5 Key Applications for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Hyperbaric chambers are used for many species of animals. In the past, many people used these chambers to test and treat patients with various illnesses. There are currently many pet owners and animal lovers who use these chambers as a means of treating their pets. Many people are under the impression that the chamber must be used in extremely pressurized conditions, however, that is not true. These chambers can be used for a variety of purposes and can be used to improve many aspects of pet health.

PET Bottle Therapy. Many animals are put into these chambers during surgical procedures, before and after major surgeries. The animals are often stressed during this process because of potential infections or other issues. When placed into the hyperbaric chamber, the animals are relaxed and stress free. An oxygen concentrator is then attached to the side of the chamber, and the oxygen levels reach up to 100%, which keeps the animals in a hyperbaric oxygenated state. Mice in the chamber can be given supplementary oxygen, and the hyperbaric chamber can be used as an artificial habitat to promote healing and hyperbaric chamber for animals.

Wound Treatment and Cover Up. If you have an injured animal, you probably want it to heal quickly. You could try a local anesthetic on the wound; however, using local anesthetics on an animal will never work, and the animals body will quickly adapt to the lack of anesthetics. Hyperbaric chambers can be used instead, and the hyperbaric water and oxygen combination will provide immediate healing of the skin flap, while the animals body works to repair the wound. This process is much faster than if the animals were simply put into a smaller animal holding area.

Skin Flaps and Necrosis. Many animals suffer from skin flaps. These are tissue flaps that are cut in several places, usually around the eye, to allow air to get to the cornea. Over time, with continuous exposure to the high pressure chambers, the tissue flaps begin to tear, and this causes necrosis (death of the tissue). However, with the hyperbaric chamber, the animals are placed into the chamber, but no one is present, so the tissue is not damaged, and the animals heal extremely fast.

Eye Injuries and Other Skin Flaps. Some injuries to the eye require surgery, and the hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be used to help with the wound healing and the tissue repair. It can also be used as a local anesthetic to relieve the pain, while the animals heal. The local anesthetic does not prevent any of the animals from feeling pain or discomfort, but it does help slow down the progression of the disease.

Eye Stitches and Grafts. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be used to help with eye infections and graft losses. Sometimes, the eyes of animals need to be grafted on to other areas, like the head or the legs, after trauma. The hyperbaric chamber can be used for these procedures, and the animals heal extremely well. The hyperbaric chamber also makes it possible for the eye surgeon to make small incisions, which he/she would not be able to do if the animal were standing.

Cerebral Palsy and Blindness. Some animals suffer from a condition called cerebral palsy. This disease is caused by compression of the cord, which is similar to the effects of halo syndrome. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be very helpful for these animals; because no one is present to give them the drugs, they cannot get the drugs through their systems. The hyperbaric chamber can also help with this procedure, as the carbon dioxide levels will also be lower in the animals that are receiving treatment through the hyperbaric chamber.

Wound Healing and Disease Prevention. Because the hyperbaric chamber can increase the body’s ability to heal itself, it can also be used for the prevention of disease in animals. Many viruses and bacteria can cause animals to be sick, and when an animal is put in the chamber to heal, the virus and bacteria are killed or reduced in their numbers. This can be extremely valuable to the veterinary care of pets, who often have many different types of diseases. If the virus or bacteria cannot enter the body, it cannot multiply and potentially make an animal sick.