Find out how SPANA vets in Morocco helped an elderly mule in need of urgent dental treatment.
Bono has supported his owner, Mohammed, for many years. The 40-year-old mule used to help Mohammed earn a small income by carrying out agricultural tasks near the town of Chemaia, in Morocco. Now in his senior years, Bono is only called into action for domestic tasks, such as helping 79-year-old Mohammed to carry food home from their local market.
Recently, Mohammed noticed that Bono wasn’t his usual self. His mule seemed to be finding it difficult to eat and had started losing weight. Mohammed asked his neighbour for advice and was advised to seek help from SPANA. So, he took Bono to the SPANA centre in Chemaia the very next morning.
At the centre, our vets gave Bono a full examination. They discovered that Bono was suffering from the pain of sharp, overgrown teeth. Mule’s teeth grow continuously throughout their lives, but if their teeth do not wear down evenly, it can be difficult for them to grind and digest their food properly. The sharp edges on Bono’s teeth needed to be filed down. Using specialist tools, our team carefully rasped Bono’s teeth to take care of the problem.
The vets advised Mohammed on the appropriate type of feed to keep Bono healthy and to prevent sharp points from forming again. They also encouraged Mohammed to bring Bono back to the centre regularly for general check-ups and regular treatment.
Mohammed couldn’t thank the vets enough for helping Bono. He said: ‘I have had my animal for a long time, but this is my first contact with SPANA. I’m very happy Bono was able to receive treatment for his teeth.’
Thanks to you, our vets are able to provide vital help to working animals like Bono who are suffering from dental problems, which can be excruciating without urgent attention. Sadly, dental issues are all too common in the working animals that visit SPANA’s veterinary centres and mobile clinics. For some working animals, the pain caused by dental overgrowths can become so severe, they are unable to eat properly, which can lead to malnutrition and serious illness. With your support, our vets can provide essential treatment for dental problems and offer much-needed relief from pain. Find out how you can help more animals like Bono here. Thank you so much for your support.