Ultraviolet Blood Irradiation (UBI) is a new modality to help stimulate the immune system of animals. UBI, or Biophotonic Blood Therapy (BBT), as it is sometimes known, has been used for more than 50 years in humans around the world. Now, a recent development makes it adaptable to treating animals.

The process involves taking blood from a patient and adding heparin, an anticoagulant. Next, ozonated saline is added to dilute the blood, which allows more light to get through the specimen. Adding O2/O3 saline also increases oxygen in the blood and kills some viruses and other organisms. The blood is then run through ultraviolet (UV) light inside a quartz cuvette. This photoluminescense brings light to the blood in an ultraviolet spectrum and kills more viruses and bacteria.

Finally, the blood and saline solution is returned to the patient via a small butterfly catheter in the vein. This ozonated blood sample activates the mitochondria of the cells, allowing for more efficient use of oxygen. Healthy cells are supported with oxygen, and the de-activated bacteria and viruses that the UV light has killed can stimulate the immune system and help the body to fight the invading infection.

Using the body’s own blue print of abnormal organisms that ails it and giving healthy cells something as basic as Oxygen seems simple, but the results are impressive. Finding a way to stimulate the body’s own immune system to combat infection, inflammation and disease is the ideal goal for any practitioner. The process can be repeated every 48 hours in acute cases, or two times a week, then weekly.

Conditions that have been seen to improve with UBI/ BBT include:

•    Infections
•    Allergies
•    Kidney infections and failure
•    Cognitive Function Cancer
•    Diabetes
•    Lyme disease
•    Lameness

Animals being treated with UBI/BBT should be given antioxidants. Food based sources are best, but vitamin C is supplementation is also good. Always give vitamin C or B complex after the ozone and UBI therapy, waiting 15 to 30 minutes, if possible. To locate clinics that employ this wonderful way to improve the health of pets, visit AAOT.us.

Dr. Margo Roman, DVM, CVA, practices at Main Street Animal Services of Hopkinton, 72 West Main St., Hopkinton. For more information, call 508-435-4077 or visit MASHVet.com.