Tag Archive for: regenerative medicine

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How to Provide Superior Wound Care Treatment

BioSIS wound dressing photolarge copyAny veterinarian worth their salt knows that providing superior wound care treatment starts with assessing the overall stability of the animal. Once the patient is stable, the next step is administering first aid for the wound as soon as safely possible. Your treatment should follow the fundamentals of debridement, infection or inflammation control, and moisture balance. Success depends on taking the correct approach and deciding whether to manage the wound as open or closed.

Before considering surgery, veterinarians looking for a more effective wound treatment should explore Healion Amniotic Matrix. The solution is an easy-to-use, sterilized powder that promotes the healing of wound sites.

Provide Superior Wound Care with Healion Wound Matrix

When choosing wound care solutions for your patients, protecting the wound sight from further contamination and trauma is often a top concern. This is where Healion Wound Matrix can help, especially in situations where a wound cannot or should not be closed. Healion is a decellularized amniotic membrane supplied in fine, dry, sterilized white powder form for veterinary use. It leverages the natural healing properties of amnion to modulate inflammation and create an environment conducive to rapid cell migration. All you must do is puff the solution onto the wound bed and cover it with a non-adherent bandage.

Once administered, and as we touched on at the beginning of this post, it’s advised you consider the following four things while caring for your wound patient:

  1. Giving the wound proper support
  2. Maintaining proper moisture levels
  3. Mitigating infection risk
  4. The phases of wound healing

If these four factors aren’t considered when bandaging and monitoring your patient, you might not see the healing you expect. (Remember pain management throughout the phases of recovery, too.)

Healion Wound Matrix serves as a wound care solution where open wound management or delayed wound closure is the best course of action for the patient. Healion is uniquely designed to enable veterinarians to provide superior wound care treatment and is indicated for the management of wounds, including:

 

  • Partial wounds
  • Full-thickness wounds
  • Surgical wounds
  • Trauma wounds
  • Draining wounds

Do You Want to Provide Superior Wound Care Treatment?

It’s time to join top veterinarians using the best regenerative wound care technology and provide your patients with faster and more effective treatment options. Healion Wound Matrix provides an ideal healing environment and flexibility in treating both acute and chronic wounds, and it’s affordable.

Healion is cost-effective and packaged to fit procedural needs. Learn about Healion Wound Matrix pricing (available in 6-pack, 12-pack, and 24-pack options).

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A Step Towards Better Veterinary Care: 3 Trends to Watch in 2023

https://uptickmarketing.com/what-is-geotargeting-why-is-it-important/Veterinary medicine is constantly changing and evolving. We’re thankful for the innovation, but as new technologies and treatments are developed, it impacts how we care for animal patients. Keeping up with the ever-expanding veterinary world can be overwhelming. To make keeping up with the best veterinary care available easier, we’d like to share a short list of three trends to watch in 2023.

Technology

Specifically AI technology. AI is a big trend impacting veterinary medicine as we witness its increased use first-hand. Artificial intelligence may not yet be at a level to assist with surgeries, but it can expedite diagnoses and relegate tedious tasks. Veterinarians embracing AI bots can help free up their veterinary technicians, spending long hours inputting health records, to answer questions and focus on better patient care. AI technology is also helpful for scheduling appointments and automated reminders via text messages, email, and phone calls. Beyond administrative help, more and more veterinary offices are embracing AI to help interpret pet data through EKGs, X-Rays, MRIs, and more.

According to a medical technology survey by Statista, AI in veterinary health care was fully functional by 2021. Hence, the usage of AI in veterinary medicine is growing across a range of applications like imaging, disease predictions, cancer treatments, and radiology. AI Technology empowers veterinarians, pet parents, and the medical community to provide the best possible care to patients.

Synthetic Biology

Synthetic biology involves redesigning or constructing biological entities to carry out desirable biotechnological processes. For example, Vetrix BioSIS is a bioresorbable material that uses an extracellular matrix (ECM) derived from porcine small intestine submucosa (SIS). It replaces and repairs flesh at the wound site by working with the body’s natural healing process.

