Southern States - Karnataka-Bangalore   

A super speciality hospital for pets

By B.S.Ramesh

BANGALORE April 6. Bangalore has many speciality and super specialty hospitals that are vying with one another in offering services. But not many know that the City also has a state-of-the-art veterinary hospital that provides a highly personalised care for pets.

Situated in a quiet corner in Jayanagar 5th Block, the J.K.Veterinary Hospital, as it is known, has been in existence for more than two decades. Offering a range of services to dogs and dog owners, the J.K.Veterinary Hospital was started by Dr. Jagannath K in 1982. What began as a small endeavour has today metamorphosed into a super speciality hospital offering such varied services as intensive care units (ICU), 24-hour accident, trauma, casualty, and emergency care.

Other services offered are dental care, diagnostic laboratory, boarding, and kennels (special and ordinary), ambulance service, special ward with all facilities of ICU, ECG, X-ray, Dopplar, ultrasound scanning, and endoscopy, 14-bed in-patient ward, operation theatre, and 24-hour pharmacy.

Another unique feature of the hospital is the in-house beauty parlour for dogs. The beauty parlour, apart from providing grooming facilities to dogs, gives valuable tips to owners on maintaining the dogs in a hygienic and healthy manner.

Dr. Jagannath says the hospital is a one-stop care centre for pets providing patient-friendly, excellent and dedicated nursing and personalised care. Apart from information about breeding and buying of dogs, Dr. Jagannath offers expert advice on nutrition, care, and upbringing of dogs and cats.

With a membership of 4,000 and more, the hospital apart from providing counselling, offers facilities for burying dogs. Those desirous of becoming a member have to pay a one-time non-refundable deposit of Rs. 1,000.

This entitles them to a host of facilities such as library, free consultation, and 24-hour emergency service.

For non-members, consultation from Mondays till Saturdays is between 10.30 a.m., and noon and again from 6 p.m. However, there is no time frame for members and they can avail any facility at the hospital round-the-clock.

A man of many talents, Dr. Jagannath has written two books on veterinary science. He has developed a combination diet that is not only indigenous but also much cheaper and more nutritious than the canine food offered by companies. An expert in handling dogs, Dr. Jagannath says he has treated almost all varieties of dogs right from German Shepherds to Dobermans, Great Danes, Saint Bernards, Cocker Spanials, Pomeranians, Bull Dogs, and Boxers.

The hospital has an extensive collection of books and journals, which can be borrowed by members.

Apart from dogs, the hospital located on 36th Cross, 5th Main, Jayanagar 5th Block, also provides care and facilities to cats.

Dr. Jagannath says the motto of the hospital is to provide personalised and patient-friendly service and the staff have been trained in this regard.

Since the last few days, Dr. Jagannath has stopped charging any fees and has entirely left it to dog and cat owners to pay whatever amount they want.

A small box is kept on the consultation table and people are free to contribute any amount they want. Dr. Jagannath says he took this decision as he wanted to completely dedicate himself to canine care without thinking of any monetary rewards. The best reward for any doctor, he says, is for the patient to be cured.

More than anything else, Dr. Jagannath and his wife, Sudha, say that they will be highly satisfied if they can ensure that the owners, who came with a worried and anxious look, leave the hospital with a smiling face.

The JK Veterinary Centre and Clinical Laboratory can be contacted on ph: 6342414.

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