August 12, 2017 07:42 am |Updated 07:42 am IST - CHENNAI
A pet owner has complained that poor services at the Madras Veterinary College Hospital led to his pet’s death. Cannula Dressing
L. Sudhakar Rao, the chief administrative officer of Southern Railway, owned a dalmatian that he brought with him when he was transferred from Hyderabad in 2015.
The dog was treated at the hospital in Chennai for over 18 months.
The pet, after an injury, had difficulty in walking and standing, and was administered injections to improve its gait.
Six months later, the 12-year-old dog, during a routine visit to the clinic, was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease.
Mr. Rao, said his pet was examined physically by specialists but within a month, was back in the intensive care unit. Within days of discharge, when the pet was again brought to the clinic, it was sent to the ICU, where it died.
“I could not get any convincing reply from the doctors for my questions,” Mr. Rao said.
In his written complaint to the Chief Minister, Animal Husbandry secretary, TANUVAS vice-chancellor and dean, he has listed over a dozen questions, including why the blood culture report was not sent in time to the microbiology department, and why the labs did not work round the clock.
He has demanded an investigation into alleged irregularities in treatment.
He alleged that the administration had not provided generator/inverter supply for critical supporting units such as the microbiological lab.
Professor and head of clinics at the hospital Cecilia Joseph said the hospital had taken sufficient care of the pet and that it had suffered from age-related ailments. “Chronic kidney disease can occur at any time in a dog’s life. The dog had osteoarthritis and was forced to lie on one side. It had developed bed sores for which it was treated,” Dr. Joseph said.
On the lack of an MRI/CT scan, she said the university had been sanctioned funds but the price had increased since then and efforts were on to buy the machine.
The college at Namakkal had got a scan machine with the support of a NABARD scheme for rural development, she explained.
As for the complainant she said, “We intend to call Mr. Rao for a meeting to clear the air.”
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