When Med the horse was suffering from severe conjunctivitis, SPANA vets in Mauritania were on hand to help him get better.
Med the horse helps his owner, 24-year-old Boune, by transporting people around Mauritania’s capital city, Nouakchott. Due to the impact of the global cost of living crisis and rising prices, Med and Boune have had to work harder than ever this year so that Boune can support his family.
That’s why Boune was incredibly worried when he noticed that Med’s left eye was swollen and weeping excessively. He decided to take Med straight to SPANA’s veterinary centre in Nouakchott for urgent treatment.
At the centre, our veterinary team examined Med’s eye carefully. They found that Med was suffering from a severe case of conjunctivitis and a blocked tear duct – most likely caused by the dusty roads Med travels every day.
Our vets set about treating Med using a specialised procedure called a nasolacrimal duct flush. They sedated Med, cleaned his nostril, then gently flushed his tear duct with a saline solution until the blockage had cleared. Next, the team administered some topical eye ointment to treat his conjunctivitis, and an anti-inflammatory to help reduce his swelling.
To ensure that Med’s eye was fully settled after the procedure and so that the vets could continue his treatment in a clean environment, Med was admitted to the centre’s stables for two days. When Med was able to return home, the vets showed Boune how to continue his horse’s medication and encouraged him to bring Med back to the centre in 10 days’ time for a check-up.
Boune was thankful for the essential treatment Med received. He said: ‘SPANA’s vets always welcome you warmly, and every time they take care of our animals, they provide us with the right instructions to ensure we take good care of them.’
SPANA has been improving the welfare of working animals for 100 years. Sadly, as we mark our centenary, working animals need our help more than ever before. Global challenges such as political and economic instability, health risks and climate change have had a devastating effect and have left a generation of working animals, like Med, struggling to survive. With your kind support, we can help more working animals and ensure that they receive access to the vital food, medicine, treatment and support they need. If you are able, please consider donating to our special centenary appeal today. Thank you so much for caring for working animals in urgent need.
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