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How to place a nasal oxygen catheter in a dog | VetGirl Veterinary CE Video

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In this VETgirl video, we demonstrate how to place a nasal oxygen catheter in a dog. These are very easy to place and require minimal equipment. These are only for placement in dogs – NOT cats – due to size limitations. Dogs generally tolerate these relatively well. The benefit of nasal oxygen catheters is that it does not require an expensive oxygen cage. Also, if a dog is too large to fit into an oxygen cage (e.g., giant breed dog), this is a great option for increasing the fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2).

To place a nasal oxygen catheter, follow these steps as outlined in this VETgirl video:

1) Please anesthetize the nasal passage first! Use a few drops of a topical 2% lidocaine or proparacaine solution. Most importantly, give it a minute to kick it and become effective.

2) Premeasure your 5 to 10 French red rubber (or polypropylene catheter) from the nose to the level of the lateral canthus of the eye. Mark the tube appropriately with a permanent marker so you know how far to insert the tube.

3) Next, gently restrain the dog and lubricate the tip of the tube. Gently insert the tube into the ventral nasal meatus to the level of the mark on the tube. TIP: Angle the tube ventromedially to insert it appropriately and quickly.

4) Place a small butterfly tape on the nasal oxygen catheter. This will allow you to suture the tube in place with a stay suture. Suture this in at the level of the nares and again at the lateral maxilla or between the patient’s eyes with staples. Avoid securing the tube near the patient’s whiskers!

5) Next, provide a humidified oxygen source (if it’s not humidified, it causes drying and irritation of the nasal mucosa).

Depending on the patient’s respiratory rate, panting or open-mouth breathing, or size of the patient, you can achieve variable levels of FiO2. Most importantly, look at the patient and make sure that the oxygen supplementation is improving the clinical signs of dyspnea (If not, other sources of oxygen supplementation may be necessary).

References:

1. Mazzaferro EM. Oxygen therapy. In: Silverstein DC, Hopper K, eds. Small Animal Critical Care Medicine, Ed. 2. Elsevier, St. Louis, 2015. pp. 78.

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