Your dog had surgery weeks ago, but the wound won’t close. The antibiotics aren’t clearing the infection fast enough. Your pet was diagnosed with IVDD and the neurological damage seems to have plateaued. A snake bite left tissue damage that regular treatment can’t reach.
The problem isn’t the treatment — it’s the oxygen supply. Damaged, swollen, and infected tissues are oxygen-starved. Red blood cells can’t reach them. Without oxygen, healing stalls, infections persist, and nerve tissue degrades.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy solves this. By dissolving oxygen directly into blood plasma at 10–15× normal levels, HBOT delivers healing oxygen to the exact tissues that need it most — even when blood vessels can’t.
Under normal conditions, oxygen is carried almost exclusively by red blood cells. But damaged tissues — swollen, bruised, or poorly vascularised — are often unreachable by red blood cells. This creates an oxygen deficit that slows healing, allows infection to thrive, and can lead to tissue death.
HBOT changes the equation. By placing your pet in a sealed chamber filled with 100% pure oxygen at 1.5–3.0 atmospheres of pressure (ATA), the laws of physics take over. Henry’s Law dictates that at higher pressure, far more oxygen dissolves directly into the blood plasma — up to 10–15 times normal levels. This oxygen-saturated plasma can penetrate swollen tissue, reach areas with damaged blood vessels, and deliver healing oxygen where it’s needed most.
The effects are powerful and well-documented in peer-reviewed veterinary literature:
Oxygen-rich plasma triggers fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis — the building blocks of tissue repair. Wounds heal 3–4× faster.
High-pressure oxygen is directly bactericidal against anaerobic bacteria. It also enhances white blood cell killing function (oxidative burst) by up to 40%.
HBOT stimulates the growth of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) into damaged tissue, permanently improving blood supply to oxygen-starved areas.
HBOT causes vasoconstriction that reduces oedema without reducing oxygen delivery — the only therapy that achieves this paradox.
| Feature | Steel Chamber (RehabVet) | Soft / Portable Chamber |
|---|---|---|
| Max pressure | Up to 3.0 ATA | 1.3–1.5 ATA |
| Oxygen purity | 100% pure oxygen | Often concentrated (not 100%) |
| Evidence-based pressures | ✓ Matches clinical research (1.5–3.0 ATA) | Often concentrated (not 100%) |
| Construction | Hospital-grade steel | ✗ Below research thresholds |
| Safety certification | ✓ HVM veterinary medical device | Inflatable fabric/PVC |
| Clinical efficacy | ✓ Proven at therapeutic pressures | Limited evidence at lower pressures |
From consultation to recovery — here’s what to expect
Our veterinary team reviews your pet's medical history, current condition, imaging results, and medications. We screen for contraindications (e.g. untreated pneumothorax, certain lung conditions) and determine if HBOT is appropriate. This takes 30–45 minutes for new patients.
We design a personalised HBOT protocol: target pressure (typically 1.5–2.5 ATA), session duration, frequency (daily, every other day, or 2–3× weekly), and total sessions. We also plan which complementary therapies (physio, hydro, laser, acupuncture) to combine with HBOT.
Your pet is gently introduced to the chamber. Most animals adapt immediately. The chamber is spacious, well-lit, and allows visual monitoring at all times. Bedding and familiar items can be placed inside for comfort.
The chamber is slowly pressurised to the target pressure with 100% pure oxygen. The gradual increase minimises any ear discomfort — similar to a slow aircraft descent. Your pet is monitored throughout.
At target pressure, your pet simply rests and breathes. The high-pressure oxygen dissolves into their blood plasma at 10–15× normal levels, flooding damaged tissues with healing oxygen. Most pets relax or sleep during this phase.
Pressure is gradually returned to normal. After exiting the chamber, our team assesses your pet's response, updates the treatment record, and schedules the next session.
Chronic wounds, surgical wound dehiscence, pressure sores, and burns. HBOT floods oxygen-starved tissue, promoting new blood vessel growth (angiogenesis) and accelerating wound closure.
Intervertebral disc disease, spinal cord compression, and spinal trauma. HBOT reduces spinal oedema, supports nerve regeneration, and improves neurological recovery outcomes.
Orthopaedic surgery, spinal surgery, tumour removal, and soft tissue surgery. HBOT accelerates tissue repair, reduces post-operative swelling, and lowers infection risk.
Tissue necrosis from snake bites responds dramatically to HBOT. High-pressure oxygen reduces venom-induced tissue damage, limits necrosis, and speeds recovery.
Osteomyelitis, deep tissue infections, dental abscesses, peritonitis, and sepsis. Oxygen at high pressure is directly bactericidal against anaerobic bacteria and enhances white blood cell killing function.
Carbon monoxide poisoning and airway damage from fires. HBOT is the standard treatment — it displaces carbon monoxide from haemoglobin 5× faster than normal oxygen, restoring oxygen delivery to vital organs.
