PUNE: When blood persisted in the urine of 15-year-old city-based pet Shih Tzu ‘Angel’ for six months, veterinarians’ tests foud two 2cm-sized tumours in her urinary bladder, later diagnosed as an aggressive transitional cell carcinoma (TCC).Considering Angel’s advanced age, small size and nature of her cancer, doctors opted for minimally invasive Transurethral Resection of Urinary Bladder Tumour (TURBT) over conventional surgery. Its success on Sept 11 gave a new lease on life to Angel, to the relief of her loving family based in Lohegaon. Vets also believe it could be a first-of-its-kind TURBT on a pet animal in India.Dr Radheshyam Chaudhari, veterinary assistant surgeon at Small Animal Clinic in Pimple Saudagar, said, “She weighed just 5.6kg. Due to location of the tumours, we wanted to avoid putting her through major abdominal surgery if a safe alternative was possible.”Dr Narendra Pardeshi, veterinary surgeon at the clinic, said,”The approach is routinely used in human medicine and allowed us to apply minimally invasive technology and avoid the trauma associated with conventional open surgery.”
