Over the years HBOT has been used to treat a large number of medical conditions without validated success. Some of these conditions include cerebral palsy, epilepsy, chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis, migraine, soft tissue sporting injuries, and brain injuries to name just a few. Unless validated, peer-reviewed research becomes available, such treatment is considered investigational and experimental.

New studies being completed with regularity, there are specific indications for HBOT. However, the resource we use as our guideline for providing our service is the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society, as is listed below. You may also visit their web site and see, first hand, what the current indications are, by clicking on the icon to the right.

Real HBOT (where the H stands for “hyperbaric”) involves placing the patient in a hard chamber (usually made of steel) and raising the pressure to 2 atmospheres (atm) or more. An atmosphere is - as the name might suggest - a pressure equivalent to the atmospheric pressure at sea level (on Earth). It is equivalent to 14.7 psi or about 101.3 KPa.

Yes, but most of them can be dramatically reduced with the proper management. The risks can be divided into two types, physical and safety risks. Increasing the pressure in the hyperbaric chamber can cause ear discomfort and injury to your eardrum(s). If you are unable to equalise the pressure by swallowing or yawning you can have a small temporary hole surgically made in your eardrum, like is used in children with 'glue ears'.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is usually offered as a referral and consultation service. A consultation appointment will be made for the patient once appropriate case documentation has been received. Copies of treatment documents are mailed to referring physicians. An extensive medical library of key laboratory studies and supportive clinical research is also available to interested health care professionals.

There are two medications that are most often prescribed to treat epilepsy, Phenobarbital and potassium bromide. These two drugs used either alone or in combination with each other control seizures in 80 to 95% of all dogs. For dogs who are not controlled with these two drugs, there are other medications that aren't as consistently helpful but may be the perfect medication for an individual dog.