Is ozone therapy an option for your cat or dog, but you're not quite sure what it is? Our Cave Creek vets explain what this treatment is, and how your cat or dog can benefit from it.
Ozone Therapy
Ozone therapy is an alternative medicine practice that has been around for quite some time with regards to humans, and has more recently become a practiced veterinary technique.
This veterinary technique takes ozone gas or liquid, which is comprised of three oxygen atoms, and is used to treat a wide range of disease/conditions in cats and dogs.
Ozone is the most powerful and rapid-acting oxidizer man can produce, and it oxidizes all bacteria, mold and yeast spores, organic material and viruses.
This has been used to treat anything from an ear infection to cancer in our furry friends.
How Does Ozone Therapy Help?
The three oxygen atoms of ozone (O3) react in the tissue as it breaks down into ordinary oxygen (O2). This leaves a reactive single molecule that is able to combine with chemicals and other molecules in the body.
Adding this oxygen to the tissue and the body will promote circulation and healing.
There are a few methods of delivering ozone, and the best option for your pet must be determined by your veterinarian.
When Is Ozone Therapy Used?
Any time there are infections or inflammation, tissue damage or abnormal cellular proliferation, ozone can be used to assist standard treatments, whether they are conventional or holistic. Some instances may include:
- Wounds on the skin
- Pain relief
- Chronic or acute Lyme disease
- Head trauma
- Cancer and auto immune issues
- Allergic reactions and infections of the eyes and ears
- Upper respiratory problems
- Mouth diseases and abscesses
Here at Animal Health Services of Cave Creek, we use our hydro-massage ozone therapy technique. Hydro-massage ozone therapies can be used to promote healing following surgery or injury, and treat a variety of skin conditions and other health disorders including:
- Arthritic joints
- Skin wounds
- Alopecia (hair loss)
- Fungal conditions like dermatophytosis, dermatomycosis, Malassezia dermatitis and candidiasis
- Allergies like dermatitis caused by fleas or food
- General itchching and seborrhea (itchy, scaly skin)
What is the Procedure Process?
Ozone in its natural state is a gas. To use it as a medicine, people apply it directly to the pets skin, use ozonated water or oil (water or oil mixed with ozone), release the gas into the colon, or use an technique called "bagging", in which a body part is bagged and exposed to the ozone gas.
Ozone will irritates the airways, so it is important that the gas is never inhaled.
For some procedures, a vet will extract a small sample of blood, mix it with the ozone, and then re-inject it into a vein or muscle. This process is called autohemotherapy.
Is Ozone Safe?
Although ozone can provide plenty of health benefits, it is a toxic gas and should only be used by a certified professional.
That being said, your vet should have the knowledge and ability to perform these procedures when they are necessary.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.