Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been used in human medicine to treat conditions such as non-healing wounds, traumatic injuries, and serious infections.
Now, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is going to the dogs.
Hyperbaric capsules help to treat animals bitten by rattlesnakes, hit by cars and those with infected wounds or wounds that won’t heal.
How it works?
This treatment increases the oxygenation of all organs, tissues, and body fluids. It is the pressure of the chamber that enables the oxygen molecules to penetrate compromised tissues three to four times farther than normally diffused by red blood cells.
Simply breathing 100% pure oxygen outside the chamber will NOT significantly increase a patient’s healing capabilities at all. When a patient is in the chamber, the increased pressure causes the blood plasma, and other liquids of the body, to absorb much larger quantities of oxygen, greatly increasing oxygen uptake by the cells, tissues, glands, organs, brain, and all fluids of the body. For example, once inside the pressurized chamber at 2.0 atmospheres, oxygen is being delivered to the patient’s tissues at a rate of 20 times breathing normal air. This oxygen can then be utilized by the body for vital functions related to healing.
Summary
This treatment is very new to veterinary medicine, but it seems very effective for treating trauma and injuries. Further down, I include some of the success case studies.
Typically, blood flow to the diseased tissue is compromised which in turn decreases the amount of oxygen available for tissue healing. Hyperbaric therapy is able to increase tissue oxygen levels in diseased tissue which improves and speeds healing, improves the body’s ability to fight infections, and reduces inflammation and swelling.
Because there is little research on the benefits of this treatment for pets, this summer, The University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine will begin clinical trials to determine its efficacy.
On the coolness scale, very high in my opinion.
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HVM’s List of some Veterinary Partners That Have a HBOT Chamber
- Veterinary Healthcare Associates, Winter Haven, FL, 33884 – (863) 324-3340
- Holistic Veterinary Care & Rehabilitation Center, Oakland, CA, 94611 – (510) 339-2600
- VCA Advanced Veterinary Care, Fishers, IN, 46038 – (317) 578-4100
- Pet Emergency & Specialty Services of Jupiter, Jupiter, FL, 33458 – (561) 741-4041
- Saint Francis Animal Hospital, Jacksonville, FL, 32207 – (904) 674-7223
- Animal Emergency & Critical Care of Brevard County, Melbourne, FL, 32935 – (321) 725-5365
- University of Florida School of Veterinary Medicine, Gainsville, FL, 32608
- Homestead Animal Hospital, Homestead, FL, 33030 – (305) 247-3845
- Critical Care & Veterinary Specialists of Sarasota, Sarasota, FL, 34231 – (941) 929-1818
- Lakeland SPCA/McClurg Animal Medical Center, Lakeland, FL, 33813 – (563) 646-7722
- Ravenwood Veterinary Clinic, Port Orange, FL, 32129 – (386) 788-1550
- Peace Love Pets Veterinary Clinic, Long Island, NY, 11725 – (631) 499-3300
- Calusa Veterinary Center, Boca Raton, FL, 33847 – (561) 999-3000
To find a veterinary clinic that operates a HBOT Chamber, check out hvm location finder.
Related articles:
HBOT Treats Peritonitis in a Dog: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) – Buddy’s Peritonitis
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Dogs: Athena’s Thrombocytopenia
HBOT Treats Spider Bite: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy—Jack’s Spider Bite
HBOT Treats Canine Diskospondylitis: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Infection of Intervertebral Disks—Fred’s Story
HBOT Treats Spinal Issue: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Heals Diamond