Bunna was tired and losing weight. We diagnosed internal parasites and administered anti-parasite medication to help him recover.
Bunna is a 15-year-old horse from Shashemene, in southern Ethiopia. He works as a gharry (taxi horse), helping his passengers get around the city. His hard work helps his owner, Melaku, support his parents and sister.
Melaku brought Bunna along to a veterinary clinic in Shashemene run by SPANA’s local partner, Addis Ababa University College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture. Melaku was concerned that Bunna was losing weight and seemed to be getting tired quickly.
At the clinic, the vet gave Bunna a thorough examination. He discovered worms in Bunna’s droppings. These parasites live in the gut of animals and take vital nutrition and energy from them.
The vet administered Bunna with a dose of oral anti-parasite medication. He also advised Melaku to ensure his horse was given plenty of rest breaks during his working day, and had access to clean, fresh water.
Melaku said: ‘SPANA is helping me for free like my father and mother. My family is very grateful to SPANA. I’m supporting my family from the income I get from Bunna. I know SPANA will always be there for me if he gets sick.’
Parasites – both internal and external – are a common problem that we diagnose in working animals like Bunna every day. Although at low levels some parasites can be relatively harmless, left unchecked, they can cause all kinds of problems, and can even be fatal in the worst cases. Sadly, extreme weather events caused by the climate crisis can also make working animals more susceptible to parasites. Droughts, floods and heatwaves can reduce the availability of food and water, leaving animals malnourished or with weakened immune systems, which increases their risk of illness from parasites.
Your kindness enables us to provide essential veterinary care to working animals diagnosed with parasites. You’re also helping owners develop their animal care skills and recognise the symptoms of parasites through community training sessions and workshops. Thank you so much for your ongoing support.
