On a cloudy morning, the Government Veterinary Polyclinic (VPC) near Gandhi Museum buzzes with activity.
Many small and large animals in the out-patient wing are being attended to by veterinary doctors but the attention is on the nearby scan room in the newly constructed building. Twelve-year-old Pomeranian Lucy is brought in with abdominal swelling. A special team led by Regional Joint Director of Animal Husbandry R. Gopinath and Veterinary Assistant Surgeon K. Vairavasamy is at the scan table to oversee the diagnosis and start treatment.
What gets special focus at the moment is the advanced ultrasound scanner supplied recently by the Department of Animal Husbandry as part of measures to strengthen veterinary healthcare and enable early diagnosis. The VPC got an ultrasound scanner to upgrade the diagnostic facility.
“We are receiving a large number of referral cases for surgical intervention. Life-threatening and critical cases can be quickly attended to now since diagnosis is faster, thanks to the ultrasound scanner,” says Dr. Gopinath.
Ever since ultrasound was put to use about 25 days back, 30 scans have been done free of cost. According to Dr. Vairavasamy, the diagnosis of Lucy is an example to show how veterinary healthcare has grown by leaps and bounds. “It was a complicated case of enlarged abdomen with two tumours and stagnated pus in the uterus. Since it was in a closed condition, the availability of ultrasound helped us diagnose the problem. It was referred from South Gate Veterinary Dispensary,” he says.
This is the first time that the government has supplied an ultrasound scan facility for veterinary use. “This marks a tremendous improvement in animal healthcare and cases are coming from various southern districts too,” Dr. Gopinath says.
The VPC team works in two shifts with a well-equipped medical team, comprising clinician N. Selvaraj and Veterinary Assistant Surgeons Vairavasamy, John Suresh, Senthil Selvakumar and S. S. Senthilkumar. The centre is a referral point since Madurai district has a vast network of 72 veterinary dispensaries, four veterinary hospitals (Tirumangalam, Melur, Samayanallur and Sedapatti), one mobile unit and 70 veterinary sub-centres.
It receives 120 to 150 OP cases per day and also has in-patient facility to deal with animal deliveries, especially complications among cattle. Dogs swallowing marbles and pregnancy complications have become common cases in the scan room these days. “Ultrasound scan is a boon for animals since it is not harmful whereas x-ray exposes them to radiation,” says Dr. Vairavasamy.
The Regional Joint Director and his team are expecting another ultra scan unit exclusively for cattle breeding, since infertility/ovarian problem is common. The VPC also has special ECG, specimen collection unit, laparoscopy, air-conditioned operation theatre for small animals, anaesthesia and physiotherapy units.
According to Dr. Gopinath, disease prevention and surveillance have been stepped up in the district. The sixth round of vaccination for foot-and-mouth disease was completed in March and the Animal Husbandry Department is readying for the seventh round in September.
On the lines of human healthcare, the medical facilities for animals too are getting priority and a visit to the polyclinic only confirms it if the record of referral cases is an indication.
“All these days, our doctors listened to the owner’s version and medical history to treat animals. But the availability of advanced tools makes diagnosis easier,” says Dr. Gopinath.
His words seem to be true after seeing an anxious A. Tirupathi who brought the fragile Lucy to the polyclinic from Keerathurai. “I have high hopes of saving my dog,” he says as he takes away his pet animal after diagnostic procedures.
Director of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services T. Abraham reviewed the implementation of schemes and medical care facilities in Madurai on July 2. With a constant focus to improve animal health, the district is all set to scale new heights in animal care.