The ECM works as a biological scaffold for cells to migrate to and regenerate. It’s the perfect environment for cells to reproduce since it’s also made up of cell tissue. It also provides excellent structural support to native cells to form organized tissue. As the cells lay down their collagen, robust and permanent tissue repair occurs. Because ECM is a biomaterial, there’s no foreign material left behind in the patient’s body as natural self-renewal occurs. This also means there’s no calcification, tissue erosion, or encapsulation that synthetic materials can cause.

More opportunities are regularly arising to use synthetic biology in veterinary medicine for wound management, gastrointestinal soft tissue repair, thoracic wall repair, hernia repair, degloving injuries, mass removals, and more.

Cell and Gene Therapies

Cell and gene therapies are used in various approaches to treat disease at the cellular and genetic levels. Most approved cell therapies in the U.S. focus on blood cancers. However, one of the next goals in cell therapy is to improve efficiency by reprogramming cells in vivo — inside their bodies. The medical community is expecting big things in 2023. Meanwhile, the field of gene therapy faces a pivotal year in 2023 that will likely bring new treatments (and challenges). Medical professionals are excited about the progress being made. Still, many are keeping an eye on pricing and its impact on vets and their patients. A lot is happening in the field of cell and gene therapies and we believe it’s worth keeping an eye on.

Vetrix veterinary regenerative medicine solutions enable veterinarians around the world to provide exceptional patient care all year, every year. Learn more about affordable Vetrix technologies.

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Common Skin Graft Procedures and How Vetrix Technology Can Help

Veterinary Neurology Vetrix

When a patient has a wound that’s too big to close on its own or a wound that becomes chronic and doesn’t heal by itself, treatment with a skin graft may be beneficial in obtaining wound closure. Skin grafts help quickly and effectively restore function and provide better cosmetic results than other treatment options. Additionally, skin grafts protect from infections and parasites. The Vetrix BioSIS Technology we provide is a regenerative medicine beneficial in remodeling, regrowing, and repairing wounds encountered in the veterinary field.

Two Common Skin Graft Procedures in Veterinary Medicine

When it comes to common household pets, veterinarians are often most likely to perform one of the following types of skin grafts when necessary for wound treatment:

  • Total Skin Graft (or Full-thickness skin graft): This skin graft includes the epidermis and dermis. It involves removing a piece of skin and the fat from the underside of the skin. This grafting procedure requires the donor site to have enough surrounding loose skin so the incision can be closed.
  • Partial Thickness Skin Graft (or Split-thickness skin graft): This skin graft involves shaving a thin layer of skin, 0.2 to 0.4mm, off the donor site. The cutting plane of this graft remains above the hair follicles so that no hair will grow from this skin graft. The donor site will heal independently and doesn’t require closure, but it may be more painful than a total skin graft because the exposed nerve endings will need time to heal. It’s typically used in burn victims with limited normal skin for grafting.

Veterinarians will guide their patients on the best skin graft option for their particular wound.

Treating Skin Grafts With Regenerative Veterinary Medicine

Once it’s been determined that a pet needs a skin graft to heal a wound, consider a regenerative medicine solution as part of your treatment. Unlike synthetic materials or other biological grafts, Vetrix Technology provides a structure for healthy tissue to grow across and incorporate into the extracellular matrix, resulting in wholly remodeled, vital, and fully vascularized tissues. During the healing process, Vetrix BioSIS is replaced with the body’s native tissue, developing into a permanent repair without the long-term presence of a foreign body. After healing is complete, patients are left with healthy, natural tissue.

BioSIS is a great regenerative medicine solution for skin grafts because it facilitates angiogenesis and rapid remodeling, allowing the body’s defense mechanisms to react and respond to any potential infection. It promotes safe and sterile healing of the wound.

Download the BioSIS Informational Brochure to learn more about this technology and how it can aid in healing skin graft patients.

Get the brochure.

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Corneal Uclers in Pets: Symptoms, Treatment & More

Eye Drops for Pets

The cornea, which is transparent in normal conditions, covers the front part of the eye and allows light to pass into the eye. The eyelids cover the cornea to protect it from trauma and help spread tears (essential to corneal health). Most corneal ulcers in pets result from trauma, such as scratches, dry eye, eyelid anomalies, or abrasions due to foreign objects in the eye.

