Quick answer: PRP is made in the clinic from the patient’s own blood, while an amniotic allograft such as AlphaFlo® is made from donated canine amniotic tissue that is processed, cryopreserved, and shipped ready to thaw. That difference shapes everything from preparation time and equipment to storage and patient size considerations.
Veterinarians have more regenerative options for canine patients than ever before. Two of them tend to come up in the same conversation: platelet rich plasma, better known as PRP, and canine amniotic tissue allografts such as AlphaFlo®. They often get grouped together, yet they start from different materials, follow different preparation steps, and fit into a clinic’s day in very different ways.
This guide breaks down those differences in plain terms so your team can decide which option suits your practice, your patients, and your workflow.
What Is PRP for Dogs?
PRP is an autologous product, which means it is made from the patient’s own blood. The veterinary team collects a blood sample and processes it in a centrifuge, often using a dedicated PRP kit. That step separates the blood into layers so the platelet portion can be concentrated and drawn off.
Since every batch begins with one dog’s blood, each PRP preparation is unique to that patient and is made on the day it will be used.
What Is AlphaFlo®?
AlphaFlo® is a liquid, acellular canine amniotic tissue allograft. “Allograft” means the tissue comes from a donor of the same species, which in this case is a dog. Licensed veterinarians recover the amniotic tissue during scheduled deliveries, without harm to the mother or her puppies, and the tissue is processed aseptically and tested to USP standards before it reaches a clinic.
Amnion is a natural source of growth factors, cytokines, hyaluronic acid, and extracellular matrix proteins. Factors identified in AlphaFlo® include A2M, IL-1ra, IL-10, TIMP-2, MCP-1, Trappin-2, EGFR, and VEGF. The manufacturing process is designed to preserve the native tissue and retain its naturally occurring proteins.
AlphaFlo® is cryopreserved, stored frozen, and supplied in three volumes: 0.5 cc, 1.0 cc, and 2.0 cc. It is intended to supplement and protect tissues, is prescription only, and is administered by a licensed veterinarian at the veterinarian’s discretion.
How Does Preparation Compare?
This is often where the difference is most noticeable day to day.
Preparing PRP usually involves:
- A blood draw from the patient
- Processing equipment, such as a centrifuge or PRP kit
- Staff time and training to run each preparation
- Making a new preparation for each patient on the day of use
Preparing AlphaFlo® usually involves:
- Selecting the volume from frozen storage
- Thawing according to the product handling instructions
- No blood draw from the patient
- No centrifuge or processing in the clinic
Neither workflow is right or wrong. The real question is which one fits the equipment, staffing, and appointment schedule your practice already has.
Does Patient Size Matter?
It can. PRP depends on collecting enough blood to produce the amount the veterinarian wants. For a large dog, that is rarely a concern. For a toy breed, a frail senior, or a patient with other health considerations, the blood volume required may give a veterinarian pause.
AlphaFlo® does not rely on the patient’s blood, so the size of the dog does not limit how much product is available. The volume and approach for each case remain at the veterinarian’s discretion.
What About Consistency From One Case to the Next?
Because PRP is built from each patient’s blood, its makeup can vary. Platelet counts and growth factor levels can differ from dog to dog, and the final preparation can also shift depending on the collection method and processing system used.
AlphaFlo® takes a different route. Rather than creating a new preparation from each patient, the clinic receives a product that has already gone through standardized processing before it ships. That gives the veterinary team a standardized starting point from one case to the next.
How Do Storage and Availability Differ?
PRP is made fresh, so there is nothing to keep on hand. The tradeoff is that every case requires the full collection and processing routine.
AlphaFlo® stays in the clinic freezer until it is needed. Practices can keep their preferred volumes in stock, so the product is on hand when the veterinarian decides to use it, without scheduling around a blood draw and processing time.
What Is AlphaFlo® Like to Use?
Here is how one veterinarian describes working with AlphaFlo® in her practice.
“AlphaFlo® is one of the easiest products I’ve ever handled. It’s been very easy to use.”
— Babette Gladstein, DVM
Individual experiences vary. AlphaFlo® may not provide an improvement in the dog’s condition, and there is a possibility of an adverse reaction with the use of any allograft.
To see how veterinarians have chosen to use AlphaFlo®, visit our case studies.
PRP vs. AlphaFlo® at a Glance
| PRP | AlphaFlo® | |
|---|---|---|
| Source | The patient’s own blood (autologous) | Donated canine amniotic tissue (allograft) |
| Blood draw needed | Yes | No |
| Processing in the clinic | Yes, usually a centrifuge or kit | No |
| When it is prepared | On the day of use, for each patient | Before it ships to the clinic |
| Storage | Not stored; made fresh | Stored frozen until use |
| Available amount | Depends on the blood collected | 0.5 cc, 1.0 cc, or 2.0 cc |
| Patient size | Can be a factor, especially in small dogs | No blood needed from the patient |
Which Option Fits Your Practice?
There is no single answer for every clinic or every patient. A few practical questions can help your team decide:
- Would we rather prepare a product in the clinic or have one ready to thaw?
- Do we have the equipment and trained staff for blood collection and processing?
- How often do we see small or frail patients where a blood draw is a concern?
- Do we have freezer space to keep product on hand?
- Which workflow fits most naturally into our current schedule?
PRP may suit a practice that already owns the equipment and has a team experienced in running it. AlphaFlo® offers a different path: a canine derived, cryopreserved amniotic tissue allograft with no blood collection or centrifuge step.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is AlphaFlo® the same as PRP?
No. PRP is made in the clinic from the patient’s own blood. AlphaFlo® is a canine amniotic tissue allograft that arrives already processed and is stored frozen until use.
Does AlphaFlo® require a blood draw?
No. Because AlphaFlo® is made from donated canine amniotic tissue, there is no need to collect blood from the patient.
Is AlphaFlo® a stem cell product?
No. AlphaFlo® is acellular, which means it does not contain living cells. It contains naturally occurring proteins found in canine amniotic tissue. Learn more in our comparison of AlphaFlo® and stem cell therapy.
Does patient size affect AlphaFlo® the way it can affect PRP?
Patient blood volume is not a factor, since AlphaFlo® does not use the patient’s blood. The veterinarian selects the volume for each case at their discretion.
How is AlphaFlo® stored?
AlphaFlo® is kept frozen until the day it is used. It comes in 0.5 cc, 1.0 cc, and 2.0 cc volumes.
Where does the tissue in AlphaFlo® come from?
Licensed veterinarians recover the tissue during scheduled deliveries, without harm to the mother or her puppies.
Can pet owners buy AlphaFlo® directly?
No. AlphaFlo® is prescription only and administered by a licensed veterinarian. Pet owners who are curious about it should ask their veterinarian or use our Find a Vet tool.
Bring AlphaFlo® to Your Practice
Want to see how AlphaFlo® fits into your clinic’s routine? Book a Lunch & Learn and our team will bring lunch for your staff and walk everyone through the science, handling, and storage of AlphaFlo®.
AlphaFlo® is prescription only and must be administered by a licensed veterinarian. AlphaFlo® may not provide an improvement in the dog’s condition, and there is a possibility of an adverse reaction with the use of any allograft.