1. Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center (www.alamopintado.com)

In April of 2000, Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center acquired the first hyperbaric oxygen chamber designed specifically for horses, thus becoming the first veterinary hospital to offer hyperbaric therapy to equine patients in the United States. The chamber, manufactured by Equineox Technologies, consists of a pressurized cylinder large enough to hold two horses at a time, in which the patient immerses in an enriched oxygen environment at approximately two times normal atmospheric pressure for the duration of the treatment. This environment promotes an increase in tissue oxygenation by as much as 13 times the normal level.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been used in human medicine for over a decade, but only now have we started to collect data on the beneficial effects is also has on our animal patients. Some of the effects of HBOT include the antibacterial activity of oxygen on certain anaerobic micro-organisms and enhanced white blood cell activity, reduction of tissue edema, maintains tissue oxygenation in cases of decreased hemoglobin content in the blood, stimulates fibroblast activity and collagen deposition, thus enhancing wound healing and also stimulates growth of capillary beds into injured tissues, to name a few. During its first year at Alamo Pintado, the applications of our HBOT chamber grew to include such diseases as:

• Laminitis
• Osteomyelitis (bone infections)
• Desmitis and tendonitis (injury to ligaments and tendons)
• Post-surgical wounds and wounds that were slow to heal
• Thermal burns and smoke inhalation
• Rhabdomyolisis (tying-up)
• Head trauma, peripheral nerve trauma
• Anaerobic infections
• Lymphangitis
• Intestinal surgeries (normalizes function post-surgery)
• Tissue necrosis due to rattlesnake and spider bites
• Enhanced recovery from athletic performance

These are just a few of the applications that HBOT has found in equine medicine. As more research is done and more information becomes available, the use of HBOT will broaden to take its place as a valid medical therapeutical option for more and more of our patients. At Alamo Pintado, our chamber is used daily by our trained staff and it is available to our clients and for referral appointments.

2. Champion Vindication poised to resume training (6/22/2004)

Vindication, the undefeated champion two-year-old male of 2002, arrived at owners Satish and Anne Sanan’s Padua Stables Training Center in Summerfield, Florida, on Wednesday night as he continues to recove from a strained suspensory in his left foreleg. The three-year-old son of Seattle Slew had been undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy and stem cell therapy since February 10 at the Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center in Los Olivos, California, under the supervision of Dr. Doug Herthel.

“Vindication has exceeded Dr. Herthel’s every expectation,” Padua General Manager Nadia Sanan said in a statement. “My family and I have every confidence that Vindication will take up where he left off - as the undefeated leader of this stellar group of three-year-olds.”

Bred in Kentucky by Payson Stud, Vindication has won all four of his career starts and has earned $680,950.

3. Career Ending Injury Completely Healed

In early testing in 1999 with HBOT in Vancouver, Canada, a three-year-old filly (Dancing Blossom) sustained a career ending suspensory ligament injury. After successive HBOT treatments combined with standard veterinary care for four months, the ligament (verified by ultrasound) was completely healed. After the following winter to recuperate, Dancing Blossom returned to the 2000 racing season. The injury withstood complete training and the horse went on to race at her previous level.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is ideal for the rehabilitation of sick or injured competition horses. The following case studies detail the treatment and rapid recuperation of several thoroughbreds. Although this is a small sampling, it is generally representative of all findings. All data has been verified by a licensed veterinarian.

4. Subject: 5 Year old gelding

Injury:

• 60% damaged Superficial Flexor Tendon (bowed tendon) Verified by ultra-sound scan

Veterinary Prognosis:

• Racing career finished
• 4 month healing time (stall rest)
• Light training after stall rest
• Anticipated full recovery 1 year

Course Of Treatment:

• Horse received daily hyperbaric sessions at 2.5 Atmospheres absolute (A.T.A.) of 2 hour duration daily for 14 days.
• Horse then received 2.5 (A.T.A.) of 2 hour duration every other day for 14 days.
• Horse then received 2.5 (A.T.A.) of 2 hour duration every third day for 14 days accompanied by regular light walks.
• Horse then received full track training for 6 weeks with twice weekly hyperbaric sessions. The tendon withstood daily jogs and full series of works.
• By the end of training there was no visible sign of damage.
• The bowed tendon was completely healed in 12 weeks.

We have completed treating two additional horses to verify the problem of BOWED TENDON. The first horse received the identical course of treatment as in case #1 with the same positive results.

The second came to us after the third incident of bowing the same tendon, this was further complicated by improper blistering. The course of treatment was slightly longer than in case #1, the results were equally positive. The horse is now back racing.

5. Subject: 4 year old gelding

Injury:

• The horse was unable to race regularly, required a 3-4 week rest period between races due to chronic buck shins and respiratory bleeding.

Objective :

• To reduce recovery time between races and prevent chronic shin problem.

Course Of Treatment:

• After a race in which the horse bled, swallowed his tongue, and came out with shin pain, he received 10 daily hyperbaric sessions at 2.5 (A.T.A) for 2 hours. This was accompanied by pasture rest. He then raced pain free and did not bleed.
• After receiving 4 hyperbaric sessions over a 1 week period, he raced again and won third with no pain or bleeding.
• After the same treatment , he raced again 1 week later and won first place with no pain or bleeding.
• He placed third the following week after similar hyperbaric sessions. This horse continued to race weekly for a further 3 races with no bleeding and pain free.
• His Beyer Rating showed constant improvement over this period 38 - 72.

After this course of treatment and continued between-race HBOT sessions this horse has not bled and has not shown any signs of shin problems.

6. Subject Three: 2 Year old filly

Injury:

• 55% damaged Carpal Ligament, verified by orthoscopic means.

Course Of Treatment:

• Horse received daily hyperbaric sessions at 2 Atmospheres absolute (A.T.A.) of 90 minutes duration daily for 14 days.
• Horse then received 2 (A.T.A.) of 90 minute duration every other day for 14 days.
• Horse then received 2 (A.T.A.) of 90 minute duration every third day for 14 days accompanied by regular light walks.

The carpal ligament has completely healed, horse is currently training for next season.