In a major accomplishment, the Dialysis Unit of the Vet Varsity, has successfully performed India’s first Online Hemodiafiltration* (OL-HDF) in a 9-year-
old Labrador Retriever dog. This landmark achievement was supported by the ICAR Experiential Learning Project aimed at transforming the Dialysis Unit into an educational hub and signifies the first-ever successful application of OL-HDF in veterinary medicine in India. The pioneering procedure was successfully performed by Dr. Randhir Singh, In- charge, Dialysis Unit, along with Dr. Gurpreet Singh and Dr. Raj Sukhbir Singh. With this achievement, the Dialysis Unit has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first veterinary dialysis facility in India to successfully introduce and perform OL-HDF in veterinary medicine. Dr. Randhir Singh asserted that while limited case reports exist in the Western world describing hemodiafiltration in pets utilizing commercial substitution fluid bags, this represents the first successful application of a dedicated OL-HDF platform in a canine in India. Online Hemodiafiltration is an advanced renal replacement therapy in human medicine that combines hemodialysis and hemofiltration for superior toxin clearance, improved fluid management, and enhanced patient stabilization. The successful implementation of OL-HDF in veterinary medicine required exceptional clinical expertise, advanced infrastructure, precise monitoring, meticulous dose calculations, and a strong research-driven understanding of extracorporeal therapies. Expressing pride in this groundbreaking achievement, Dr. J.P.S. Gill, Vice Chancellor, congratulated the Dialysis Unit team. He noted that this accomplishment highlights the university’s growing prominence in advanced Renal Replacement Therapies. The successful execution of OL-HDF in a dog for the first time in India is an extraordinary scientific and clinical achievement. Dr. Randhir Singh and his team deserve immense appreciation for setting new benchmarks in veterinary Renal Replacement Therapies in the country. Dr. Swaran Singh Randhawa, Dean, College of Veterinary Science, commended the efforts of the dialysis team and acknowledged that this breakthrough exemplifies the scientific prowess and clinical expertise of our faculty. The introduction of such an advanced renal replacement modality in veterinary medicine underscores the university’s progressive vision and will substantially enhance critical care management in animals. Dr. J. Mohindroo, Director of Clinics, also congratulated the dialysis unit team and highlighted that the successful execution of OL-HDF represents a major leap in veterinary critical care and nephrology.
* Online hemodiafiltration (OL-HDF) is an advanced dialysis treatment for kidney failure. It combines two processes—diffusion and convection—to clear a wider range of toxins from the blood than traditional dialysis. It is called "online" because the machine continuously generates ultrapure replacement fluid in real-time during the procedure.
