Max Diving in the HBOT

So.. when a patient goes into a HyperBaric Oxygen Therapy Chamber (HBOT)  They refer to it as a dive.  Probably because it looks like they are going down in a submarine!

Here are some photos of Max and the HBOT at Southpaws!

HyperBaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) Chamber

HBOT

Portal!

Getting ready for Mr. Max

Max getting ready to Dive

Getting comfy

Super Max the submarine dog!

Getting all snuggled in to his HBOT!

Ready for a nap during his treatments!

BELOW IS A VIDEO SHOWING HOW IT ALL WORKS

And another video



Click here to learn more about HBOT Treatment at SouthPaws

Where can you find HBOT for animals?

There are a number of places.. this is by NO stretch a complete list.  There are many HBOT facilities available for horses that may also work with other animals, and there are some human facilities that have HBOT and will work with local veterinarians for animal treatments.

In the United States
Southpaws in Fairfax / Falls Church VA
Holistic Veterinary Care in Oakland CA
Animal Emergency & Referral Center in Ft. Pierce FL
Ravenwood Veterinary Clinic in Port Orange FL
University of Florida, School of Veterinary Medicine in Gainesville FL
Saint Francis Animal Hospital in Jacksonville, FL
Peace Love Pets in Commack NY
Veterinary Associates of Cape Cod in Yarmouth MA
Mars Hill Animal Hospital in Bogart GA
 SPCA Florida in Lakeland FL

Around the World
Town & Country Vet in Richmond New Zealand

GANGRENE & HBOT

Many of you who have been following Max know he developed a nasty case of Gangrene in his foot while I was on vacation.  The consensus is that it was from not moving enough (should be moved every 4-6 hours minimally and do exercise / Physical therapy).

I had him checked out - all over..

• Cardiac EKG, UltraSound and Doppler were done to make sure there was no clot - cardiologist said he has a very heathy heart!
• Xrays were done - no masses - just arthritis  (he's over 100 in human years)
• Blood work done - normal for him for the most part - elevated where you'd expect  from being on the meds he's been on.  
• Test to determine if there was a clot= came back likely for a clot
• UltraSound of abodmen - all clear - no masses, 
• UltraSound of blood vessels - showed a 40% block in his gangrene leg - when the legs were togeher there was no flow, when they were separated the flow was pretty good... so they think this is what was going on

Gangrene can be caused by a few things: 

• Venomous spider bite  (check the poisonous spiders in your area)
• Venomous snake or scorpion bites
• Diabetes and poor circulation
• Ranaud's disease (circulation issues)
• Clots

What is__gangrene?

It's necrotic or dead tissue and can include an infection too. It is caused by a lack of blood feeding the tissue and the tissue dies

How Gangrene is treated

Many vets just say to put animals down.

Many others just want to cut off the part of the body that has it.  (surgery)

OR.......

there's Oxygen Therapy... or Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT).. which is what we are doing.

Little did I know that HBOT treatment is FANTASTIC for neurological patients and helps improve neuroplasticity - which is helping the brain recreate the connections it lost during brain damage (stroke, brain bleed, hemohrage, anurism, brain tumors, head trauma, etc)  It also is great for infections too. 

Here are some links for you to review:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21287528

http://www.hyperbaricexperts.com/conditions/neurological-disorders/hbot-the-brain.html

(List of other things HBOT can be used to treat:

http://www.vet.utk.edu/departments/LACS/hbot.php

We are getting treatment at Southpaws in DC... google and look for a hospital that offers CERTIFIED AND TRAINED HBOT providers near you

http://www.vcahospitals.com/main/news/article/hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy-hbot-available-at-southpaws/21833


So... We're now going to post pictures after EACH of Max's Treatments in the next posting.. Max is getting 2 treatments  / day with 4 hours in between each treatment -