A donkey waiting to be treated at a clinic
Your support could give working animals access to the health care and essential medicines that could prevent sight loss.

Eye conditions can cause debilitating pain and sight loss in working animals.

Think of the last time you had something stuck in your eye. A speck of dust, a stray eyelash, or a piece of grit on a windy day. The sting, the watering, the desperate urge to rub it away.

For working animals, eye problems can be agonising, prolonged and often life changing. In the countries where we work, the delicate eyes of working animals are constantly exposed to dirt, dust and injury. Without access to regular veterinary care, what begins as a small scratch or minor irritation can soon develop into a painful ulcer or infection – often leading to irreversible sight loss.

Every year, thousands of working animals are treated by SPANA and our local partners for painful eye conditions. In many of these cases, sight loss can be prevented if spotted early enough and treated with medicine, such as an inexpensive course of eye drops.

With your support, we can provide essential eye care, prevent blindness and help owners develop their animal care skills so they can spot the warning signs before problems develop.

Will you donate today to save their sight?

Left untreated, Fyaz’s ulcer could have scarred his eyeball, leading to permanent blindness in his left eye.
Left untreated, Fyaz’s ulcer could have scarred his eyeball, leading to permanent blindness in his left eye.

Fyaz’s story

Help came just in time for Fyaz.

Every day, Fyaz hauls cement and iron through the hot, crowded streets of Nouakchott. His owner, Mohammad, depends on him to support his family of seven – Fyaz is their only source of income.

After a minor traffic accident, a piece of debris lodged in Fyaz’s eye, leaving him in excruciating pain. His eye swelled shut and wouldn’t stop weeping. He squinted against the blinding sunlight and tensed at every sound around him. On busy, uneven roads filled with traffic and potholes, a donkey struggling to see is at constant risk – each step terrifying and dangerous.

When Fyaz reached our centre, our team diagnosed a painful eye ulcer caused by the accident. The situation was critical. Without urgent treatment, the damage could have led to permanent blindness.

Because treatment was available in time, Fyaz’s eye was cleaned, he received pain relief and the infection was treated with simple daily antibiotic eye drops. Mohammad was shown how to continue the treatment and care for Fyaz as he recovered. Thankfully, with follow-up treatment, Fyaz’s eye began to heal and his sight was saved.

With your support, we can treat more animals like Fyaz so no working animal suffers unnecessarily.

Will you donate today to help save working animals’ sight?

 

How your support could give relief to working animals suffering from sight loss

Working animals don't have to suffer in silence. With the right treatment and preventative action, we can save their sight.
Our vets provide urgent treatment to relieve pain and treat infection, even in remote locations.
We equip our clinics with specialist medications and equipment to make sure animals get the care they need.
Dr Hanna stands in front of a crowd of children. Behind her is a big poster giving information on rabies prevention
We deepen animal owners knowledge on animal welfare practices to prevent further illnesses.

Thank you

Your generous donations will be used for projects such as those featured in this appeal and where they are required the most to help animals in need. We would be so grateful for whatever you can give to this vital appeal. Thank you.