Exploring the Benefits of Ozone Therapy for Animal Companions

Ozone therapy, utilized by dentists, naturopathic physicians and some veterinarians, is a wonderful tool to assist in healing wounds, reduce the need for antibiotics and aid in reducing inflammation in the body by increasing oxygen utilization. Ozone, or O3, is a molecule that is produced by an ozone generator that is connected to an oxygen (O2) tank and then administered to a patient in various forms. There are many practical ways in which ozone therapy can be applied to helping our animal companions, with the guidance of a veterinarian who is trained in ozone therapy.

For patients undergoing dental cleaning and/or extractions under anesthesia, ozonated saline can be used to rinse the mouth instead of administering injectable or oral antibiotics, thus sparing the patient the negative side effects of antibiotics, which, in addition to killing bad bacteria, can also destroy some good bacteria. If appropriately chosen probiotics are given after a course of antibiotics, good bacteria can be replenished, thus restoring some balance of good bacteria in the gut. However, using ozone can often eliminate the need to give antibiotics in the first place.

Patients afflicted with various forms of cancer benefit greatly from ozone therapy in the form of what is known as rectal insufflation, a convenient, quick, painless and non-invasive treatment involving the infusion of ozone gas via a catheter inserted into the rectum of a dog or cat. Horses and other species can also benefit from this treatment for a variety of conditions, as well as for overall improved vitality.

Ozone can be combined with acupuncture as yet another method by which ozone therapy can be offered to patients, in which small volumes of ozone gas are inserted into specific acupuncture points via a needle and syringe. This can be a faster method of doing an acupuncture treatment while adding in the benefits of ozone therapy for patients who may not sit still for a 15- to 20- minute period for full conventional acupuncture treatment. This way, ozone acupuncture can offer relief from a wide variety of maladies ranging from pain, anxiety, allergies and gastrointestinal disorders to musculoskeletal and neurologic conditions.

Topical ozonated liniments, ointments and ear drops can be used to treat various skin and ear irritations and infections without the need to rely upon conventional antibiotics, antivirals, steroids and antifungal medications.

For open wounds that are not good candidates for surgical closure, either because there is not enough skin to close the wound without causing excessive skin tightness or because the patient cannot safely undergo anesthesia to have surgery performed, limb bagging with ozone gas on the affected limb can serve as an effective treatment to assist in efficient wound healing for both small and large animals.

Ozonated fluids can be given subcutaneously in place of regular fluids to enhance the therapeutic benefit of those fluids. Eyes can be flushed with diluted ozonated saline to rinse out debris and mucus.

In a clinic setting, ozone can be administered in what is known as major autohemotherapy, where a small quantity of blood is drawn from a patient, ozone gas is added, and the resultant ozonated blood is given back into the patient intravenously. Minor autohemotherapy involves taking a small amount of blood, adding ozone, and then administering it intramuscularly (into the muscle).

Patients with arthritis and other joint problems may benefit from prolozone, a form of injectable therapy combining ozone and prolotherapy, which can be an effective alternative to certain surgeries in some cases.

In summary, the applications of ozone therapy are many and can greatly improve the health and vitality of your animal companion. QCBN

By Armaiti May, DVM, CVA

To learn more about this powerful yet underutilized modality, visit www.regeno3onevet.com. To find a holistic or integrative veterinarian in your area, visit www.ahvma.org.

Armaiti May, DVM, is an integrative housecall veterinarian for dogs and cats practicing in the Quad Cities area. She graduated with a B.S. in Bioresource Sciences from UC Berkeley in 2001. After graduating from the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in 2005, Dr. May worked at an emergency dog and cat hospital and then trained in veterinary acupuncture through the Chi Institute of Chinese Medicine. She also founded a non-profit organization called the Veterinary Association for the Protection of Animals, to provide education about the benefits of a vegan lifestyle.