Oxygen Therapy for Pets: What Pet Parents Should Know

By Rhiannon Koehler, DVM

Published Aug. 30, 2026

oxygen therapy for pets; a vet holds a cat.

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Key Takeaways

Oxygen therapy gives pets extra oxygen to help them breathe when illness, injury, or anesthesia prevents them from getting enough oxygen on their own.
Most pets receive oxygen therapy in a veterinary hospital, where oxygen cages, face masks, nasal cannulas, or breathing tubes allow continuous monitoring and treatment.
Difficulty breathing, blue or pale gums, collapse, or unconsciousness are medical emergencies that require immediate veterinary care and may indicate a pet needs oxygen therapy.

What Is Oxygen Therapy for Pets?

Oxygen therapy for pets involves giving the animal high levels of oxygen in inhaled air.

Normal air is about 21% oxygen. With several health conditions, such as certain respiratory issues or heart failure, the level of oxygen in inhaled air is not enough. These pets need to breathe in higher levels of oxygen to make sure that they get enough to their tissues and organs.

Oxygen is usually given via an oxygen cage, a mask placed over the muzzle and nose, or through nasal tubes.

Oxygen can also be given in a flow-by manner, where the oxygen supply tube is placed near the patient’s nose and/or mouth. This is a short-term solution typically used while an animal is being stabilized in the ER.

Patients who are unconscious or sedated may also have a tube placed into their windpipe to help provide oxygen and control breathing. This is common during surgery or in patients who need to be put on a ventilator.

When Do Pets Need Oxygen Therapy?

There are a variety of reasons a pet may need oxygen therapy, such as:

Respiratory infections, like pneumonia
Heart disease or heart failure
Traumatic injuries
Shock
Electrocution
Heatstroke
Smoke inhalation injuries
Asthma (especially in cats)
Brachycephalic airway syndrome

Oxygen is also commonly given to pets during and after anesthetic procedures.

Signs Your Pet May Need Oxygen Therapy

The following are signs that your pet may need oxygen therapy:

Rapid breathing (tachypnea) or labored breathing (dyspnea)
Blue-tinged gums or tongue (cyanosis)
Lethargy or weakness
Open-mouth breathing, especially in cats
Extending the head and neck to breathe
Gasping, choking, or wheezing
Collapse
Unconsciousness

How Does Oxygen Therapy Work?

Oxygen content in normal air is usually around 21%. Oxygen therapy provides higher amounts of oxygen in the air your pet breathes. For example, oxygen cages are often giving oxygen at around 40%, nearly double the oxygen content of room air.

Higher levels of oxygen in the air help the pet to absorb more oxygen when breathing. This improves oxygen delivery to the organs and tissues, and it reduces strain on the heart and lungs. As a result, the animal usually stops struggling to breathe.

To give higher levels of oxygen, the veterinarian may use:

Oxygen cages/incubators
Face masks that go over the nose and mouth
Nasal cannulas, which are like the nasal prongs used for people
A tube in the trachea, with or without a ventilator

Types of Oxygen Therapy for Pets

In-Clinic Oxygen Therapy

Oxygen therapy is usually given in a veterinary clinic. For small dogs and cats, this is usually done with an oxygen cage. For larger dogs, nasal cannulas are often used if there isn’t an oxygen cage large enough for the pet.

In-clinic oxygen therapy allows continuous monitoring by veterinary staff. Because most pets who need oxygen therapy are very sick, around-the-clock care is ideal.

At-Home Oxygen Therapy

Pets with chronic health conditions are rarely prescribed at-home oxygen therapy. If an animal is dependent on frequently being given oxygen at home, this raises ethical questions about the pet’s quality of life.

If your veterinarian is recommending at-home oxygen therapy, they will provide you with proper training and guidance to ensure you’re giving oxygen safely. If you’re noticing an increased need for oxygen therapy at home, contact your pet’s veterinarian.

Benefits of Oxygen Therapy for Pets

Oxygen therapy has several benefits for pets. For pets having respiratory distress or other breathing emergencies, oxygen therapy is one of the most important treatments to help stabilize the patient. It helps to quickly raise blood oxygen levels, reducing stress on the heart and lungs.

