Lina the horse was losing weight and had no energy. Find out how SPANA vets in Tunisia gave her the essential treatment she needed.
Lina the horse helps her owner, 34-year-old Khali, support his family by transporting goods around the desert town of Douz, in southern Tunisia. Khali is proud of his horse and takes good care of her.
Khali became extremely worried when Lina started showing signs of ill health. Lina seemed to have no energy – walking much slower and tiring quickly as she pulled the cart. She had started to lose weight and coughed frequently. Worryingly, Lina had also developed a habit of eating things that she shouldn’t normally eat, such as earth.
Khali knew that Lina needed help, so took her to SPANA’s mobile clinic as soon as it visited Douz. Lina was seen straight away by SPANA vet Khouloud and vet intern Nadia, who examined her carefully. They diagnosed internal parasites and explained that the parasites, which live in the gut of animals, were taking vital nutrition and energy from Lina. They also explained that Lina’s habit of eating non-food objects – called pica – could potentially be a sign that she was lacking essential vitamins and minerals in her diet.
Lina was administered with an anti-parasitic medication to tackle the internal parasites. She was then given a nourishing feed and a dietary supplement to improve her nutrition and general health. Khali was advised to rest Lina until she had fully recovered.
Khali was delighted that Lina had received such caring treatment. He said: ‘Thank you, SPANA. You are always there when our animals need your help.’
Every day, SPANA vets encounter working animals suffering from the debilitating effects of parasites. Parasites can be treated easily, but many working animals are needlessly suffering from the devastating illnesses and complications that parasites can cause if they are left untreated. With your kindness, we can ensure working animals like Lina receive the essential parasite treatment they need to live a life free from pain and suffering.
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