Oxygen concentrators are medical devices that can provide supplemental oxygen to pets that are experiencing respiratory distress and have low oxygen level in their blood. Breathing supplemental oxygen with an oxygen concentrator is designed to be safe. But as with all types of devices, it is important to learn about proper usage.
Air is made up of 78% nitrogen, 20.9% oxygen and a small percentage of other elements. Oxygen concentrators are equipped with special filters and molecular sieve beds which help remove nitrogen from the air. These devices filter the surrounding air, compressing it to the required density and then delivering purified medical grade oxygen into a continuous stream system to the pet. Through an oxygen concentrator, the air comes out as 90%-95% pure oxygen and 5%-10% nitrogen.
Oxygen itself is a safe gas. It is non-flammable and will not explode entirely on its own. However, if oxygen comes into close contact with fire, it can quickly accelerate the fire and cause great danger. Therefore, it is important to consider the following guidance when it comes to oxygen concentrator safety.
- No smoking around the oxygen concentrator.
- Do not use the oxygen concentrator in the same room as an open flame, sparks, or smoke.
- Keep the concentrator in a well-ventilated area, away from all sources of heat, and at least 6 inches from the wall, furniture, or draperies.
- Plug the power cord directly into a wall outlet. Do not use an extension cord or a wall outlet that powers other electrical equipment.
- Stay away from flammable chemicals (e.g. isopropyl alcohol, hairspray) while using the device.
- As medical oxygen contains no moisture, the use of continuous flow oxygen concentrator can dry out the pet’s nasal passage and cause irritation; use a humidifier bottle attachment, which adds moisture to the oxygen that the pet is receiving.
- Fill the humidifier bottle with distilled water to the indication fill line. Distilled water is free from minerals and contaminants.
- Do not use tap water or any other type of water. Even filtered water can still have tiny impurities that can cause malfunctions in the oxygen concentrator.
- Closely supervise children and pets around the concentrator.
- Make sure the oxygen concentrator is completely off and unplugged when not using it.
The oxygen flow rate is measured in LPM (liters per minute). Most reputable home use oxygen concentrators have flow rate between 0.5 and 5 LPM or higher with oxygen concentration reaching 93% (+/-3%). You can adjust the flow meter according to vet’s recommendation to provide the appropriate flow of oxygen to your pet.
Oxygen concentrators takes air from the surrounding, compress the oxygen and remove nitrogen from the air, then deliver the purified oxygen to the sick pet. When they are used correctly, it is not only safe, but also lifesaving for pets. ST Pet Oxygen provides oxygen equipment rental for pets to have oxygen therapy in the comfort of their own home. To know more about our service, check out our website www.stpetoxygen.com ; and if you need further assistance, please contact us.