CRYOSURGICO-THERAPEUTIC MANAGEMENT OF FOOT LESIONS IN ASIAN ELEPHANTS OF ODISHA, INDIA: A REVIEW OF 15 CASES

The present study was conducted on 15 healthy captive and/or wild Asian elephants of Odisha, divided into 3 groups (n=5), for management of different foot affections. Group A was comprised of conventionally treated elephants with surgical debridement of foot lesions followed by regular dressing. Group B and Group C elephants were treated with tip and swab method of cryotherapy, respectively. A non-significant (p>0.05) increase in clinic-physiological and haematobiochemical parameters had been observed; while the rectal temperature increased initially on day 3 followed by decrease in values from 7 days onwards alike a non-significant (p>0.05) decrease in TLC and neutrophil (%). It was concluded that as compared to conventional methods, cryotherapy via probe or tip applicator and swab method of freezing proved to be more fruitful in healing of foot lesions.