Corneal Ulcer Symptoms

A corneal ulcer is an open wound within the cornea. Ulcers are painful for pets; most heal within a week if appropriately treated. However, if a corneal ulcer becomes infected, it can quickly turn into a deep wound. The most common symptoms of corneal ulcers to watch for in pets include the following:

  • Squinting
  • Redness
  • Ocular discharge
  • Excessive Blinking
  • Excessive tears
  • Swelling
  • The eye appears cloudy

If the ulcer results from a tear deficiency, you may see a thick discharge resembling mucous that ranges from transparent to white, green, or yellow. If you are a cat parent, a dog parent, or a veterinarian who wants to provide helpful materials to your patients of specific pets, please read the following information:

Corneal Ulcer Diagnosis

Any of the signs mentioned above should prompt pet parents to make an appointment with their veterinarian. The vet will use several diagnostic methods at the appointment to accurately diagnose the ulcer. Once the affected eye (or eyes) are examined, your vet will discuss the best possible treatment plan.

Corneal Ulcer Treatment

How a pet’s corneal ulcer is treated is determined by the type of animal in need of treatment and the type of ulcer they are being treated for. Treating corneal ulcers properly from the start is crucial to ensuring a pet’s comfort and healing without further complications or damage to its vision. Mild corneal ulcers will usually heal on their own in 3-7 days, depending on the size of the ulcer. While healing, vets may recommend a treatment plan to prevent further damage or cornea infections. 

Here are common treatments used to treat corneal ulcers in pets:

  • Antibiotic eye drops or ointments to prevent infections
  • Pain medication to keep your pet comfortable
  • An E-collar to prevent your pet from rubbing and allow the cornea to heal properly
  • Regenerative eye drops 

Regenerative eye drops, like Vetrix EyeQ Eye Drops, are a simple way to provide regenerative care for a pet’s eye. Regenerative medicine works with the body’s natural abilities to heal itself. EyeQ Eye Drops deliver natural anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory components to aid in healing corneal ulcers in pets. 

As part of the healing process, a follow-up care plan must be issued and adhered to by the patient. Pets should continue treatment with all prescribed medications until a veterinarian says the ulcer has fully healed.

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How Regenerative Medicine Can Help with Gastrointestinal Problems and Surgery

Dog being looked at by veterinarian

An upset stomach is one of the most common symptoms vets see their clients about. Pets chew on things they shouldn’t chew on and swallow something they shouldn’t eat. They get sick and suffer gastrointestinal issues just like their owners do. While some foreign objects are small enough to pass on their own, and some illnesses are short-lived, unfortunately, that isn’t always the case. Gastrointestinal problems have many causes ranging from mild to severe health conditions.

 

It’s important to note here that if you’re a pet parent who’s found this article because your pet is exhibiting gastrointestinal problems like the ones you see on the list below, please call your vet to let them know what’s going on and assess if you need to bring your pet in for an exam:

 

Symptoms of gastrointestinal problems and other digestive issues:

 

  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Loss of appetite
  • Lethargy
  • Constipation
  • Increased gas
  • Abdominal pain/swelling
  • Bloating
  • Excessive drooling

 

When in doubt, it’s always best to call your vet or seek emergency veterinary care after hours when your pet looks pretty sick. Sometimes it’s surprisingly difficult to determine how severe a gastrointestinal problem is, and some conditions can be life-threatening. When a client presents with gastrointestinal symptoms, it’s a vet’s job to investigate them to deliver a diagnosis and treatment. 

 

How Regenerative Medicine Can Help with Gastrointestinal Problems and Surgery

During determining what’s causing an animal’s gastrointestinal problems, a veterinarian will work to understand the client’s medical history, perform a medical exam, and order some diagnostic tests based on what they suspect is the most likely culprit of the symptoms. Once the vet has determined an underlying cause, a treatment plan is implemented. Treatment is variable depending on what’s causing the problem, but some cases, like a pet with a mass, hernia, or intestinal blockage, will likely require gastrointestinal surgery.

