Help in Suffering Successfully Heal Horrific Eye Injuries

Help in Suffering’s (HIS) Equine Clinic is another of Animal Aid Abroad’s partner groups in India. Hard-working horses, ponies and donkeys are often forgotten and neglected in India but HIS ensure that essential veterinary care is provided for them. From January to March, they treated ten equines, seven of whom had digestive problems including colic, worm burden and impaction. Other issues seen included nasal discharge, lameness and a traumatic wound.

Two cases involving eye injuries stood out for the HIS team as success stories. One mare was recently brought into the Equine Clinic by her owner with a severe eye wound. The team determined that she had a serious tumour in her eye, which was attached to the eyeball. The overall condition of this horse was very poor and, unfortunately, the owner decided he was not able to provide adequate care for his sick horse so he left her at the HIS shelter. After thorough examination of the mare’s eye and attached tumour, the veterinary team determined that the only option was a complete eye enucleation (removal). The mare has remained with HIS for observation and post-operative care, since the wound is very deep and will take some time to properly heal. She will only be returned to her owner once she has completely recovered.

The team also reported that they rescued a donkey who was a victim of human cruelty. An animal lover noticed this poor soul roaming around some roads and was taken aback by the horrific condition of one of the donkey’s eyes. This noble person called the HIS helpline to ensure the donkey could be rescued. It turned out that this donkey had been abandoned by the owner for being too old, despite working hard his whole life. Sadly, this is not unusual in India, where owners with low incomes cannot afford to keep and feed working animals once they no longer have economic value. Already vulnerable, this donkey then suffered a despicable act, being hit so hard by an object that one of his eyes was badly wounded. After the HIS team rescued this gentle equine, the vets examined the eye and found that it was full of maggots and the external portion of the eye was totally destroyed. Initially, the vets were not sure if they could save the eye but, using their incredible skills, they were able to salvage the donkey’s internal eye. Thankfully, this donkey is now safe at the Help in Suffering shelter and will remain there unless he is adopted out.

Animal Aid Abroad are proud to help fund this essential veterinary service that is reducing suffering for India’s working equines.