Equine Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Adjunctive Therapy
to Equine Medical & Surgical Treatments

What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been used in human medicine for more than 100 years. Hyper-oxygenation can decrease recovery time from a variety of injuries and diseases. Decreased swelling and improved white blood cell function are just two common responses to oxygen therapy, which makes hyperbaric medicine extremely useful in treating infections and acute injuries.

Can Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy help my horse?

An accurate diagnosis, coupled with appropriate medical therapies, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), speeds healing and recovery.

HBOT decreases swelling, reduces pain associated with swelling and inflammation, and increases circulation. In addition, it stimulates fibroblast production of collagen and enhances the connective tissue repair process.

Increased oxygenation also enhances the effectiveness of antibiotics and other medical interventions.

“The Hyperbaric Center of South Florida saved my Grand Prix horse’s life. His name was All Star. He had a bad injection of his SI joint, which became infected. He could hardly move, could not get up or down, and was in incredible pain. We brought All Star to the hyperbaric chamber three days each week for a month. No one would have said he’d live, let alone jump successfully at Grand Prix again. But he did! The only thing that brought him back was the hyperbaric chamber, along with the doctors and staff who believed in him and the treatment.”

– Debbie Stephens, Show Jumping Athlete

HBOT Technology

In our hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) chamber, air pressure is increased to approximately two to three times normal air pressure. Under these conditions, your horse’s tissues have more oxygen availability than would be possible when he’s breathing pure oxygen at normal air pressure. Read more…

HBOT Applications

Any disease or injury process that produces severe inflammatory or infectious processes can benefit from HBOT, including cellulitis (swollen limbs), lung abscess, non-healing wounds, shipping fever, pneumonia and post-operative colic cases. Traumatic injuries to the legs or body, nervous system damage and surgical trauma (incisions) respond well to HBOT treatments. Read more…

HBOT Studies for Qualified Participants

The Hyperbaric Center of South Florida is currently offering two studies to qualified participants.

The first study will be studying the effects of hyperbaric oxygen on athletic horses suffering from EIPH. The treatments will be offered at a 50% reduction from the normal rate. We will study the effect of 10 treatments. Please see the attached guidelines for more information on the study.

The second study will study the effects of hyperbaric oxygen on horses suffering from gastric ulcers. The purpose is to see if hyperbaric oxygen will expedite healing from gastric ulcers. Please see the attached guidelines for more information on the study.

Please call the Equine Hyperbaric Center at 561-319-2557 or Dr. Meg Miller Turpin at 561-386-4538 for additional information and also if you have a patient that you are interested entering into the study.