In Ethiopia, Neru the horse was finding it difficult to walk and was struggling to put weight on her leg, which was a major cause for concern for her owner. Read how SPANA vets eased Neru’s discomfort and put her on the road to recovery.
Neru has been a well-loved member of her owner Tsegaye’s household since he brought the mare home several years ago. The four-year-old horse works several days a week, pulling a cart and helping with agricultural activities, which makes it possible for the family to earn a basic living. Neru is well looked after and is usually healthy. However, her owner noticed the horse had been slowing down, struggling to walk and starting to stumble.
As soon as the SPANA mobile clinic visited this remote region of Ethiopia, Neru and Tsegaye were waiting to be seen, having left home early in the morning to seek treatment. Neru was clearly uncomfortable, but patiently waited while the vet examined her hoof to check for cuts or foreign bodies lodged in her foot. Luckily, he didn’t find anything, as wounds on the feet and legs run a high risk of infection. But, as he felt his way up her leg to the shoulder, he saw that the young horse flinched and pulled her leg away.
Due to the impacts of Covid-19 and government lockdowns in Ethiopia, Tsegaye has been struggling to afford to feed Neru, along with his family. He and Neru have had to work longer hours in all types of challenging conditions to make ends meet. One day, Neru tripped while walking along a dirt road and although she didn’t seem hurt at the time, had strained a tendon which was now becoming swollen and painful.
Our team prescribed anti-inflammatory medication for five days and advised Tsegaye to give Neru plenty of rest, avoid work temporarily and focus on recovering her weight. They also gave the owner enough emergency feed to help Neru on the road to recovery, while Tsegaye saved money for feed. The relieved owner expressed his gratitude to the team. He said: ‘Many thanks to SPANA for the support we get. Equines are like our engines – life could not be imagined without horses and donkeys.’
Lameness is a significant cause of suffering for working animals. But, thanks to your kindness and generosity, SPANA teams around the world are able to help animals like Neru, providing vital treatment that is alleviating pain and preventing the agony of lameness. Thank you for your continued support.
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