Treatment of dog’s osteoarthritis using autologous platelet-rich plasma

The relevance of this study arose from the rapid increase in cases of dog osteoarthritis affecting the knee joint. Clinically, this condition manifests as varying degrees of lameness, significantly diminishing the quality of life for affected animals. Therefore, the study aimed to evaluate changes in acute-phase inflammatory markers in the blood of dogs with osteoarthritis of the knee joint following intra-articular administration of autologous platelet-rich plasma. The diagnostic approach measured acute-phase C-reactive protein levels and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in blood samples. Tissue changes in the affected joint were examined through radiographic imaging conducted on the 1st day of plasma application and on the 90th day after the treatment course to assess the progression of reparative processes within the knee joint. Thus, it was established that by the 14th day following the final intra-articular injection of autologous platelet rich plasma, both the C-reactive protein levels and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in the blood exhibited a clear trend towards reduction, aligning with reference values. By the 21st day, recovery of these marker parameters to physiological ranges was observed in two out of five dogs, while the remaining three continued to show declining values. By the 90th day post-treatment, all five dogs displayed physiological values for the analysed markers. Radiographic findings before and after the course of cellular therapy indicated no further degenerative changes and a slight increase in joint space, demonstrating the effectiveness of autologous platelet-rich plasma in managing coxarthrosis in dogs. These findings hold significant practical value for both researchers and practising veterinarians, contributing to the refinement of treatment protocols for animals’ osteoarthritis of the knee joint