Behavior and changes in rectal temperature in dogs and cats undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy: clinical data review
Authors:   Graduate Program in Veterinary Medicine, Center of Rural Science, Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Av. Roraima, 1000, building 42, room 3135, 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil, Antunes Bernardo N. , Müller Daniel C. M. ,   Graduate Program in Veterinary Medicine, Center of Rural Science, Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Av. Roraima, 1000, building 42, room 3135, 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil, Milech Vanessa ,   Graduate Program in Veterinary Medicine, Center of Rural Science, Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Av. Roraima, 1000, building 42, room 3135, 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil,   Graduate Program in Animal Health, Biotechnology Institute, University of Caxias do Sul (UCS), St. Francisco Getúlio Vargas, 1130, building 57, room 108, 95070-560 Caxias do Sul, RS, Brazil, Caye Pamela ,   Graduate Program in Veterinary Medicine, Center of Rural Science, Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Av. Roraima, 1000, building 42, room 3135, 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil, Degregori Emanuelle B. ,   Graduate Program in Veterinary Medicine, Center of Rural Science, Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Av. Roraima, 1000, building 42, room 3135, 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil, Vargas Daniel ,   Graduate Program in Veterinary Medicine, Center of Rural Science, Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Av. Roraima, 1000, building 42, room 3135, 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil, Reinstein Rainer S. ,   Graduate Program in Veterinary Medicine, Center of Rural Science, Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Av. Roraima, 1000, building 42, room 3135, 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil, Brun Mauricio V. ,   Graduate Program in Veterinary Medicine, Center of Rural Science, Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Av. Roraima, 1000, building 42, room 3135, 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
Published: January 2025

Antunes BN, Müller DCM, Milech V, Caye P, Degregori E, Vargas D, Reinstein RS, Brun MV. Behavior and changes in rectal temperature in dogs and cats undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy: clinical data review. Undersea Hyperb Med. 2024 Fourth Quarter; 51(4):361-367.
The assessment of rectal temperature and behavior is an important parameter in all patients for whom hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) therapy is used. The study aims to verify if there is less reduction in body temperature after HBO2 therapy in restless patients and their behavior during the therapeutic session. Clinical data from 217 HBO2 therapy sessions with 2 to 2,5 atmospheres absolute (ATA) were reviewed under therapy protocols of 30 (P1) or 45 (P2) minutes, covering 29 canines and 13 felines. Behavioral data, initial rectal temperature (iRT), final (fRT), and variation between them (RTv) of each patient were recorded. Parameters of oxygen concentration, humidity, temperature, and chamber flow rate were also recorded. Three of 217 patients experienced major adverse effects (seizure and auto-trauma). 144/217 HBO2 therapy session records were selected for statistical analysis. In P1 sessions, 33.3% of the canine and 33.3% of the feline patients were restless. In P2 sessions, 40.7% of the canine and 28.1% of the feline patients were restless. The study did not observe a correlation between vRT and patients' behavior (p> 0.089) or differences in vRT between quiet and restless patients. There was a difference between iRT
and fRT only in canines submitted to P1 (p<0.001) and felines submitted to P2 (p<0.001). Older canine patients were more restless than young canine patients at P1 (p= 0.02). We conclude that there may be a reduction in the fRT of dogs and cats submitted to 2 ATA for 30 minutes and 2.5 ATA for 45 minutes, respectively.
Keywords: adverse effect; canine and feline; chamber; monoplace; oxygen