Wahbi the donkey had a constant itch that was making him sore and uncomfortable. Find out how SPANA vets in Tunisia helped give him the relief he so desperately needed.
Wahbi is a vital member of the family for his owner, Reim, and she takes great care of him. In the mountainous region of northern Tunisia, the nine-year-old donkey helps Reim earn a small income transporting wheat, barley and water, and carrying out agricultural work.
One day, Reim noticed that Wahbi was restless and uncomfortable. He had developed some small, sore patches on his legs and was stopping whenever he could to rub and scratch them. She knew that Wahbi needed help before his condition worsened.
Most remote communities don’t have access to veterinary care, but Wahbi’s village is regularly visited by SPANA’s mobile clinic. Our mobile clinics deliver free, lifesaving veterinary care to isolated, rural communities.
Wahbi was taken to the mobile clinic, where SPANA vets quickly diagnosed external parasites and suspected scabies – a skin infection caused by mites. Animals affected by these parasites will experience extreme itching. This can sometimes be so severe that they can rub themselves raw. External parasites are also highly contagious, so it was also important that Wahbi was receiving help quickly before the problem spread further.
The vets immediately set about treating Wahbi. Each of his legs and affected areas were carefully sprayed with an anti-parasite solution to treat the infestation. Then, each sore patch was cleaned and treated with a soothing cream. The vets told Reim that, as the condition was contagious, she needed to take great care handling Wahbi and to keep him away from other animals until he was better. They advised her to clean his bedding, harnessing and padding, and to bring him back in a couple of weeks for another dose of treatment.
Reim was delighted the vets had been able to relieve Wahbi’s discomfort. She said: ‘During water shortages, we just wouldn’t survive without Wahbi because we wouldn’t be able to carry our water up the mountains. He’s as important to me as my children. SPANA is doing a good job and we have benefited from them once before. Thank you SPANA.’
SPANA mobile clinics are a lifeline in remote areas. With your ongoing support, our vet teams are promoting good animal welfare practices, preventing suffering and bringing essential veterinary treatment to working animals like Wahbi. Thank you for making this work possible.
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