Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)

Discover the transformative power of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) for pets at VNIoC. Harnessing the potential of pure oxygen to promote healing, we're here to support your pet's recovery journey.

What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?

HBOT is a non-invasive medical treatment that increases the amount of oxygen your pet's blood can carry. The process involves placing the pet inside a specialized chamber where the atmospheric pressure is increased and pure oxygen is inhaled.

It has been widely utilized in human medicine for years to treat everything from the “bends,” to anemia.  It’s use in veterinary medicine are relatively new, with only a handful of veterinary hospitals nationwide utilizing it.  During hyperbaric oxygen therapy, you pet is placed safely and comfortably in a chamber with 100% oxygen and an atmospheric pressure up to three times that of normal to deliver more oxygen to the tissues throughout their body.  This results in a reduction of pressure caused by head and spinal cord injuries, reduced swelling, improved wound healing, stimulation of new blood vessel formation, and improved infection control. 

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is an excellent option for pets because it speeds up the healing process for wounds, infections, and poorly healing surgical sites. It can potentially reduce or eliminate the need for more invasive procedures.

Benefits of HBOT at VNIOC:

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is an excellent option for pets because it speeds up the healing process for wounds, infections, and poorly healing surgical sites. It helps reduce swelling and inflammation, promoting faster recovery with improved oxygenation.  By increasing the delivery of oxygen to tissues, more invasive procedures can potentially be reduced or eliminated.

Conditions that hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be used:

Central Nervous System: 

  • Cranial/Spinal cord trauma

  • Cerebral Ischemia

  • IVDD

  • Cortical blindness

  • FCE (fibro-cartilaginous emboli)

  • Tetraparesis

  • Peripheral nerve damage

  • TBI (traumatic brain injury)

Infectious Diseases:

  • Lyme Disease

  • Intracranial abscess

  • Abdominal abscess

  • Osteomyelitis

  • Septic arthritis

  • Septicemia

  • Endotoxemia

  • Blastomycosis

  • Necrotizing infections

Cardiovascular:

  • Cardiac infarctions

  • Stroke

  • CO toxicity

  • Cyanide poisoning

  • Smoke inhalation

  • Hypotension

  • Acute anemia

  • Reperfusion disease

  • Lymphangitis

Gastrointestinal

  • Pancreatitis

  • Gastric ulcers

  • Peritonitis

  • Ileus

  • Reperfusion

Musculoskeletal

  • Fracture repair

  • Tendonitis

  • Crush injuries

  • Soft tissue injuries

  • Myositis

  • Desmitis

  • Laminitis

  • Periostitis

  • Fibromyalgia

Respiratory

  • Sinusitis

  • Rhinitis

  • Pulmonary edema

  • Rhodococcus

  • Pleuritis

  • Iatrogenic gas embolism

  • Exercise induced pulmonary hemorrhage

Wounds

  • Compromised grafts and flaps

  • Select problem healing wounds

  • Thermal burns

  • Snake bite envenomation

  • Spider bite envenomation

Our State-of-the-Art HBOT Facility:

  • Our HBOT chamber is housed in a multi-specialty practice facility.  This allows us to offer this treatment modality to many different patients from multiple services such as Neurology, Surgery, Emergency, and Internal Medicine.  Our Hyperbaric chamber is specifically designed for veterinary use and so it is optimized for veterinary patient safety and comfort.

  •  Our chamber is fully acrylic vs. other chambers that are steel with a small porthole.  This fully acrylic chamber allows us to directly observe our patients throughout their entire treatment process, so we can easily and continuously monitor for any side effects or complications.

  •   We have a humidifier inside the chamber, as well as fully grounded platforms, which minimize any risk of static shock which is one of the main concerns when using HBOT.  Additionally, we have an HBOT-trained technician that remains with the patient through their entire treatment, as well as an overseeing HBOT-trained veterinarian that makes sure patients are good candidates for the treatment

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

  • HBOT sessions generally last 45-60 minutes.

  • HBOT is considered generally safe for most patients. There are a few conditions which may not be compatible with the high pressure environment.

  • We often start with 3 sessions and then re-assess how your pet is responding. Sessions range from as few as one treatment up to 8-10 or more, depending on the condition we are treating.

Conclusion:

At VNIoC, we prioritize the health and wellbeing of your pets. With HBOT, we're committed to providing cutting-edge treatments that promise enhanced recovery and healing. Schedule an appointment today to discover the benefits for yourself.