Fish come to the rescue of dogs

Help is at hand for dogs with bladder trouble. For the first time in India, doctors in Bhubaneswar have successfully transplanted fish air sacs in the urinary bladder of dogs. The success was confirmed through radiography, ultrasonography and laparotomy.

Help is at hand for dogs with bladder trouble - in a breakthrough, doctors at the College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry here successfully transplanted fish air sacs in the urinary bladder of dogs.

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The success was confirmed through radiography, ultrasonography and laparotomy.

"For the first time in India, we have developed the most cost effective technique to reconstruct the urinary bladder in case of its damage with fish air sacs, or swim bladder, in dogs," said college dean B.K. Sahu.

The air sacs are collected from the local fish market, washed, de-slimed and kept submerged in normal saline mixed with antibiotics and prednisolone, he explained. Thereafter it is processed in three different ways -- preserved at 4 degrees Celsius, treated with glutarldehyde and lyophilized prior to transplantation.

The selection of the air sac is very important. The bigger the fish the better is the air sac for medical use.

Selection of the portion of fish air sac with respect to avascularity, uniform thickness and the feel is vital for the success of the cytoplasty in canines, said V.S.C. Bose, head department of surgery of the college.