Pet Oxygen Cages: What To Look For Before You Buy

Oxygen Cages have been used in pet healthcare for decades at veterinary practices and ER facilities. Used to stabilize pets that are experiencing respiratory distress, oxygen cages are a great tool to ensure pets are oxygenating properly. Many pets need supplemental oxygen for a longer period than just a few minutes of therapy with an oxygen mask, so the oxygen cage is a great tool to ensure they are receiving oxygen therapy without a doctor or technician needing to actively administer the oxygen. This also allows the pet to receive other treatments during oxygen therapy like subcutaneous fluids or other medications. Pets can also rest and eat while receiving oxygen therapy.

Some common conditions that may require long-term oxygen therapy are:

• Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
• Pulmonary Hypertension
• Pneumonia
• Feline Asthma
• Collapsing Trachea
• Bronchitis
• Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS)

For many of the above conditions, pets may decompensate quickly, which means that the pet’s blood oxygen levels will dip quickly from a healthy level to a level that can lead to respiratory distress if oxygen is not administered.

Unfortunately, even with medications being given, decompensation can happen with little to no warning, and it is recommended that pet owners be prepared with supplemental oxygen on hand. In years past, having an at-home oxygen cage was not possible, and pet owners would have to rush to the nearest ER facility for oxygen therapy. Depending on how far pet owners live from the nearest ER, this can be quite dangerous for pets that are not getting enough oxygen.

Understanding the Importance of Pet Oxygen Cages

With the creation of the Buster ICU Oxygen Cage, at-home oxygen therapy is now possible. Similar to the equipment at an emergency hospital, the Buster ICU Oxygen Cage can create safe oxygen levels and expel carbon dioxide (CO2), heat, and humidity build-up.

Additionally, with the use of Venturi adapters, pet owners are also able to set the percentage of oxygen inside of the cage. This is especially useful for conditions that require a specific percentage of oxygen. For example, many heart conditions like Congestive Heart Failure and Mitral Valve Disease require an oxygen saturation level of 60%, and with the use of the Venturi adapters, pet owners can create that specific environment. By pulling in a certain amount of room air to mix with the pure oxygen coming from the oxygen concentrator, owners can set the percentage of oxygen from 25% to 60%, depending on the pet’s specific needs.

Key Features to Consider Before Purchasing a Pet Oxygen Cage

Size and Space: Choosing the correct size for your pet’s oxygen cage is vital to ensuring they are both comfortable and that there is enough room around your pet to maintain a safe oxygen level.  If the cage is too small, the area around the pet will fill up with CO2 at a greater rate than the oxygen can be replenished. There will also be less space for heat and humidity to be dispersed, which can lead to an uncomfortable and unsafe environment. We recommend cage sizes based on the correct ratios to keep both oxygen and CO2 levels in check and to ensure your pet stays at a comfortable temperature. If you are ever unsure which size is best, you can speak with your veterinarian or a member of the Pawprint Oxygen team.

• For pets up to 10 pounds, we recommend the small size, which is 18”x13”x13”.
• For pets between 10-25lbs, we recommend the medium size, which is 24”x18”x18”.
• For pets between 25-70lbs, we recommend the large size, which is 44”x26”x26”.

Material and Build Quality: The Buster ICU Oxygen Cage is built with pets in mind. The sturdy metal frame keeps the cage rigid and secure, even with energetic pets inside. The clear vinyl shell is durable while still allowing your pet to see outside, which helps to keep your pet calm during therapy. The oxygen cage will also come with a comfort mat and ice packs to ensure your pet is as comfortable as possible while receiving therapy.

Oxygen Delivery and Control:  With the addition of the Venturi adapters that are included with the Buster ICU Oxygen Cage, pet owners can create a specific oxygen level inside of the cage, which allows for better control when treating conditions that rely on a specific level of oxygen. This is a big contributing factor in why veterinary practices prescribe, and even use, the Buster ICU Oxygen Cage and sets the Buster Cage apart from other oxygen cages that can be purchased online. Non-medical grade cages do not have the ability to set the oxygen saturation level, which can lead to an unsafe situation as pet owners are not able to tell how much oxygen is being given.

Safety Features:  Safety is our top priority at Pawprint Oxygen. Providing pet owners with the knowledge and instructions to use the equipment is essential to this. We provide easy-to-understand instructional guides and videos to watch to help you set up and use the equipment. Additionally, our team is available via email, phone, or chat to help with any additional questions. The Buster ICU Oxygen Cage is also made with non-toxic pet safe materials.

