Providing curtail statistics on SpO2 (blood oxygen level) and BPM (heart rate in beats per minute); pulse oximeters heavily contribute to ensuring an animal’s well-being. In this article, we will discuss some of the most common questions that arise when using a pulse oximeter, Intriquip’s pulse oximeter, the Oxy9Wave, and some advantages and disadvantages of using a pulse oximeter in your veterinary practice.
Pulse Oximeters: Frequently Asked Questions
How do Pulse Oximeters work?
Pulse Oximeters are mainly used to detect the level of SpO2, also known as the percent of oxygen-saturated hemoglobin in a patient’s bloodstream. By comparing the number of oxygen-saturated hemoglobin to the number of non-saturated hemoglobin in the bloodstream, this will create the SpO2 percentage.
Using a small probe or sensor attached to a clip, the pulse oximeter will be attached to an animal patient by a vet professional in a hairless, minimally pigmented area (places like a lip, the inside of an ear, or under the belly are all great areas to try). The pulse oximeter can essentially be attached anywhere on your patient where they have a pulsating arteriolar bed.
Once in place, the probe or sensor clip uses two different wavelengths of light, infrared light and red light. Hemoglobin saturated with oxygen or oxygenated hemoglobin absorbs more infrared light, whereas hemoglobin not saturated with oxygen or deoxygenated hemoglobin absorbs more red light. The difference in absorption is calculated, resulting in a percentage, which is SpO2 percent.
Why do veterinary clinics use Pulse Oximeters?
Pulse oximeters can be a very helpful diagnostic tool for veterinary clinics. Measuring the SpO2 percentage indicates how much oxygen an animal patient is getting in a non-invasive way.
Why is measuring SpO2 important?
Being an essential part of veterinary patient care, a pulse oximeter measures the oxygen in a patient’s body. Vital organs like the heart, kidneys, brain, and more require oxygen to keep an animal alive. If a patient and their vital organs are not receiving the amount of oxygen needed, a pulse oximeter is an easy way for veterinary professionals to monitor and change treatment as needed.
Intriquip’s Pulse Oximeter: The Oxy9Wave
Designed with precision and ease of use in mind; providing accurate and real-time readings of a patient’s oxygen saturation and heart rate, the Oxy9Wave is one of the most sought-after pulse oximeters on the market today.
Whether you are dealing with a critical patient under anesthetic or just performing a routine check-up, the Oxy9Wave allows you to deliver the best possible care to your patients. The Oxy9Wave offers a three-and-a-half-inch display screen that can be used in either landscape or portrait view and has a rechargeable battery that lasts up to twenty hours on a full charge. A reusable multisite SpO2 probe is included with every Oxy9Wave.
Embrace the future of veterinary medicine with the Oxy9Wave Veterinary Pulse Oximeter and provide your animal patients with the highest standards of care.
The Advantages of Oxy9Wave
User-friendly
Pulse oximeters like the Oxy9Wave are easy and simple to use. Any veterinary professional would be able to pick up a pulse oximeter and start using it on a patient within minutes.
Non-invasive
Measuring pulse and SpO2 with a pulse oximeter is non-invasive. Clipping onto the skin, patients hardly even know it is there. In an already stressful environment, having a non-invasive method of measuring heart rate and SpO2 can be incredibly helpful for both the patient and the veterinary professional.
Uninterrupted Monitoring
Pulse oximeters only measure a couple of parameters allowing for continuous SpO2 and BPM monitoring.
Portable
Pulse oximeters like the Oxy9Wave are lightweight and portable, allowing the machine to be transported around the clinic as needed.
Distinct Alarming
Many pulse oximeters have customizable alarm settings permitting veterinary professionals to know exactly when something is wrong with a patient. This means when you are busy, you do not have to physically keep an eye on your patient, you can continue to serve other patients.
The Disadvantages of Oxy9Wave
False Readings
There are many reasons why false readings can occur while using a pulse oximeter. If the clip is placed in the wrong spot (where the patient has a lot of hair or dark-pigmented skin), the clip is clamped down on a blood vessel restricting the patient’s blood flow, or even underlying health conditions and diseases in the blood or hemoglobin can all cause false readings to develop while using a pulse oximeter.
Methemoglobin
Methemoglobin is hemoglobin in the form of metalloprotein, where the iron within its heme group is in the Fe³⁺ state, distinct from the Fe²⁺ state found in regular hemoglobin. Similar to deoxygenated hemoglobin, methemoglobin lacks the ability to bind with oxygen, resulting in its inability to transport oxygen throughout the bloodstream. Because methemoglobin does not carry oxygen, it also absorbs red light, which can alter the SpO2 percentage.
Carboxyhemoglobin
Carboxyhemoglobin is created when hemoglobin and carbon monoxide meet inside red blood cells. Carboxyhemoglobin can cause a pulse oximeter to overread and in some cases of carbon monoxide poisoning, the saturation of oxyhemoglobin is the same or relatively similar to carboxyhemoglobin.
Nail Polish and Dyes
In many circumstances, nail polishes and hair dyes would affect human patients in a medical facility, but many pet owners like to paint their furry friend’s nails or dye their hair to help distinguish their pets from others. If there is nail polish or dye on the skin where the SpO2 clip would normally be placed, the colour and type of dye can affect the SpO2 reading.
Pulse Oximeters: A Clinical Essential
Pulse oximeters have revolutionized veterinary medicine and provide a non-invasive and convenient way to monitor an animal patient’s vitals like blood oxygen levels and heart rate. For more information on pulse oximeters or to inquire about Intriquip’s Oxy9Wave, reach out to any one of us here, we are always happy to assist.