Ozone therapy is an alternative treatment modality that has been shown to promote the health and well-being of people and pets alike. A natural healing method, ozone therapy is effective at battling bacterial, viral, and fungal infections, and can also aid in cancer cases, degenerative diseases, and age-related conditions. Although ozone therapy is not one of the more common alternative therapies that general veterinary practices implement, like laser therapy, this treatment is gaining popularity, and its use is becoming more widespread. Here at Cranberry Holistic Pet Care, we are delighted to offer this unique, beneficial treatment method to our beloved patients.

What is ozone therapy in pets?

Ozone therapy is an alternative treatment modality with a wide range of applications. By harnessing oxygen’s power, your pet can experience total-body healing. Standard oxygen has two oxygen molecules, whereas ozone has three. The third oxygen molecule is unstable, and turns into a free radical, and this instability makes ozone therapy so effective. Ozone easily gives up the extra oxygen molecule, saturating the treated area with oxygen. 

Increased oxygenation benefits immune functions, reduces infections, accelerates wound healing, and suppresses cancer cell replication. Ozone therapy is a natural, effective way to increase tissue oxygenation, offering extra resistance to disease and cancer, and is also a particularly effective “disinfectant” for bacterial, viral, and fungal infections in pets and people. All degenerative, neoplastic, immunologic, and aging diseases involve lack of oxygen, which makes ozone therapy a highly beneficial treatment for these condition types.

How does ozone therapy work in pets?

Ozone kills viruses, fungal organisms, and bacteria by putting extra oxygen into diseased, cancerous, inflamed, or infected tissue. While the ozone is harsh on these diseased tissues, living cells can handle additional oxygen if administered correctly. Typically, these unhealthy areas have depleted oxygen stores, which decreases the chance for healthy cells to survive, or  defend themselves. 

When ozone is injected into the bloodstream, tumor, or other affected area, the ozone molecule (O3) breaks down into a standard oxygen molecule (O2), and an individual oxygen atom (O). The O2 increases oxygen in these areas, greatly boosting the body’s healing powers, while the third oxygen atom negatively affects abnormal cells and pathogens. This third oxygen atom turns into a free radical that breaks through the outer wall that surrounds diseased cells. Healthy cells can protect themselves against free radicals, so normal cells get an oxygen boost to help them heal, while the walls of the abnormal cells and pathogens break down and die.

What is ozone therapy used for in pets?

Ozone therapy is used in a wide variety of applications in pets, and is beneficial in any situation with infection, inflammation, tissue damage, cancer, or other issues. A few examples of conditions that can benefit from ozone therapy include:

  • Skin issues — Ozone therapy is useful for hot spots, pyodermas, allergic dermatitis, abscesses, and wounds, especially deep abrasions and degloving injuries.
  • Pain relief — Ideal for decreasing inflammation and pain, ozone therapy can be used for orthopedic, soft tissue, or post-operative pain, and acute or chronic issues.
  • Neurologic issues — Head trauma and spinal cord inflammation are two conditions commonly treated with ozone therapy.
  • Chronic or acute Lyme disease — Ozone therapy provides pain relief, and attacks the disease-causing pathogen.
  • Oral conditions — Stomatitis, gingivitis, and abscesses can be tricky to manage, but ozone therapy is an excellent treatment modality for these challenging dental issues.
  • Cancer and autoimmune problems — Ozone therapy attacks the abnormal cells, destroying them, while boosting the healing powers of healthy cells.
  • Ear problems — Ozone therapy helps manage acute or chronic otitis from yeast or bacterial infections, in addition to helping heal aural hematomas.
  • Eye issues — Useful for eye infections and allergic reactions, ozone therapy can help treat challenging ocular infections.
  • Upper respiratory conditions — Upper respiratory conditions can be caused by a number of pathogens that lead to infection and an inflamed airway, both of which can be alleviated through ozone therapy.
  • Gastrointestinal problems — Constipation, diarrhea, and irritable bowel syndrome are common disorders treated with ozone therapy.
  • Adjunctive treatment — Ozone therapy potentiates acupuncture, homeopathy, and chiropractic treatments, as it brings more needed oxygen to the body.

Ozone therapy is particularly useful for pets who are not responding well to medication, as this oxygen-rich treatment helps boost all conventional and alternative therapies to achieve maximum efficacy.

How is ozone therapy administered in pets?

Ozone therapy can be administered in a variety of ways, depending on the condition being treated, including direct injection into cancerous tumors or the bloodstream, or topical application. A few ways ozone therapy can be administered include:

  • Mixed with saline, and used as a flush for wounds, the bladder, rectum, nose, or mouth
  • Infused rectally for gastrointestinal issues
  • Mixed with olive oil, and used as a topical gel for wounds
  • Injected as a gas into joints
  • Wrapping a shampooed pet in plastic—except for the head—and infusing the bag with ozone to treat skin conditions
  • Flushing infected ears
  • Injecting cancerous tumors 
  • Injecting through intravenous or subcutaneous fluids

Your pet’s condition, current treatment protocol, and other therapies they are receiving will dictate the proper administration method. 

Is ozone therapy safe for pets?

Ozone therapy is safe for all species when used with appropriate dosing and instrumentation, and our team has been trained extensively in this modality. Also, appropriate antibiotic therapy can be more effective with ozone therapy as an adjunctive treatment. By using ozone therapy, we can reduce, and possibly prevent, antibiotic and drug overuse. In addition, ozone therapy is an excellent treatment modality that may increase the effects of other holistic therapies, such as acupuncture, homeopathy, herbs, and chiropractic.

Does your pet have a difficult-to-manage condition that may benefit from ozone therapy? Contact us to schedule a treatment consultation.