deal with the wound was to amputate the entire leg.

A few months into the wound problem Pearl had another setback, she began limping more than usual.

Pearl’s lameness

Another trip back to the veterinarian. X-rays and a physical exam revealed that Pearl had partially torn her cruciate ligament on her right hind knee. Pearl was bearing almost all her weight on her 2 left legs because her right hind leg had a partial tear in the ACL and her right front leg didn’t touch the ground.

Needless to say, she wasn’t able to do much more than get up to eat and use the restroom. 

Otherwise, she was confined to the dog bed. Her veterinarian started laser therapy on the injured knee two to three times a week as well as more supplements.

Pearl was examined by Dr. Holly Mullen at VCA Emergency Animal Hospital
& Referral Center. ACL surgery and leg amputation were discussed but Dr. Mullen suggested some alternatives to surgery that they could try.

Pearl’s treatment

Dr. Mullen suggested trying the VetStem Platelet Therapy system V-PET™.

“At the time of the procedure, I wasn’t sure if I made the right decision. But now I can say that without a doubt I made the right choice for Pearl,” said Pearl’s owner.

“Within two weeks of the Platelet Therapy treatment, you could see a tremendous increase with the weight Pearl was putting on her right rear leg. And by four weeks her stump had completely healed. I am so grateful that I took a chance on this alternative therapy because it worked! It saved me money but more importantly it saved Pearl’s limb.

I know that most people reading this don’t have a dog that has a chronic wound that won’t heal. But I’ll bet a lot of you have animals with partial ACL tears or other similar issues. My word of advice is that you shouldn’t jump to doing a huge surgery. Look at your alternative options first.”

10 weeks out from the Platelet Therapy treatment, Dr. Mullen couldn’t be happier. 

“I rechecked Pearl and she is doing fabulously! Her stump has healed completely and she is able to wear her prosthesis again for short periods of time. She is completely sound in her right rear leg, no lameness at all.”

Related articles:
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Treatment for Cookie’s Bad Knee(s)

Further reading:
Platelet Rich Plasma: Its Place in Cranial Cruciate Ligament Repair