REGENERATIVE MEDICINE
Regenerative& medicine
In horses, regenerative medicine is mainly used in the orthopaedic field
DOTT.SSA EMANUELA VALLE
DIP. SCIENZE VETERINARIE – UNIVERSITÀ DI TORINO
EBVS® European Specialist in Veterinary and Comparative Nutrition
Training and competitions represent a mechanical stress that affects the entire body of the horse.
Specifically, the musculoskeletal system is constantly subjected to microtraumas which over time can cause noticeable problems. It is very important to prevent issues by making sure we do everything we can to avoid them. We can act on four factors:
Training: this should be aimed at improving the horses’ athletic condition, avoiding exhausting and strenuous work. Excessive repetitions and monotonous work are not good for our horse either physically or mentally. The keyword is variety. Varying exercises, terrain and types of training is essential in order to keep his mind fresh, and his body adapted to the changes in training conditions. For example, it is ideal to vary the grounds where the horses’ exercise, i.e., working cross country helps improve foot proprioception.
Shoeing: this must be monitored and adapted to each individual horse. A delay in shoeing, even if only for a few days, can contribute to increasing stress on the musculoskeletal structures.
Veterinary visits: even if the horse seems healthy to us, it is advisable to ask the vet to check and evaluate his soundness. We should also not forget to frequently check the equipment, such as saddles and all tack, that must be adapted to the change in shape of our horse, which often happens with work and whilst growth.
Diet: in addition to a good basic diet, we should always add anti-inflammatory molecules such as omega 3 to the diet, precursor nutrients of the collagen that makes up tendons and joint cartilage. Antioxidants are also essential for any athlete.
Lameness
Lameness not only leads to a forced rest, but also causes pain to our horse, resulting in having to undergo therapies and consume drugs, potentially for long periods.
After recovery, we may still have many doubts that we must always clarify with our trusted vet. The fear that our horse will not be able to return to its previous activity and that he will not have a 100% recovery, is always a big concern.
Additionally, seeming that the horse has a memory for pain and despite recovery, even when confirmed by x-rays and scans, our companion is no longer the same as he used to be when he finally comes back to work.
Nowadays however, our athlete has a better chance of recovering, thanks to many therapies that can be combined with traditional medicine: our vet will advise us on regenerative medicine therapies.
Regenerative medicine
Regenerative medicine
This is a new frontier of medicine that has been used for some years now also in the treatment of equine issues. Its purpose is to ‘replace’ tissues or ‘regenerate them by stimulating their ability to repair’. The term regenerative indicates a real ‘replacement of the affected tissue’, using innovative techniques such as, stem cell therapy, platelets or other cells extracted from the body.
Stem cells
There is not just one type of regenerative medicine; different cells are often used depending on the area of withdrawal (for example marrow, fat or blood) which are treated and injected into the site of the area to be treated through targeted injections.
Among the best-known techniques, we must mention stem cell therapy. They are called stem cells because they can transform themselves into other types of cells, and for this reason they are used to help with tissue healing such as in the case of orthopaedic problems. Thanks to the particular selection and processing techniques, these cells are used to repair tissues. Basically, their ability to adhere to damaged tissue and initiate tissue regeneration is taken advantage of.
For instance, they can attach to the articular cartilage or tendon structure when damaged and support the healing process.
Regenerative medicine therapies are constantly evolving. Today, we have specific products and techniques authorized for use in horses, which are based on the selection of stem cells that are treated to produce new cells.
This can be used in regenerative medicine. Only our vet can tell us what the appropriate therapy is, based on the specific needs of our horse.
In horses, regenerative medicine is mainly used in the orthopaedic field, above all for joint and tendon injuries; however, this is an ever-evolving area and probably in the near future new techniques will be available in order to aid the healing of often disabling issues.
The three therapies
Pharmacological therapy:
directly acts on the symptoms and tries to limit and counteract their negative effects.
Physical therapy: stimulates reparative processes through physical mechanisms such as the use of machinery like shock waves or lasers, but also magnetotherapy, hydrotherapy or manual techniques, such as osteopathy and massages.
Biological therapies: they support the body’s natural ability to regenerate using highly specialized cells. It includes techniques such as mesenchymal stem cells (multipotent adult stem cells capable of replicating and transforming into other cell types), platelet-rich plasma
