Painless cure to pets

TAKING THE pain out of life as a pet, literally. That is what a new laser is doing, at the physiotherapy wing of Madras Veterinary College Hospital.

On a visit last week, one could see a German shepherd being wheeled into the ward, a muzzle in place. The dog lifted its head slowly as a doctor focussed the laser beam on its hind leg. The laser's neon beam slowly eased the dog's pain, and it stopped whining.

The `soft' laser system is a recent addition to the physiotherapy wing of the Hospital, which also offers short wave diathermy, infra red and UV ray lamps for physiotherapy.

The hospital's out-patient ward attends to over 150 small animals a day, of which nearly 10 per cent need physiotherapy. Large animals, especially horses are brought to the ward sometimes, as they develop tendinitis, while stretching their limbs on the race tracks, says Dr. K. Ameerjan, head, Surgery Department. However, doctors are careful with horses as they could easily damage the equipment with their hoofs. Dogs which are `heavily built', such as the German Shepherds and Dalmatians and those with a long spine like the Daschund are prone to complications of the spine and tendons, besides spraining of ligaments. The ageing process takes its toll on dogs and arthritis is a common complaint among those over five years, says Dr. Archibald David, Director, Clinics.

The laser's energy transforms into biochemical energy and stimulates metabolism in damaged tissues. The laser beam accelerates the healing process and reduces inflammation.

While diathermy cannot be used in the case of open wounds, the laser has better penetration with its pointed focus. In case of ulcers, only the laser and infra-red lamps help the probe, says Dr. S. Thilagar, professor of Clinics.

By S. Shanker

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