Pets often have a lot of anxiety when they can’t breathe properly, and oxygen therapy helps address this by improving comfort and quality of life. Some pets will still need anti-anxiety medications in addition to oxygen therapy.

Oxygen therapy can also speed recovery from surgery or illness.

Risks and Considerations

Oxygen therapy must be used under veterinary supervision. Ideally, oxygen is given in a veterinary facility that provides around-the-clock care.

Oxygen toxicity can occur if the pet is given an abnormally high concentration of oxygen, usually over 60%, for prolonged lengths of time. This is rare, as veterinary staff work to keep oxygen levels under toxic thresholds.

Some pets may also have anxiety or stress from confinement, having a mask on their face, or having nasal prongs in their nose.

What To Expect During Treatment

The veterinarian will do a quick examination of your pet to figure out if there is a need for oxygen supplementation. This will include listening to the heart and lungs, looking at the gums, and using a pulse oximeter to measure blood oxygen levels.

If the veterinarian decides your pet needs extra oxygen, they will likely receive supplemental oxygen either via flow-by or a mask while further diagnostics and stabilization occur. For example, a mask may be placed over the pet’s nose and mouth while chest X-rays are taken or while an intravenous (IV) catheter is placed.

Small dogs and cats will usually get oxygen within an oxygen cage. Larger dogs may do better with nasal cannulas, especially if a large oxygen cage isn’t available. Unconscious animals will usually be intubated and placed on a ventilator.

Your pet’s response to oxygen will be watched throughout. Pets are usually weaned off oxygen therapy, rather than stopped abruptly.

Cost of Oxygen Therapy for Pets

The cost of oxygen therapy varies based on the length of treatment, method of treatment, and the setting.

If your pet is getting oxygen supplementation as part of a surgical or anesthetic procedure, this cost is usually included in the cost of the procedure.

In emergency situations, you can expect that oxygen therapy will be quite expensive. According to CareCredit, oxygen therapy for large dogs will usually be near $1,900 and oxygen therapy for small dogs or cats will usually be near $1,200.

This is in addition to the other costs of hospitalization and treatment.

If mechanical ventilation is needed, the cost is usually around $1,500 to $2,000 for the first day and about $1,500 per additional day. Costs for pets who need ventilation are often well over $15,000 total.

Can Oxygen Therapy Be Done at Home?

Usually, at-home oxygen therapy isn’t recommended. If a pet needs to be given frequent at-home oxygen, there are quality-of-life concerns that should be discussed with a veterinarian.

If your veterinarian is recommending at-home oxygen therapy, you can expect higher upfront costs as you purchase specialized equipment. You’ll need to follow strict safety guidelines to protect both your pet and the people in the home. Regular veterinary check-ins are extremely important, and you should let your veterinarian know if your pet becomes more dependent on oxygen.

This doesn’t mean that you can’t do anything to help your pets with heart or lung issues at home. Stabilization should always be done in the hospital, but there are several treatments that can continue at home.

For example, cats with asthma can be given inhalers to help reduce symptoms and the risk of respiratory distress.

Another example is pets with congestive heart failure, who may have been hospitalized due to fluid buildup in the lungs but can take furosemide at home to help prevent the need for oxygen therapy.

When To Call Your Veterinarian

If you think your pet needs oxygen therapy, consider this an emergency.

Signs that your pet may need attention include:

Difficulty breathing or gasping, wheezing, or choking
Blue or pale gums or tongue
Collapse or unconsciousness
Exercise intolerance or fainting
Worsening symptoms despite treatment

Oxygen Therapy for Pets FAQs

What conditions require oxygen therapy for pets?

Conditions that decrease oxygen levels in the blood need oxygen therapy. These mostly include conditions that affect the lungs or heart, like pneumonia or heart failure.

Is oxygen therapy safe for pets?

With the right monitoring, oxygen therapy is usually safe for pets. Veterinary staff can usually keep oxygen amounts under toxic levels.

How long do pets need oxygen therapy?

Oxygen therapy may be given for a few minutes to a few hours during an emergency while a pet is stabilized. If a pet has a condition like pneumonia or heart failure, they’re likely to be on oxygen for one to three days.