 

Veterinarians who conclude that gastrointestinal surgery is necessary for the animal’s well-being in their care want to ensure that their patient heals properly, with resistance to infection and no enhanced inflammatory response. This is where Vetrix BioSIS ECM Technology can help. BioSIS ECM provides a natural scaffold that works with and encourages a patient’s natural healing process. Our technology is an acellular biomaterial that doesn’t encapsulate when surgically implanted, and it is gradually remodeled, leaving behind organized and healthy tissue. This is excellent news for gastrointestinal surgical patients, as BioSIS allows no foreign material to be left behind once healing is complete. But don’t just take our word for it. Dr. Lois Lassiter, DVM at Budget Vet, shared a story from 2019 using Vetrix BioSIS in a complicated resection and anastomosis (RNA) procedure. Without Vetrix technology in this gastrointestinal surgery, the dog would’ve been euthanized.

At Vetrix, we take pride in partnering with veterinarians who are just as passionate about using regenerative medicine to provide the best possible care to patients as we are. Click here to learn more about BioSIS. Contact us if you have questions about how our regenerative medical technology can help you with your gastrointestinal surgeries and other procedures and care. Click here to ask a question.

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What is Veterinary Regenerative Medicine?

eye drops for petsVeterinary regenerative medicine started in the mid-1990s when bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were used to treat tendon injuries in horses. Over the last 30 years, veterinarians have made significant advances in developing medications for animals using regenerative medicine to treat a variety of diseases. But before we get into what you can treat with veterinary regenerative medicine, we want to ensure that all readers understand what veterinary regenerative medicine is.

According to the FDA, “Veterinary regenerative medicine is an active area of research for developing new cell and tissue therapies for animals. Such therapies are called animal cells, tissues, and cell-and-tissue based products, or ACTPs for short.”

ACTPs refer to products used in animals that contain, consist of, or derive from cells or tissues. Some terms you may hear associated with this include:

  • Stem Cells (SCT)
  • Differentiated cells
  • Tissues such as blood
  • Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)
  • Amnion

Regenerative veterinary therapies elicit a therapeutic response that stimulates healing in tissues. They are used to home in on sites and rejuvenate damaged tissue. Regenerative therapies are also helpful in combating pain in dogs with orthopedic injuries.

What Can You Treat With Veterinary Regenerative Medicine?

Regenerative medicine is recommended as a primary treatment for specific conditions or used jointly with surgical procedures. At Vetrix, we provide products that harness the natural capabilities of the patient’s existing cells by providing a biological scaffold into which progenitor cells embed. Once the patient’s cells have migrated into the native scaffolding, the cells lay down their extracellular matrix which, in turn, shares signals to differentiate into the appropriate tissue. With this site-specific healing capability, Vetrix® can fully regenerate tissue ranging from:

  • Skin
  • Muscular defects
  • Intestinal lining
  • And others

Our regenerative veterinary solutions are also helpful for the following:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Neurology
  • Surgical Applications
  • Oncology
  • Wound management

One of our most popular products is BioSIS ECM Technology. BioSIS provides a natural scaffold that works with and encourages your patient’s (pet’s) natural healing process. A few typical surgical applications you can use BioSIS for include:

  • Gastrointestinal soft tissue repair
  • Thoracic wall repair
  • Body wall and hernia repair
  • Degloving injuries
  • Mass removals
  • Alternative to skin grafts

Learn more about Vetrix BioSIS Technology.

 

Additionally, Vetrix also provides veterinarians with another regenerative medicine to treat wounds. Healion Amniotic Wound Matrix is a regenerative option that utilizes the natural healing properties of amnion to treat patients with severe wounds. Click here to learn more.

 

Vetrix® is the leading provider of veterinary regenerative medicine. As a world supplier of innovative veterinary products, we enable veterinarians to provide exceptional treatment for their patients.

We’re always happy to answer questions about our products, what we do, and how we do it. Contact us today if you’re a veterinarian interested in using regenerative medicine in your patient treatment plans. Contact Vetrix.

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