Natural Awakenings Columbia Edition 0220

Page 32

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natural pet

Pain Relief for Pets Prolotherapy Gives Joints New Life

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by Julie Peterson

involving the injection rian Engler, Prolotherapy offers an of a sugar solution of Drexel Hill, effective alternative to directly into the afPennsylvania, surgery in a significant fected area. The body’s was asked to provide hospice care for a senior number of partial ligament inflammation response Akita. Tadao was tears or persistent joint kicks in, resulting in regrowth of new fibers underweight, weak, pain issues. in ligaments and tenarthritic and had been dons. severely neglected. He ~Judith M. Shoemaker Prolotherapy has needed a place to live been around a long time. It was used to out his remaining days in comfort. Even treat lame animals around 1350 B.C. Back though Tadao was unstable with severely limited mobility, Engler believed that the old then, a hot poker was used to induce the inflammation response. In the 1930s, dog had more than a little life left in him. injection of an irritant solution at the site Engler’s veterinarian tried prolotherapy injection treatments for Tadao’s joint of the injury became the new method, and has since been shown in scientific studies pain and he soon became more comfortto facilitate the repair and regrowth of conable and gradually more active. “By the nective tissue, ligaments, tendons, cartilage time we completed the treatments, he was able to get up and down with ease and and other joint-stabilizing structures. started cruising around the kitchen looking Modern prolotherapy has remained basically the same for the last 80 years, for snacks on the counter,” says Engler. although the injected irritant solution is Prolotherapy, short for proliferative therapy, isn’t just for dogs. Any animal modified according to the veterinarian, with a joint can receive the regenerative the type of animal and the injury. Every injection therapy, which relieves pain by vet uses a slightly different prolotherapy “cocktail”, which typically includes 50 strengthening ligaments and tendons suppercent dextrose and possibly several other porting the joint. It’s minimally invasive,

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