This week I’m bringing you news from Egypt. It’s not even a year since we introduced our new programme and vet team but they’re already having the most incredible impact on the welfare of working donkeys.
News from Egypt
Since the introduction of our new programme of work over in Egypt last year, we have already seen a positive change in the health and welfare of these hard working donkeys in the brick kilns of El Saf.
Below you can see Dr Shaaban during a welfare assessment – this is where the team visit donkeys to check up on their progress following treatment.
The kiln owner had put in place the recommendations given to him – to improve the yard where the donkeys live. These animals have a body condition score of three, which is much improved and means the donkeys are living much happier lives.
Below we can see a donkey the team visited a few weeks ago who was in awful pain.
Although the donkey owner had called in a local vet, his treatment for an abscess had not helped, and the swelling was increasingly. The donkey’s overall health was starting to decline.
Dr Shaaban carried out an ultrasound to check for a hernia, as well as cleaning the wound and giving the donkey anti-inflammatory and antibiotics. The team also trained the stockman to dress the wound on a daily basis and the donkey was also given fluids and multi vitamins to help with his overall health.
Above you can see the donkey earlier this week – his wound has healed and his overall health is so much better. The team were delighted with his progress and how well the stockman had cared for his donkey.
Our final story this week shows the improvement of another donkey in the kilns. Here is a video of the donkey when Dr Shaaban first visited the animal.
Dr Shaaban examined the donkey and discovered he had septic arthritis in his right knee.
The donkey received intensive treatment – an X-ray to confirm there was no fracture, following by cleaning the wound with iodine and other treatments. This was followed by antibiotic injections, with penicillin and streptomycin then given twice a day. The donkey owner was also provided with training and instructions to clean and change the dressing every day.
The team carried out a follow up welfare visit this week, and as you’ll see from the video above, the donkey has made incredible progress – and is hardly lame any more.
Thank you to everyone who provides support to our vet teams in El Saf and the West Bank. Thanks to you we are able to fund the equipment and medicines needed to ensure donkeys are living better lives, free from pain.
Thank you!
We hope this update has helped to show you how your donations are helping donkeys in desperate need – thank you for your support!