Pets, like humans, require oxygen for their bodies to function properly. In health situations like collapsing trachea, heart failure, pneumonia, ect the need for oxygen becomes even more critical due to the compromised respiratory or cardiovascular systems. Let’s break down the reasons Pets benefit from Oxygen for these particular conditions:
Collapsing Trachea
The trachea (windpipe) is responsible for carrying air from the external environment to the lungs. In collapsing trachea, the cartilage rings that support the trachea weaken, leading to a partial collapse of the airway. This can severely restrict the flow of air, making it difficult for pets to breathe. Providing supplemental oxygen ensures that enough oxygen is reaching the lungs and bloodstream despite the compromised airway.
Heart Failure
Heart failure occurs when the heart is unable to pump blood effectively, leading to reduced oxygen delivery to the body’s tissues. As a result, organs and tissues, including the brain, can’t function properly without adequate oxygen supply. Oxygen supplementation can help alleviate the strain on the heart by ensuring that oxygen levels in the bloodstream remain sufficient, even if the heart’s pumping capacity is reduced.
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lungs usually caused by infection. Inflammation and infection can lead to fluid accumulation and reduced lung function. This means that oxygen exchange in the lungs is compromised, resulting in lower oxygen levels in the bloodstream. Supplemental oxygen is crucial in pneumonia cases to maintain the body’s oxygen balance while the lungs work to overcome the infection and inflammation.
In these health situations, the body’s oxygen demand may be increased due to factors like labored breathing, decreased oxygen intake, or reduced oxygen exchange in the lungs. Providing supplemental oxygen helps ensure that the pet’s organs and tissues receive enough oxygen to function properly, even when the natural respiratory or cardiovascular systems are compromised.
Read about the 2023 Oregon Dog Pneumonia Outbreak here
What are the Pet Health Conditions that can most benefit from supplemental Oxygen Therapy?
Supplemental oxygen can be beneficial for a variety of pet health conditions that affect the respiratory or cardiovascular systems. Some of the conditions that could benefit most from supplemental oxygen include:
- Respiratory Distress: Any condition that causes severe difficulty in breathing, such as asthma, bronchitis, or severe respiratory infections, can lead to decreased oxygen intake. Supplemental oxygen helps improve oxygen levels in the bloodstream and eases the strain on the respiratory system.
- Pneumonia: Inflammation and infection of the lungs in cases of bacterial or viral pneumonia can lead to compromised oxygen exchange. Providing supplemental oxygen helps support the pet’s oxygen levels while the infection is being treated.
- Heart Failure: Congestive heart failure can lead to reduced blood circulation and decreased oxygen delivery to tissues. Oxygen therapy can help maintain adequate oxygen levels and alleviate the strain on the heart.
- Collapsing Trachea: Pets with a collapsing trachea have difficulty breathing due to a partially blocked airway. Supplemental oxygen can help ensure sufficient oxygen intake despite the narrowed airway.
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): COPD is a group of lung diseases that can cause breathing difficulties due to chronic inflammation and narrowing of the airways. Oxygen supplementation can be useful in managing oxygen levels in pets with COPD.
- Smoke Inhalation: Pets exposed to smoke or in fires can suffer from smoke inhalation injuries, leading to difficulty breathing and decreased oxygen levels. Supplemental oxygen is crucial for these cases to aid in recovery.
- Anesthesia and Surgery Recovery: After surgery or during anesthesia, pets may experience reduced respiratory function. Providing supplemental oxygen during recovery can help ensure a smooth transition as they regain consciousness.
- Trauma or Shock: Pets that have experienced trauma, severe injury, or shock may have compromised oxygen delivery to their tissues. Oxygen therapy can aid in stabilizing their condition while other treatments are administered.
- Near Drowning: Pets that have almost drowned may develop breathing difficulties due to water entering their lungs. Oxygen therapy is important to support lung function and recovery in these cases.
- Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS): ARDS is a severe lung condition often caused by factors like infection, trauma, or inhaling harmful substances. It leads to rapid onset of breathing difficulties and decreased oxygen levels. Oxygen therapy is a mainstay of treatment.
What Oxygen Treatments are available for Pets to use?
Rescue Oxygen Kits
Pawprint Oxygen’s Rescue Oxygen kits are designed for emergency situations when your pet needs Oxygen. It’s equipped with everything you need – Oxygen Canisters, Regulator, Oxygen Tubing, and Pet Oxygen Mask. Read below for a breakdown on each item:
Oxygen Canisters (new 15L size!)
Pawprint Oxygen is excited to announce our new 15 Liter oxygen canisters! With 50% more oxygen than our 10L canisters, and with the added flow rate of 3.0LPM (Liter per minute), our new canisters will enable pet parents and veterinarians to administer the same 99% medical grade oxygen, but in a wider range of use cases.
What is staying the same:
- Each canister contains 99% medical grade oxygen.
- The canisters are simple and easy to use, making treatment during emergencies and transport easier to manage.
- Lightweight and portable (each 15L canister weighs less than half a pound when full!)
- Each canister has a 2 year shelf life, remaining under pressure until you are ready to use it.
What is better:
- During transport, the 15L canisters will last longer, so you can go farther on each canister.
- You receive more value for your money.
- The increased size allows us to treat pets at a higher flow rate, as we introduce our 3.0LPM regulator.
- It is still the exact same process to use the 15L canisters, which will help pet parents and veterinarians transition easily from using the 10L canisters.
- The 15L canisters are also recyclable once empty, so more material does not necessarily mean more waste.
| Animal Weight | Flow Rate | Duration (15L Canisters) | Duration (10L Canisters) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-5 kg (0-11 lb) | 0.5 LPM | 30 Minutes | 20 Minutes |
| 6-10 kg (12-22 lb) | 1.0 LPM | 15 Minutes | 10 Minutes |
| 11-15 kg (23-33 lb) | 2.0 LPM | 7.5 Minutes | 5 Minutes |
| 16-20 kg (34-44 lb) | 3.0 LPM | 5 Minutes | 3.3 Minutes |
Oxygen Tubing
Our Medical-Grade Oxygen tubing is 7ft long, durable and easy to connect. Replacement tubing is always available on our site.
Purevent Pet Oxygen Mask
The PureVent Pet Oxygen Mask features tri-vent technology that disperses 80% more carbon dioxide than the leading competitors. Rebreathing is the primary consideration when designing a pet oxygen mask. Your pet’s mask must be able to vent carbon dioxide, heat, and humidity away from your pet when they exhale, preventing exhaled CO2 from building up inside the mask. Constructing our mask with three triangular rebreathing vents towards the end of the mask, the PureVent Pet Oxygen Mask can efficiently eliminate these elements. As a result, pets can breathe in the purest air possible and increase their total oxygen intake.
Oxygen Regulator
Based on your Pet’s weight, we’ll have the correct flow rate in your Pet’s rescue kit. We’ve just added a new regulator 3.0 flow rate size to accommodate even larger pets!
Our Products
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