Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) for Pets
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is a medical treatment that aids healing by reducing swelling, controlling infection and stimulating new blood vessel formation in healing tissues. The patient is placed in a large, clear plastic chamber that has a pressurized flow of pure oxygen about 1.5 to 3 times that of atmospheric oxygen. This allows more oxygen into the bloodstream, speeding up the healing process.
Inside the chamber, pets lie on a soft blanket and rest or sleep while the oxygen goes to work on wounds, swelling, burns and other injuries or illnesses. The pets are comfortable and relaxed during treatment. The total treatment time is from 1 to 2 hours, and is usually repeated twice a day. Treatments continue until the doctors see a marked improvement. When your pet is beginning to use the affected limb, or is gaining strength and function, the treatments are discontinued.
HBOT can be used successfully to treat:
- Post operative swelling
- Snake bites
- Serious wounds and burns
- Head or spinal trauma
- Near-drowning or asphyxiation
- Smoke inhalation
Over the past few years it has been very rewarding for the doctors and staff to observe the clinical improvement of the many cases treated by hyperbaric oxygen therapy at our hospital. The addition of this therapy has resulted in an obvious enhancement of our ability to successfully treat many critically ill patients.