The Use of Platelet-Rich Plasma in Wildlife Veterinary Medicine

TL;DR

This paper reviews how platelet-rich plasma is being used in wildlife veterinary medicine to aid healing and tissue repair, but highlights the need for standardized methods and more research.

Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive scoping review of PRP use in non-domestic animals, identifying current practices and gaps in knowledge.

Findings

PRP has shown benefits in wound closure, inflammation reduction, and tissue regeneration in various wildlife species.

Most studies are case reports with small sample sizes and inconsistent preparation methods.

Species-specific challenges like limited blood volume hinder PRP use in small or endangered animals.

Abstract

Wildlife veterinarians are increasingly exploring the use of platelet-rich plasma, a blood component that carries natural signals to help tissues repair themselves. This scoping review maps its use in non-domestic animals, from reptiles and birds to marine and terrestrial mammals, and highlights what remains unknown. Reported applications include closing difficult wounds, supporting bone and tendon repair, and reducing excessive inflammation. Many case reports describe faster healing and improved tissue quality with minimal side effects. However, most studies have involved small numbers of animals, and the ways in which the product is prepared and applied have differed widely. In small or endangered species, collecting enough blood can be challenging, so alternative methods are sometimes considered. To improve clinical care and facilitate meaningful comparison of results across studies, future research should employ clear, consistent methods, specify the composition of each preparation, and assess safety and efficacy through rigorously designed clinical trials involving different species. These steps will lead to better outcomes in the fields of rehabilitation, zoo medicine and conservation.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), an autologous blood product concentrated with platelets and their associated growth factors, has been the subject of increasing investigation in veterinary medicine. Although it is widely used in domestic species, its use in wildlife is less well-explored, despite its potential to address complicated clinical scenarios such as traumatic injuries, chronic wounds, and orthopaedic conditions, which are frequently encountered in wild animals under human care. Expanding the evidence base for PRP in non-domestic species could therefore significantly advance clinical outcomes in rehabilitation, zoo medicine, and conservation initiatives. The aim of this scoping review was to identify and describe the existing evidence on the clinical use of PRP in wildlife. This included details on protocols, outcomes, species-specific considerations, and knowledge that is still missing. A literature search was performed using the databases PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar up to August 2025. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they reported on the preparation, application, or clinical outcomes of PRP in non-domestic animal species. This included case reports, research articles, and reviews. A total of 65 studies were finally included. The data were classified by species group (e.g., reptiles, birds, mammals) and clinical application (e.g., wound healing, orthopaedics, chronic disease management). The search identified a limited but growing body of evidence, primarily consisting of case reports and small-scale experimental studies. The application of PRP was found to have beneficial effects on wound closure, inflammation reduction, and enhanced tissue regeneration across multiple taxa. However, substantial variation existed across protocols in platelet concentration, activation methods, and application routes across protocols. Species-specific challenges, such as limited blood volume and logistical constraints in wildlife settings, were frequently noted. Current evidence suggests that PRP is a promising therapeutic tool in wildlife medicine; however, the development of standardised methodologies and the implementation of controlled clinical trials remain urgently needed. Widening its use could not only enhance animal welfare but also reinforce conservation initiatives and advance One Health strategies by generating insights with direct relevance to human medicine.

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