Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber (HBOT) Therapy

Walnridge Farm is excited to offer a wonderful adjunct therapy option for your horses’ needs with our new state of the art Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber. This stationary single horse chamber has been developed by one of the worlds’ leading companies in this field, EquineOx Technologies, Ltd. The company based in Vancouver, British Columbia has been building these chambers for the past ten years.

A Brief History of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is a relatively new therapy in the equine world. The past decade in the development of equine chamber design and treatment protocol draws directly from the foundation of the therapy in human medicine. The first primitive human pressure chamber was constructed in the mid-1600s. The initial recognition for the need of pressure and oxygen chambers began with treating decompression sickness for caisson workers and deep sea divers. Both chamber design and treatment protocols have evolved through many years of development with military and medical research. Human applications now recognize a list of thirteen conditions were it is effective as an adjunct therapy, including decompression sickness, carbon monoxide poisoning, osteomyelitis, soft tissue and bony necrosis, compromised grafts and flaps as well as acute burns. It is thanks to the many years of research in human medicine that has allowed veterinarians to research and develop applications in equine medicine.

How the Technology Works

The basic function of HBOT is to supply the patient with 100% oxygen to breathe while in a pressurized chamber. The pressure is measured in atmospheres absolute or ATA. 1 ATA is the “normal” pressure that we experience everyday at sea level, and that air content is composed of approximately 79% Nitrogen and 21% Oxygen. It is easiest to explain pressure in terms of diving in the water; the deeper a person dives, the pressure exerted on the body increases. For each 33 feet of sea water the body dives to, the ATA is increased by one. Therefore, sea level is 1 ATA, diving to 33 feet is 2 ATA, 66 feet is 3 ATA, and so on. This gives you an idea of how much pressure the body experiences when inside a pressurized chamber.

At normal atmospheric pressure only a small amount of oxygen carried by the red blood cells is dissolved into the blood plasma. Even if you breathe in 100% oxygen at normal atmospheric pressure, the amount of oxygen dissolved into the plasma does not significantly increase. However, if the body experiences pressure increased to 2-3 ATA and is also provided with 100% oxygen as it does in a hyperbaric chamber, oxygenation of body tissue increases by as much as 13 times normal levels.

This increased amount of useable dissolved oxygen available to the body helps to reduce inflammation (including redness, swelling, heat, and pain). It provides injured and diseased tissues with the oxygen necessary to begin and continue the healing process, as well as helping to deliver and increase the effectiveness of antibiotics being used to treat the affected area.

Applications in Equine Medicine

HBOT is provding to be an impressive adjunct treatment therapy for a variety of equine cases. The benefits of this therapy are supported by many of the top veterinarians practicing in the industry today, including local surgeon, Dr. Patricia M. Hogan of Hogan Equine at Fairwinds Farm. The treatment provides the horse with concentrated amounts of oxygen under pressure, allowing for a greater amount of oxygen to be dissolved in the blood plasma to treat diseased and injured areas.

Each case must be evaluated individually, and therefore varies in the length and pressure for each treatment, as well as the frequency and duration of the overall course of treatment. HBOT is most effective when used in conjunction with a normal course of treatment including the use of antibiotics and anti-inflammatories as recommended and prescribed by your veterinarian.

Acute and Chronic Conditions commonly treated by HBOT

Post surgical wounds - including
Wounds - including surface wounds, pressure sores, chronic and necrotic wounds.
Exercise Induced Pulmonary Edema
Aerobic and Anaerobic infections - including those that may not be responsive to antibiotic treatment
Enhances the effectiveness of the antibiotic treatments - including sulfamethoxazole (SMZ), gentocin and amikacin
Soft tissue injuries, including tendons and ligaments
Early stages of Laminitis and Navicular disease
Pneumonia and other respiratory conditions
Rhabdomyolisis (Tying-up)
Lymphangitis
“Dummy” foals; dystocia foals
Osteomyelitis
Septicemia in both foals and adults
Reproductive issues with stallions; indications that it can increase sperm count and improve sperm motility
Reproductive issues with mares
Internal abscesses
Burns and smoke inhalation
Head trauma/peripheral nerve trauma
Compromised Immune System
Enhanced recovery from athletic performance

Staff

Walnridge Farm has professionally trained HBOT technical staff, having trained with the worlds’ most renowned human and veterinary hyperbaric training program, International ATMO.

Walnridge Farm is also home for Walnridge Equine Clinic. With four on-site veterinarians you can rest assured that your horse is receiving the best care during his HBOT treatment. Our technicians monitor the duration of the patients treatment, with our veterinarians recommending the appropriate course of treatment in the hyperbaric chamber.

Facilities

This single horse round stationary chamber is 10' in diameter with a 15’ high ceiling providing ample room for the patient to move around the chamber during treatment. The room is well lit and inviting for the horse to enter the chamber, similar to walking into a regular stall. Each patient it monitored by our trained staff for the duration of their treatment via a remote camera monitoring system and digital gauges.

You are welcome to ship your horse to us for each treatment. For your convenience we do offer either stall or pasture board for the duration of your horses’ treatment.

Treatment Preparation

Each treatment typically requires the patient to be in the chamber for approximately one hour. We ask that you sign your horse in at least 30 minutes prior to their scheduled treatment.

Upon arrival for treatment each horse is physically examined, particularly noting their temperature. No febrile horse will be treated, as that does increase their risk of oxygen induced seizures during treatment. Safety is our priority while treating any patient.

Please be sure that your horse does not have any of the following on them prior to shipping to Walnridge Farm for treatment:

Poultices or liniments
Fly spray
Oil-based grooming products (Show Sheen)
Alcohol-based products
Petroleum-based products (Vaseline)
Baby Oil
Hoof oil
Iodine
Electrical or battery operated products

Prior to treatment the following items will be removed:

Nylon and other synthetic products (i.e. blankets, boots, bandages, halters, etc.)
Leather products (i.e. halters, cribbing collars, etc.)
Nothing is allowed inside the chamber with the patient during treatment, including hay, water buckets, etc.

Please do not tranquilize your horse prior to shipping.

Please contact Walnridge Farm if you have any further questions regarding HBOT treatment and preparation of your horse for treatment.

Prices/Hours

Treatments are scheduled Monday-Friday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. -12 p.m. $300.00/individual treatment Packages of treatments are available.

Please contact Walnridge Farm for scheduling and pricing.