When a working mule in Morocco couldn’t stop itching, SPANA vets stepped in to help her get better.
Chacha, meaning ‘toddler’ is a hardworking mule from a remote village high up in Morocco’s Atlas Mountains. She enables her owner, Brahim, to earn a small living by helping tourists explore the picturesque landscape. Without Chacha, Brahim would be unable to support his family.
Chacha and Brahim visited a SPANA mobile veterinary clinic when it made its regular visit to Imlil – a village two kilometres from their home – because Brahim had become concerned that something was wrong with his beloved mule. Chacha wouldn’t stop scratching and was starting to lose patches of her hair.
Our vets checked Chacha over and diagnosed mange. This is an incredibly itchy skin disease caused by mites. The vets administered an anti-parasite injection, then applied an antiseptic cream to the worst-affected areas of Chacha’s skin. They showed Brahim how to apply the cream and gave him a supply to continue the treatment at home.
However, because mange is extremely contagious to both animals and people, the vets also advised Brahim to be extremely careful when handling his mule and to wear gloves when applying the cream. He should also clean Chacha’sbedding and shelter thoroughly and keep her away from other animals until she’d recovered.
Brahim was very relieved that our vets had been able to help Chacha. He said: ‘I’ve been visiting SPANA’s mobile clinic for many years. I don’t know what mule owners would do without SPANA, it would be a disaster for animals. Thank you for coming to Imlil.’
Across the world, mobile veterinary clinics operated by SPANA and our local partners are reaching sick and injured working animals in remote and hard-to-reach locations. These dedicated vets travel thousands of kilometres a year to ensure working animals receive the professional care they desperately need so that every working animal can live a healthy and valued life.
You can help more animals like Chacha by giving a Vets on the Road virtual gift to bring our mobile clinics to remote villages or a Medicine Cabinet gift to restock medicines our vets need to treat them.
Your support makes this possible – for which we are so grateful. You’re ensuring our teams reach more working animals than ever, and that more animal owners, veterinary professionals and schoolchildren are developing invaluable knowledge and skills in animal welfare. Thank you!