Different Types of Pet Oxygen Cages

There are many oxygen cages on the market today. Many are considered non-medical grade, and we do not recommend purchasing these. There are many ways in which non-medical grade oxygen cages can be unsafe to use for oxygen therapy for your pets. To highlight the main points, here are some ways in which they are unsafe:

• The cages do not provide adequate venting for CO2, heat, and humidity.
• They do not provide adequate airflow without the use of Venturi adapters.
• There is no way to confirm what oxygen level you are supplying inside the oxygen cage without the Venturi adapters.
• The cages are often made from cheap and flimsy materials that may not be pet safe.
• Many companies that sell non-medical grade cages are not knowledgeable on how to safely administer oxygen therapy to pets.

Pawprint Oxygen is different. Ensuring your oxygen cage is medical grade, and backed by a company that focuses solely on providing oxygen therapy equipment to pet owners, is how to avoid these issues. By working with your veterinary office and requiring a prescription approval, Pawprint Oxygen ensures your pet receives the best care possible.

Determining the Right Cage for Your Pet

How to choose the appropriate oxygen cage based on your pet’s specific needs, size, and condition can be daunting when you first start looking into oxygen therapy. To help make the decision easier, Pawprint Oxygen works with you and your veterinarian to pinpoint the best option. By requiring a prescription for extended oxygen therapy, we can ensure we are providing your pet with the correct cage size, adequate flow rate, and how often and for how long each therapy session should last. You and your veterinarian know your pet best, and we rely on that relationship to help you find the best oxygen therapy solution.

Maintenance and Care

The Buster ICU Oxygen Cage is very easy to clean and maintain, giving you one less thing to worry about. Made from waterproof vinyl, the comfort mat can be easily removed from the oxygen cage and cleaned with a mild soap and water. The cage walls can also be wiped down if soiled with a mild soap and water, or with a pet safe disinfectant like chlorhexidine. There is no equipment to change out, as all parts of the cage can be reused for years to come.

Legal and Health Considerations

Since there is no government entity that ensures the quality and safety of pet medical equipment, it is important to purchase certified and vet-approved products for your pet’s oxygen therapy. Trusted by thousands of veterinary offices, and prescribed by your vet, the Buster ICU Oxygen Cage is a safe choice. By utilizing the Venturi adapters, you can ensure the oxygen level your pet is receiving is accurate, giving you peace of mind. The Venturi adapters also increase the air flow into the oxygen cage, helping to turn over the air and push out CO2, heat, and humidity. Veterinarians have expressed to us that CO2 build up has been the most concerning aspect of using a non-medical grade oxygen cage, and with the Buster ICU Oxygen Cage, we can mitigate that issue.

User Reviews and Testimonials

Reading reviews and testimonials from pet owners and veterinarians helps to illustrate how essential our equipment is to the well-being of so many pets.

Carolyn writes, “My little 7-pound chihuahua, Jack, suffers from tracheal collapse, heart murmur, and bronchial compression. Many times, throughout the day and night, he starts coughing and can’t breathe. After receiving the oxygen concentrator bundle, his quality of life has greatly improved. It has been a life changer for him and me. After only a few minutes in the tent, he relaxes and can breathe again. Just wish I had gotten this earlier. Must admit, it was kind of scary thinking about using this but after reading the instructions and talking with my vet and the people at Pawprint, all my concerns were put to rest. Highly recommend and extremely pleased and impressed with this bundle. Thank you, Pawprint Oxygen.”

 

Pet owner K.L. writes, “When our runt French Bulldog had a breathing issue after BOAS (brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome) surgery and almost died, we decided to look into finding an oxygen system for our home. Pawprint guided us to find the right system and it is working great. We use the home oxygen cage anytime she seems to be breathing with more effort. Our goal was to keep a crisis situation from ever happening again. So far so good. I highly recommend Pawprint. They have fantastic customer service, and the products are high quality. Best of luck.”

 

 

Dr. Cross, DVM, says, “I wish I had this product my whole career!”

Purchasing Options and Cost Considerations

The Buster ICU Oxygen Cage is available to purchase through Pawprint Oxygen directly by calling us at 855-699-4366 or by ordering through our website www.pawprintoxygen.com. You can also purchase the oxygen cages through our shop page on Amazon. The cost of each oxygen cage varies depending on the size you select and ranges from $400-$600. In comparison to another night in the ER, the cost of an oxygen cage and oxygen concentrator may be worth it, if your pet does not require any additional treatments or care other than oxygen therapy. Many times, pets that need a long recovery with oxygen therapy, like for pneumonia, can be easily treated at home and by doing so, this can save pet owners thousands of dollars.

By ensuring that at-home oxygen cages are available to pet owners, Pawprint Oxygen allows for a broader range of treatment options. Since our set up is easy to use and safe to administer, owners can give oxygen to their pets in the comfort of their homes. This not only saves pet owners a trip to the ER, but saves both stress and money, as well.

The Pet Oxygen Shop