Evaluation of Pulse Oximetry as a Continuous Monitoring Technique in Critically Ill Dogs in the Small Animal Intensive Care Unit

To assess the clinical applicability of pulse oximetry in the intensive care setting, a comparison was made of arterial hemoglobin saturation values determined by in vitro oximetry (SaO₂) and pulse oximetry (SpO₂) in 21 critically ill dogs. Single SaO₂ measurements were compared to simultaneously obtained SpO₂ readings. The correlation between these two methods was statistically significant (r = 0.8944, p = 0.0001). In addition, heart rates read by the pulse oximeter were compared to simultaneously obtained electrocardiograms (ECG). The correlation between these two methods was statistically significant (r = 0.9966, p = 0.0001). The pulse oximeter was easy to use, and recorded trends in oxygenation virtually instantaneously. Pulse oximetry appears to be an accurate and practical technique for the continuous non-invasive monitoring of oxygenation in critically ill dogs in the intensive care unit.