Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists takes pride in providing excellent patient care, using the most innovative technologies available. Our state-of-the-art treatment modalities include Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT). This safe and painless treatment was initially used to treat scuba divers suffering from decompression sickness. It has since been proven beneficial not only to humans, but also to pets of all types.
Each treatment, or “dive,” lasts approximately 1 hour and can be performed once or twice a day. During this time, the pet is placed in the hyperbaric oxygen chamber where they are able to sleep or rest while the pressurized oxygen is absorbed into their bloodstream. The number and duration of treatments is individually tailored to each patient after being evaluated by one of our veterinarians.
Breathing pure oxygen at pressurized levels can increase the concentration of oxygen in their bloodstream to 15 times its normal levels. This in turn increases the distance oxygen diffuses into the compromised tissues, promoting accelerated healing and recovery. After a single HBOT treatment, oxygen levels remain elevated for an additional 4 hours.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is often used in conjunction with our other specialty treatments; for instance, before and after surgery to hasten healing.
HBOT treatment has been effectively used to treat:
