Labrador owner pays Rs80,000 a month to treat his pet

Labrador owner pays Rs80,000 a month to treat his pet
Published: Wednesday, Sep 21, 2011, 11:50 IST | Updated: Wednesday, Sep 21, 2011, 11:49 IST
By Santosh Andhale | Place: Mumbai

Pluto, a six-year-old Labrador suffering from renal failure, has been undergoing home dialysis thrice a week for the last six months. His treatment costs at least Rs80 000 a month.

Besides appointing a special dietician, who comes once a fortnight and makes changes in Pluto’s diet if required, his owners have reserved a room for the dialysis machine that they have hired for Rs35,000 a month.

Dinesh Thacker, who lives at Andheri Lokhandwala Complex and is the MD of a leading broking firm, is relieved that his pet’s condition is improving. “Pluto is like family. We are doing everything to ensure that he gets the best medical care,” said Vijay, Thacker’s son.

“This must be a first dog in the country to get home dialysis. There are many experts who are involved in his treatment, including Dr Jatin Kothari, senior nephorologist from Hinduja Hospital,” said Dr Kaustubh Garud, Bombay Veterinary College, Parel.“We cannot pinpoint a specific reason for kidney ailments in dogs, but diet could be one of the causes.”

Six months ago, Pluto would avoid food and lie listlessly. A blood test revealed abnormal kidney functioning that required immediate medical attention. Pluto’s creatinine level was around 19 mg per decilitre (dl), while the normal level in a canine should be 1 to 2 mg per dl.

Besides veterinarians at Bai Sakarbai Dinshaw Petit Hospital for Animals in Parel, the Thackers even consulted Dr Kothari, a family friend. They concurred that dialysis was the only option to control the creatinine level.

But, as there is just one dialysis machine at the animal hospitaland it was not possible to take Pluto to Parel even on alternate days, the family hired a dialysis unit from the Apex Dialysis Centre at Chembur.

“Dr Kothari would come home and check on him. He coordinated with the veterinarians, who suggested a low phosphorous diet for Pluto,” said Vijay.

“This is my first case where I have suggested medical treatment for a canine. I found that almost 95% of the treatment is similar in the case of humans and dogs,” said Dr Kothari.

Veterinarians at the Parel hospital have reported an increase in kidney failure among dogs since last year. At least 156 such cases were reported from October 2010 to January 2011 - nearly 40 cases a month. Two years ago, the figure was 10 cases a month.

“Cases of renal failure have been increasing over the years with even three-year-old dogs being brought in with the ailment,” said Dr JC Khanna, secretary, Bombay Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

“The main reasons for the rising cases of renal failure among canines are high protein diet and inadequate exercise. Pet owners heap large quantities of meat and chicken on their feeding plates. Dogs are often kept in small rooms where there’s hardly any space for physical exertion. All this leads to an increase in serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen level, leading to renal failures.”

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_labrador-owner-pays-rs80000-a-month-to-treat-its-pet_1589674