By Dr. Anne Chauvet
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is a medical treatment using pure oxygen to alleviate hypoxia, or lack of oxygen, at the cellular level. The advantages of Hyperbaric Chamber Oxygen Therapy in human medicine have been known for over twenty years. Just recently, an animal version of the hyperbaric chamber was introduced and offered for small animal practices.
The chamber for pets is smaller and more compact than the human version, yet it delivers the same healing benefits.
How does it work?
In both, human and animal medicine, HBOT is designed to efficiently deliver oxygen to cells and tissues in the body. Under hyperbaric pressure, healing oxygen is dissolved in the blood plasma, cerebrospinal and lymph fluids, enabling oxygen to reach damaged tissue at least 3 to 4 times farther than normally diffused by red blood cells. Additionally, oxygen can also be delivered to tissues lacking blood flow due to swelling, inflammation, poor, restricted or blocked blood flow. Such cases include inflammation from trauma or surgery, damaged tissue from infection or injury, blood clotting, cartilage, brain tissue and abcesses.
How is HBOT administered?
The patient is placed into a chamber where they receive 100% oxygen, which is inhaled and absorbed by the body at pressure many times greater than when breathing oxygen at normal sea level pressure.
Closely monitored by staff members, treatment time lasts about an hour and is given once or twice a day, depending on severity of the case. Most animals are relaxed and fall asleep during the therapy (check out the video here.)
Importance of oxygen
Oxygen is essential for cell function and repair. Without oxygen, cells weaken and die. In order for cells to regenerate and produce new healthy cells that create new bone and tissue structure, fresh delivery of oxygen plays a great importance. Well-balanced diet and exercise provide enough oxygen for healthy organism and cells to function. However, illness, trauma, inflammation and/or injury may require increased levels of oxygen in the body to enhance these cell functions, as well as increase response to medicine and other related therapy means.
HBOT effectively treats each of these conditions:
• Severe skin and tissue damage
• Fracture healing
• Major systemic or local infections
• Intervertebral disc herniation
• Nerve damage
• Burns
• Post-surgical swelling and recovery
• Acute ischemic conditions
• Brain/nerve damage and arthritis
• Infectious conditions, such as severe wound infection
• Some aspects of neurological degeneration
• Inflammatory conditions, such as pancreatitis
• Problem wound such as burns, ulcers, gangrene and necrosis
• Stimulating new bone cell activity and so much more…
Where can my pet receive the HBOT?
Animal Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is gaining popularity. Each month, more and more practices across the country begin to offer HBOT. Critical Vet Care is located on US 41 south of Proctor Road: 4937 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34231; (p) 941-929-1818.
The applications for HBOT are vast. I have treated brain damage after anesthetic arrest, strokes of the cord and the brain, pancreatitis, post surgery recoveries and so much more. It is incredible how HBOT can turn around a patient and improve recovery. It’s amazing how it can help treat chronic infections and inflammations. We are starting to see recent studies that show that HBOT may even be beneficial in the treatment of cancers. So much to discover!”