Can platelet-rich plasma improve outcomes in veterinary dental patients?

In this episode of Sit. Stay. Learn., Dr. Adrienne Wright reviews a recent study evaluating autologous PRP as an adjunct to routine dental treatment in small-breed dogs with stage 2–3 periodontitis.

The study compared dental cleaning alone with dental cleaning plus PRP injections. After 30 days, the PRP group showed improvements in gingival inflammation, periodontal pocket depth, disease stage, and horizontal bone loss measurements.

Dr. Wright breaks down the study design, the results, PRP’s anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, and one important detail: the researchers used non-activated PRP.

Listen to Episode 12 to hear what the findings could mean for regenerative medicine in veterinary dentistry.

Can orthobiologics outperform steroids in equine osteoarthritis treatment?

In Episode 11 of Sit. Stay. Learn., Dr. Adrienne Wright reviews the 2020 paper “Effects of Autologous Conditioned Serum, Autologous Protein Solution, and Triamcinolone on Inflammatory and Catabolic Gene Expression in Equine Cartilage and Synovial Explants Treated with IL-1β in Co-culture” and breaks down how ACS, APS, and triamcinolone compare in an inflamed joint model.

In this episode, she covers: • what autologous conditioned serum (ACS) and autologous protein solution (APS) are • how these orthobiologics compare to triamcinolone • what the study found about inflammatory gene expression • why PGE2 reduction matters in equine OA • and what this could mean for managing lameness and joint disease in horses

If you’re interested in equine sports medicine, orthobiologics, regenerative medicine, or practical veterinary research, this episode offers a quick and useful breakdown of the science.

Reach out to Dr. Adrienne Wright at adrienne@ardentanimalhealth.com with any questions, to continue the conversation, or to suggest a study you’d like her to review next.

Cancer affects far too many dogs, and better treatment options are urgently needed. In Episode 10 of Sit. Stay. Learn., Dr. Adrienne Wright reviews the paper “Autologous Cancer Vaccines: A Precision Immunotherapy Strategy for Veterinary Cancer Patients” and explains how autologous cancer vaccines may offer a more personalized way to fight cancer in dogs. This episode covers tumor antigens, neoantigens, checkpoint inhibitors, and why veterinary immunotherapy is an area to watch.

In this episode of Sit. Stay. Learn., we discuss a 2025 Frontiers in Pain Research perspective on outcome assessment in veterinary pain studies. The episode explores why pain measurement remains such a challenge in veterinary medicine, the role of owner assessments, gait analysis, activity monitoring, and biomarkers, and why better outcome measures are essential for advancing research and improving patient care.

Have a paper you’d like featured on a future episode? Send suggestions to adrienne@ardentanimalhealth.com.

In this episode of Sit. Stay. Learn, Dr. Adrienne Wright breaks down a recent JAVMA paper examining how centrifugation force and spin time change the final composition of canine PRP. We cover what the protocols did to platelet yield, leukocyte/RBC carryover, and key growth factors like PDGF and TGF-β1—plus the biggest takeaway: optimization data from one device doesn’t automatically translate across all PRP systems. Message of the day: know what’s in your syringe.

This episode reviews a 2023 Biomedicines editorial by Gupta, Maffulli, and Jain on why red blood cells should be minimized in platelet-rich plasma. The discussion explores what hemolysis is, how it occurs, and what current research suggests about the presence of RBCs in PRP preparations used for musculoskeletal applications.

Key points include how RBC breakdown products may contribute to inflammation, oxidative stress, synovial irritation, and potential cartilage damage — and why minimizing hemolysis may help preserve the intended therapeutic benefits of PRP. 📄 Referenced Editorial: “Red Blood Cells in Platelet-Rich Plasma: Avoid If at All Possible”

If you are interested in the full study, contact info@ardentanimalhealth.com. For questions or further discussion, feel free to reach out to adrienne@ardentanimalhealth.com. If your practice has experience managing hemolyzed PRP samples, your insights are welcome.

This week, we’re exploring a fascinating human pilot study with powerful takeaways for veterinary medicine. The research, “Adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stromal cells for treating chronic kidney disease: A pilot study assessing safety and clinical feasibility” (Villanueva et al., 2019), examined how stem cells may support kidney function in people with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Results showed improved proteinuria and slower disease progression in most patients—without adverse effects. These findings mirror what’s been observed in veterinary cases using mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), where pets often show better energy, appetite, and stability even when lab results shift modestly. As CKD remains one of the most common conditions in older dogs and cats, this study highlights how regenerative therapies could play a larger role in managing long-term kidney health.

This week on Sit. Stay. Learn., I reviewed a 2022 study by He et al. in Frontiers in Veterinary Science that tested whether umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) could improve recovery after trochlear groove reconstruction (TGR) in dogs. Ten healthy poodles were divided into treatment and control groups, with UC-MSCs injected intra-articularly on days 0, 7, and 14. The treated dogs showed significantly lower white blood cell and neutrophil counts on days 7 and 21, indicating less inflammation, and recovered mobility about four days faster than controls. CT and histology revealed early cartilage regeneration and restored bone contour in the UC-MSC group, while controls still had cartilage gaps. Overall, UC-MSCs appeared to reduce inflammation, speed healing, and improve joint repair without adverse effects. Since these were donor (allogeneic) cells, I’d like to see future work confirm long-term safety—one reason I often favor autologous options like Ardent’s SVF therapy. If you’ve used PRP or cell therapy in a TGR case, I’d love to hear your results at adrienne@ardentanimalhealth.com or www.ardentanimalhealth.com.