Chhotu, a four-year-old female stray dog with adorable brown eyes, has been sick for the past two days. On Monday, the canine found itself on the operating table of the newly opened endoscopy department of the Bombay Veterinary College at Parel
Chhotu, a four-year-old female stray dog with adorable brown eyes, has been sick for the past two days. On Monday, the canine found itself on the operating table of the newly opened endoscopy department of the Bombay Veterinary College at Parel.
Dr Arvind Chauhan, a veterinary surgeon with the college, gave Chhotu a shot of anaesthesia and Dr Dinesh Lokhande then proceeded to insert a long black tube with a light attached on one end through her mouth. A television screen nearby immediately lit up, giving the surgeons a clear view of the internal organs. The surgeons spotted a reddish discolouration as the tube moved down the oesophagus to the stomach.
The diagnosis? An ulcer.
This diagnosis was possible, thanks to the newly installed, state-of-the-art endoscopy machine installed at the college. Costing over Rs 12 lakh, the endoscope is the first of its kind in the state sanctioned by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). It will enable surgeons to give 100 per cent diagnosis as well as effective treatment to animals.
"This is a milestone in veterinary science," said Dr LB Sarkute, head of the department of surgery at the college. "Ten years ago, no one could have visualised that it would be possible to conduct an endoscopy on an animal in the city."
Dr Lokhande said the endoscope can be used to treat ailments such as food infection, ulcers, vomiting, diahorrea, stomach and intestine diseases.
"Dogs and cats have a habit of swallowing little things," said Dr Dinesh Lokhande, associate professor with the surgery department. "In the past, we have removed coins, stones, rubber corks, sweets wrapped in plastic and even a needle and thread from the stomachs of dogs."
Chhotu's procedure was non-invasive and took about 20 minutes. Associate professor Dr GS Khandekar said, "Since our patients cannot talk, making correct diagnosis was difficult. But, endoscopy makes accurate diagnosis possible."
The Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) animal hospital at Parel receives over 350 patients (dogs and cats) per day. At least six cases require endoscopy. The college intends to charge a nominal rate for performing an endoscopy on an animal, after the endoscopy machine is officially inaugurated on Friday.
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