Two-day-old Sara was suffering from colic. Find out how SPANA vets in Morocco provided emergency treatment before her condition worsened.
Sara the mule was just two days old when she was rushed to SPANA’s centre in Chemaia, Morocco. Her birth had been trouble-free and her owner, Hassan, had been delighted to see her healthy and well. But little Sara’s health quickly deteriorated. Soon, she was in intense pain and was too weak to stand.
Hassan feared that, without urgent treatment, Sara would not survive. He therefore borrowed a van to drive more than 30 miles to the SPANA centre in Chemaia, so that Sara could receive the emergency veterinary care she so desperately needed.
When she arrived at the centre, Sara was raced through to be seen by SPANA vets. They examined her thoroughly and diagnosed the little foal as suffering from colic, caused by meconium retention. Meconium is a newborn’s first dung and is usually passed naturally within the first few hours of their life. If this doesn’t happen, it usually becomes impacted, which can lead to complications, such as colic.
The vets administered laxatives and anti-inflammatories, which thankfully solved the problem. Our vets then bottle-fed Sara a special mixture of semi-skimmed milk and honey until her mother was able to join her at the centre. Sara continued to receive essential care and was able to return home, fully recovered, a week later.
Hassan was incredibly grateful for Sara’s recovery and the work of the SPANA vets. He said: ‘Without SPANA, Sara would have died. Thank you, SPANA.’
Colic can be a serious and life-threatening condition for working animals. Our vets treat thousands of working animals suffering from colic every year. Although some cases, like Sara’s, are due to natural causes, many others occur because a working animal has eaten inappropriate food – or even waste, such as plastic. Thanks to your kindness and generosity, we can provide working animals with the vital treatment they need. We appreciate greatly your continued help and support.
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