PHYSIOTHERAPY | REHABILITATION | HYDROTHERAPY | CANCER MANAGEMENT

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

If you’re a pet owner looking for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for your beloved pet, you’ve come to the right place.

At RehabVet Clinic in Singapore, we offer this cutting-edge treatment that involves placing your pet in our medical-grade hyperbaric chamber. HBOT involves placing a patient in a pressurised chamber where they breathe 100% pure oxygen at a pressure greater than normal atmospheric pressure. This increased pressure allows the oxygen to dissolve more readily in the blood plasma, which in turn leads to a higher concentration of oxygen being delivered to the body’s tissues. This enhanced oxygen delivery promotes healing and recovery, reduces inflammation, and stimulates the immune system.

We’re incredibly proud to highlight that RehabVet stands alone as the only clinic in Singapore equipped with a medical-grade hyperbaric oxygen chamber. By choosing RehabVet, you’re ensuring your pet receives the highest quality treatment in the hands of our dedicated and skilled professionals.

Process & Duration

The process typically starts with a 10-minute period to gradually increase the pressure, ensuring the pet adjusts comfortably. Then, the therapeutic part of the treatment lasts about 45 minutes, where your pet reaps the healing benefits of the oxygen-rich environment. Following this, there’s another 10-minute period for slow decompression to normal atmospheric pressure. Overall, you can expect the entire session to take up to 60 minutes. It’s essential to note that the frequency and total number of treatments needed will be based on the nature of your pet’s condition and their response to therapy.

Benefits

  • Accelerated Wound Healing: HBOT promotes rapid healing of wounds, burns, and skin grafts by increasing the oxygen supply to damaged tissues, thereby boosting collagen production and new blood vessel formation.
  • Reduced Inflammation: The elevated oxygen levels help to reduce inflammation and swelling, which in turn minimizes pain and discomfort for the pet.
  • Enhanced Immune Response: HBOT improves the function of the immune system, making it more efficient in fighting off infections and promoting recovery.
  • Faster Recovery from Surgery: Following surgical procedures, HBOT can aid in faster healing and reduce post-operative complications.
  • Neurological Support: Studies have shown that HBOT can help improve neurological function in pets suffering from spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and other neurological disorders.

Types of Conditions

  • Wound Healing: HBOT is beneficial in treating non-healing wounds, burns, and skin grafts.
  • Post-Surgical Recovery: Pets recovering from orthopedic or soft tissue surgeries can benefit from the accelerated healing and reduced inflammation provided by HBOT.
  • Infections: HBOT is effective in treating infections, such as deep abscesses, pyoderma, and osteomyelitis.
  • Traumatic Injuries: HBOT can help pets recover from trauma, including crush injuries, head trauma, and spinal cord injuries.
  • Neurological Disorders: HBOT can be beneficial for pets with stroke, encephalitis, meningitis, or other neurological conditions.
  • Respiratory Disorders: Pets with conditions such as pneumonia, smoke inhalation, or near drowning can benefit from the increased oxygenation provided by HBOT

Types of Risks

Oxygen Toxicity: One of the main risks of hyperbaric oxygen treatment is oxygen toxicity. When dogs are exposed to high levels of oxygen for extended periods, it can lead to damage to their lungs and nervous system. This can cause symptoms such as coughing, difficulty breathing, seizures, and even death in severe cases. Therefore, it is essential to monitor dogs closely during hyperbaric oxygen therapy to ensure that they are not showing any adverse reactions.

Barotrauma: Another risk associated with hyperbaric oxygen treatment is barotrauma. This occurs when the pressure in the chamber causes changes in the dog’s body, leading to damage to its ears, lungs, or other organs. Signs of barotrauma include bleeding from the ears, difficulty breathing, and changes in behaviour. It is crucial to ensure that the pressure and duration of hyperbaric oxygen treatment are carefully monitored to avoid barotrauma.

Infection: Is also a potential risk of hyperbaric oxygen treatment. Since the chamber is a sealed environment, there is a risk of bacteria or other microorganisms developing and causing infections. It is essential to ensure that the chamber is thoroughly cleaned and sterilized before each use to prevent the such as restlessness or anxiety. To minimize the risk of barotrauma, it is essential to follow proper procedures when administering hyperbaric oxygen therapy, such as gradually increasing the pressure over time and monitoring the dog’s response.

Image of a dog receiving hyperbaric oxygen treatment in a chamber

Frequently Asked Questions on Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) for dogs is a therapeutic treatment in which your pet is exposed to pure oxygen under increased atmospheric pressure. This enhanced environment can improve your pet's healing process, helping to treat a range of conditions, such as wounds, infections, or inflammations.

Yes, Oxygen Therapy can be highly beneficial for dogs. By increasing oxygen levels in the body, it aids in healing processes, helps in managing chronic conditions, and can improve the general well-being of your pet.

The duration of Oxygen Therapy for a dog depends on the severity of the pet's condition and its response to treatment. Some dogs might need a few sessions, while others may require ongoing treatment. Your veterinarian will be the best judge.

HBOT is not a cure, but it aids in the treatment of various conditions. These include chronic wounds, severe infections, trauma, certain types of edema, and more. It also aids recovery after surgery.

Yes, HBOT can speed up healing by increasing the amount of oxygen in the blood, thereby boosting your pet's natural healing mechanisms.

While HBOT is generally safe, potential risks include oxygen toxicity, claustrophobia in the chamber, and ear discomfort due to pressure changes.

An HBOT session typically lasts for about 40 to 60 minutes, though it depends on the condition being treated.

The success rate of HBOT varies depending on the condition treated, but it has shown positive results in many cases. It's best to discuss this with your vet.

The most common side effects are pressure-related, such as ear discomfort. In rare cases, oxygen toxicity can occur.

The risks of HBOT include barotrauma to the ears and sinuses due to pressure changes, temporary nearsightedness, and in rare instances, oxygen toxicity.

HBOT can aid in treating a range of issues including slow-healing wounds, severe infections, trauma, and certain types of swelling.

HBOT can be very beneficial in supporting healing and recovery processes. However, it should only be used under veterinary supervision.

Pets with certain conditions like untreated pneumothorax, certain types of respiratory disorders, or some forms of cancer may not be suitable candidates for HBOT.

Most patients participating in aquatic therapy are already out of shape and swimming in a pool or lake requires more cardiovascular strength and endurance than is available.

Swimming in a hydrotherapy pool may be effective for some conditions, but again several factors are unable to be controlled during a free swim.

The number of HBOT sessions varies depending on the condition being treated. Your veterinarian will provide a treatment plan tailored to your pet's needs.

There's no direct evidence that HBOT can cause heart problems. However, pets with certain heart conditions should only undergo HBOT under veterinary supervision.

No, undergoing treatment in a hyperbaric chamber isn't painful. Some pets may experience discomfort due to pressure changes, similar to what humans feel when flying.

Some pets may seem tired after HBOT, likely due to the body's increased work during the healing and recovery processes stimulated by the therapy.

Yes, HBOT can increase oxygen supply to the brain, potentially aiding in recovery from trauma and certain other neurological conditions.

There's no direct evidence linking HBOT to improved sleep. However, by aiding overall health and recovery, it could indirectly contribute to better sleep.

Symptoms of oxygen toxicity can include changes in vision, ringing in the ears, nausea, twitching muscles, seizures, and confusion. However, under veterinary supervision, this risk is minimal.