Summary

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is a medical treatment used for both large and small animal patients at the University of Tennessee Veterinary Medical Center. HBOT involves placing an animal in a sealed chamber where they breathe 100% oxygen at increased atmospheric pressure, allowing significantly more oxygen to dissolve into the bloodstream—up to 15 times normal levels. The goal is to improve oxygen delivery to damaged or diseased tissues to promote healing. HBOT can function as a primary or complementary treatment and is used for conditions involving compromised circulation, severe infections, wounds, athletic injuries, fractures, laminitis, intestinal and neurologic disorders, and certain infections. Treatment protocols vary by condition. Risks and side effects are minimal when properly monitored, with oxygen toxicity and pressure‑related effects being rare and carefully managed.