Pune: In a major advancement for veterinary medicine, The Small Animal Clinic, Pune, has successfully performed the world’s first Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy (POEM) procedure on a canine patient.
The surgery was conducted on Maggie, a four-year-old Labrador diagnosed with megaoesophagus, a serious swallowing disorder that had left her unable to eat or retain food.
The procedure was led by Dr Narendra Pardeshi, Veterinary Surgeon, and Dr Mandar Doiphode, Gastroenterologist, supported by a skilled team comprising Mrs Reena Haribhat, Ankita Dwivedi, Asmi Pardeshi, and technical assistants Mr Vijay Kamble and Mr Giriraj Singh.
For several months, Maggie’s family watched helplessly as she vomited multiple times a day, lost nearly 10 kilograms, and struggled to swallow even small amounts of food. Detailed examinations revealed achalasia, a rare condition in which the esophageal muscles fail to contract and the lower esophageal sphincter does not relax, preventing food from entering the stomach.
“Megaesophagus is relatively common in dogs and can lead to malnutrition, aspiration pneumonia, and even death,” said Dr Pardeshi. “Previously, treatment required open surgery with prolonged recovery. The POEM procedure changes that—it’s minimally invasive, allows faster recovery, and greatly improves swallowing.”
To prepare for this procedure, Dr Pardeshi trained under expert human gastroenterologists in advanced endoscopic surgery. During Maggie’s case, he collaborated with Dr Doiphode to ensure precision and safety, successfully adapting a human medical technique for veterinary use.
The three-hour procedure involved inserting an endoscope through the mouth to carefully cut tight esophageal muscles and restore normal food passage. Unlike traditional surgery, POEM leaves no external scars and provides real-time visualization, ensuring accuracy and safety.
Maggie was monitored closely after surgery, started on a liquid diet, and gradually transitioned to solid food. Within a week, she showed significant improvement and began regaining her lost weight.
“Maggie is part of our family,” said her owner, Shubham Jadhav. “Seeing her recover so quickly after months of suffering feels like a miracle.”
Dr Doiphode added that achalasia is challenging to diagnose even in humans, making this achievement particularly meaningful. “The POEM technique made the surgery bloodless and recovery rapid,” he noted.
This success demonstrates how collaboration between veterinary and human medical specialists can expand treatment options and improve outcomes for animals with complex conditions.