When Mesale the horse had problems with his teeth, SPANA vets in Ethiopia were on hand to give him the treatment he needed.
Mesale the horse pulls a taxi cart to and from the bustling market in Bishoftu, Ethiopia. Working six days a week, the seven-year-old horse helps his owner, Effa, earn a basic income to support his young family.
One morning, Effa went out to Mesale’s shelter to prepare his horse for their day’s work and was alarmed to find him pawing and rolling on the ground, in obvious distress. Seriously concerned for the health of his loyal horse, Effa took Mesale straight to SPANA’s busy veterinary centre in Bishoftu.
Mesale was the first case of the day for the SPANA vets. As Mesale was displaying typical symptoms of colic, they immediately conducted an examination. The vets diagnosed Mesale as suffering from a mild episode of colic but, thankfully, did not identify any serious complications. The team administered a pain relief injection to ease Mesale’s discomfort, then gave him plenty of fresh water.
To find out the possible cause, our vets examined Mesale’s teeth. Horses’ 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 – which can lead to colic. The vets discovered that Mesale’s teeth had overgrown in an uneven way, and they now had some sharp points. Using specialist tools, they carefully rasped Mesale’s teeth to take care of the problem.
The vets advised Effa not to feed Mesale for a few hours until his colic had settled. They also encouraged him to bring Mesale to the centre for regular check-ups to ensure his teeth stayed in good shape.
Effa was incredibly grateful for the help and advice he received from our vets. He said: ‘Mesale is the only income for my family. Without him, life would be very difficult for me. He is my life. Thank you, SPANA, for your support.’
Thanks to your remarkable kindness, our vets are able to provide urgent care to working animals, like Mesale, when they are suffering from dental problems. Many dental issues are easily treatable, but are sadly all too common in the working animals that visit SPANA’s veterinary centres and mobile clinics. Overgrown teeth can cause mouth ulcers and damage to the tongue and cheeks, which can be agonising. Other dental problems can be so severe that working animals are unable to eat properly – in the worst cases leading to malnutrition and serious illness. With your help, we can ensure that working animals are free from the pain and suffering caused by dental problems. Thank you for your continued support.
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