When Menelik contracted tetanus, vets in Ethiopia had to work quickly to save his life.
Menelik is a six-year-old donkey from Wajitu Kebele, a small community in central Ethiopia. He works hard for his owner Fikadu – transporting vegetables, grain, animal feed and firewood for three hours a day.
One day, Menelik was wounded while working. Because the wound was small and seemingly insignificant, Fikadu and his family tended to it themselves. However, over the next couple of weeks, Menelik’s health deteriorated. Seriously concerned, Fikadu rushed his donkey to their nearest mobile veterinary clinic, which is run by SPANA’s local partner in Ethiopia.
At the clinic, the vets examined Menelik carefully. The donkey’s ears had become upright, his tail had stiffened, and they noticed third eyelid protrusion – when the membrane that can be seen in the corner of the eye starts to bulge. Sadly, these are all symptoms of tetanus, a non-contagious bacterial infection that enters the body through wounds. Tetanus attacks an animal’s nervous system and, if left untreated, is usually fatal.
Thankfully, if diagnosed early, vets can provide treatment aimed at killing the bacteria. Fikadu had arrived at the clinic just in time. The vets administered a tetanus anti-toxin and started Menelik on a course of antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. They then cleaned his wound thoroughly.
The vets gave Fikadu detailed instructions on how to care for his donkey. They showed him how and when to give Menelik the antibiotics and anti-inflammatories, then told him to keep Menelik in a dark, quiet stable away from loud noises or anything that could excite him. Because tetanus causes muscle paralysis in animals, Fikadu was advised to provide plenty of water and soft feed that would help Menelik chew and swallow more easily. These should be in a raised and accessible position so that Menelik would not have to bend or stretch to eat and drink. Finally, the vets stressed the importance of seeking professional veterinary treatment for wounds, to avoid serious complications, like tetanus. They showed Fikadu how to clean Menelik’s wound and advised him to clean it every day. He was also advised to bring Menelik to the next mobile clinic so that the vets could check on his progress.
Fikadu said: ‘Thank you, SPANA, for supporting us through free treatment for our donkey. Our family life depends on the income Menelik helps us generate.’
Thanks to our supporters, our vets can provide emergency treatment and lifesaving care to working animals like Melenik who are suffering from deadly diseases. We provide vaccinations to ensure working animals are protected from disease. Our teams also conduct awareness campaigns that help communities recognise the signs and symptoms of disease, and the importance of prevention. Thank you for your kindness and support.
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