Home / Health / India's First? Minimally Invasive Surgery Saves Shih Tzu
India's First? Minimally Invasive Surgery Saves Shih Tzu
11 Oct
Summary
- A 15-year-old Shih Tzu named Angel had two 2cm bladder tumors.
- Doctors performed a minimally invasive TURBT procedure on Angel.
- This procedure may be the first of its kind for a pet in India.
A 15-year-old Shih Tzu named Angel, weighing only 5.6kg, was diagnosed with two 2cm tumors in her urinary bladder, identified as aggressive transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). The tumors had caused blood in her urine for six months.
Considering Angel's condition, veterinarians chose a minimally invasive Transurethral Resection of Urinary Bladder Tumour (TURBT) procedure over conventional surgery. This approach, commonly used in human medicine, aimed to avoid the trauma of open surgery.
The successful TURBT was performed on September 11, 2026, offering Angel a renewed chance at life. Her family, residing in Lohegaon, expressed immense relief. Vets suggest this could be the first instance of a TURBT performed on a pet animal in India.
