When a horse became unwell with a respiratory infection, vets in Ethiopia were on hand to help him recover.
Buni the carthorse lives in Bishoftu, in central Ethiopia, with his owner, Yohannis. Every day, Buni and Yohannis travel around the bustling town transporting everything from passengers to agricultural products. This important work helps Yohannis support his family.
Yohannis brought Buni to a mobile clinic run by SPANA’s local partner in Ethiopia, Addis Ababa University College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture. He’d noticed that Buni was weak, coughing and had a runny nose.
The vet examined Buni carefully and diagnosed a respiratory infection. He started the horse on a course of antibiotics to treat the infection and anti-inflammatories to reduce any inflammation. Yohannis was advised how and when to administer the medication at home. Yohannis was also advised to keep Buni away from other animals until he was better, and to ensure he received 0plenty of rest.
Yohannis said: ‘Thank you, SPANA, for treating my animal. He’s important for my family’s livelihood.’
Just like us, working animals can become seriously ill from respiratory illnesses. On busy construction sites, in polluted cities and in places where working animals haul heavy loads through clouds of dust and pollution, their lungs are constantly irritated. Prolonged exposure to pollution can lead to inflammation, making them prone to coughs and breathing difficulties.
For malnourished and exhausted animals, especially those weakened by drought or injury, even a mild respiratory infection can quickly become severe. Without timely treatment, it can progress to pneumonia, which can be deadly.
Your continued support enables us to provide treatment and essential medicines for working animals with respiratory diseases. Thank you so much for caring for working animals.
