When she’s healthy, six-year-old working horse Vicks is used for riding and cattle mustering in North West Ngamiland, Botswana.
Sadly, while having a well-deserved drink at the local river, Vicks was attacked by a crocodile, leaving her with a large wound to her front left leg. The pregnant mare was in shock following the attack and weak from blood loss. Without treatment, the wound would soon become badly infected and threaten the life of the horse and her unborn foal.
Luckily for Vicks, SPANA’s mobile clinic was visiting the area. Her owner Molefabangwe rushed her to our team in search of desperately-needed veterinary care.
The SPANA team cleaned the wound thoroughly with an antiseptic spray and applied honey dressing before covering the wound with a special pressure bandage.
She was also prescribed regular anti-inflammatory medicine to reduce swelling and pain. The vets returned the following week to treat the wound and apply fresh dressings. Molefabangwe was also sent home with zinc oxide cream to apply regularly. He was grateful for SPANA’s help saying:
‘I am very thankful for SPANA. Horses are important to us for transport and gathering our cattle. SPANA has also helped us with providing food and water for our horses and giving us free treatment.’
During her treatment, Vicks gave birth to a colt foal named Tootswa, which means “giraffe” in Setswana. The SPANA team have been providing Vicks and Tootswa with regular food and water and both mum and foal are doing brilliantly as a result.
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