E-Paper
New method developed for sterilising street dogs
An animal care NGO has developed a new method of sterilising street dogs that overcomes the problem of post-operation infection.
An animal care NGO has developed a new method of sterilising street dogs that overcomes the problem of post-operation infection.
Normally for the sterilisation operation, catgut or thread made from goat's intestines is used to stitch the wound.
The catgut dissolves quickly while the wound takes weeks to heal. Dogs often scratch the operated area, leading to infection. Many castrated dogs die due to post-operation infection.
Moreover, dogs have to be kept in the shelters until the wound heals, costing the government or the NGO involved considerable amount of money in post- operative care and upkeep.
However, the NGO Blue Cross has developed a new surgical method that does not lead to the danger of infection and allows dogs to be let off within hours of the operation.
Blue Cross vets are using synthetic thread (polyglucon) instead of catgut. The outer skin is stuck together with Feviquick, an industrial adhesive, after the sterilisation operation.
The synthetic thread is not visible once the outer skin is stuck with Feviquick. The thread takes at least five days to dissolve, thus giving the wound longer time to heal.
"We are spending around Rs.350 to Rs.375 per dog," said Chinny Krishna, Blue Cross chairman. The organisation has been active in the city since 1996.
"The dog can be set free as soon as it comes out of anaesthesia", he added.