Acute and chronic pancreatitis. HBOT reduces inflammation and oedema in the pancreas, supports tissue healing, and can help manage pain and recovery time.
Skin grafts and surgical flaps at risk of failure due to poor blood supply. HBOT promotes new blood vessel growth into grafted tissue, significantly improving graft survival rates.
Head trauma, cerebral ischaemia, vestibular disease, and peripheral nerve injuries. Oxygen-rich plasma penetrates swollen brain and nerve tissue that red blood cells cannot reach.
HBOT is used as adjunct therapy for cancer patients. It enhances the effectiveness of radiation therapy, supports wound healing after tumour removal, and can improve quality of life during treatment.
HBOT oxygenates tissue; physiotherapy restores strength and range of motion. Combined, they produce faster functional recovery than either alone.
Underwater treadmill exercises in buoyant water protect healing tissues while HBOT accelerates tissue repair. Ideal for IVDD and post-surgical patients.
Acupuncture manages pain and modulates the nervous system. HBOT reduces inflammation and promotes healing. Together, they cover both symptom management and root-cause repair.
Class 4 laser therapy targets superficial tissues while HBOT penetrates deep. Combined, they provide comprehensive healing from surface to core.
Package rates available for multi-session treatment plans. Contact us for a personalised quote based on your pet’s condition and recommended protocol.
An initial consultation is required for new patients. Package rates available for multi-session treatment plans. Exact pricing depends on your pet’s condition and treatment protocol. Contact us for a personalised quote.
Our chamber is manufactured by Hyperbaric Veterinary Medicine (HVM) — the global leader in veterinary HBOT equipment. It's built from steel to hospital-grade standards and can achieve therapeutic pressures of up to 3.0 ATA with 100% pure oxygen. This is the same standard used in human hyperbaric medicine centres. No soft or portable chamber can match these specifications.
RehabVet exists for one purpose: rehabilitation and recovery. Every team member, every piece of equipment, and every treatment room is dedicated to helping pets heal. When you add HBOT to this specialist environment — with physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, acupuncture, and laser therapy all under one roof — the combined result far exceeds what any standalone HBOT provider can offer.
HBOT at RehabVet isn't a standalone service — it's part of a coordinated treatment plan. Our team designs protocols that combine HBOT with complementary modalities for maximum effect. Your pet's progress is tracked across all therapies, and the plan is adjusted based on measurable outcomes.
Mothership featured RehabVet as 'the only veterinarian clinic in Singapore to offer medical grade HBOT.' Our work has been covered by Singapore's leading media outlets, reflecting our standing as the country's premier veterinary rehabilitation facility.
Real outcomes from real pet owners. Dogs walking after IVDD, wounds healing after weeks of stagnation, post-surgical patients recovering faster than expected. Read every review on our Google Business Profile.
| Feature | RehabVet | Other Providers |
|---|---|---|
| Chamber type | Medical-grade steel (HVM) | Soft / portable chambers |
| Max pressure | Up to 3.0 ATA | 1.3–1.5 ATA |
| Multimodal rehab | ✓ HBOT + physio + hydro + acu + laser | HBOT only |
| Specialist rehab team | ✓ Dedicated rehab staff | General vet or non-vet |
| Google reviews | 195+ (4.9★) | 59–85 reviews |
| Media coverage | ✓ ST, CNA, Mothership, TODAY | Limited |
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a medical treatment that delivers 100% pure oxygen at increased atmospheric pressure — typically 1.5 to 3 times normal atmospheric pressure — inside a specially designed chamber. Under pressure, oxygen dissolves directly into the blood plasma at up to 10–15 times normal levels, reaching tissues that are poorly vascularised, swollen, or compromised. Originally developed for treating decompression sickness in human divers, HBOT is now used in veterinary medicine to accelerate healing, reduce inflammation, fight infection, and improve neurological recovery in dogs, cats, and other companion animals.
Yes — HBOT is very safe when administered by trained veterinary professionals in a purpose-built veterinary hyperbaric chamber. Risks are minimal and rare: oxygen toxicity is the primary concern, but it is prevented by controlling session duration and pressure. Your pet is never left unattended during HBOT. The chamber is designed specifically for animals, with transparent walls so your pet can see out (and you can see in). Most animals relax or fall asleep during sessions.
HBOT is effective for a wide range of conditions including: post-surgical wound healing complications, chronic non-healing wounds, severe infections (including necrotising fasciitis), neurological conditions (IVDD, FCE, brain/spinal cord injury), snake bites and venomous insect stings, smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning, crush injuries and traumatic oedema, osteomyelitis (bone infection), and as adjunct therapy to chemotherapy for certain tumours. At RehabVet, HBOT is commonly combined with physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, and acupuncture for comprehensive rehabilitation.