reaching working animals across chennai in partnership with blue Cross of india
Blue Cross of India (BCI) in Chennai are one of our newer partner groups. With your fantastic support, they have assisted many working equines recently through their mobile clinics, hospital and shelter.
See how you are alleviating suffering for these animals:
April News
During April, the Mobile Hospital conducted outreach visits across several rural areas of Chennai, providing general health check-ups and necessary veterinary treatments for large working animals.
The primary focus was on improving animal health through the administration of mineral supplements and preventive treatment against parasitic infestations. A total of 298 animals were dewormed or given supplements.
In addition, horses received treatment for various musculoskeletal and hoof-related conditions, including lameness, bed sores, and maggot-infested wounds.
Veterinary care was also provided for ailments affecting the respiratory, reproductive, and gastrointestinal systems, such as glanders and colic.
April highlights included:
Rescue and treatment of two large animals whose caregivers were unable to provide adequate care. BCI will now ensure their continued welfare and rehabilitation.
Continued operation of the Mobile Hospital, providing immediate on-site veterinary care for animals not requiring hospitalisation. The service coverage area was expanded from a 10 km radius to 15 km, enabling access to veterinary services for a larger number of animals.
Provision of essential medical supplies and equipment to support the functioning of the Mobile Hospital, Outpatient Department, and animal sanctuary.
Ongoing care and nutritional support for approximately 200 large animals housed at the BCI shelter, ensuring their health and well-being.
May news
During May, the Mobile Hospital continued its outreach across both rural and urban areas of Chennai, providing preventive and curative veterinary care to large working animals.
The team attended a higher number of cases compared to previous months, reflecting the increasing demand for field-based veterinary services.
Horses received treatment for a variety of medical conditions and injuries.
May highlights included:
The continued presence of the Mobile Hospital enabled follow-up visits, strengthening relationships between veterinary personnel and caregivers while improving treatment compliance and continuity of care.
Ongoing support for the programme enabled us to provide timely veterinary treatment and nutritious feed to all working animals housed in the shelter. This ensures their recovery, health, and overall wellbeing.
Support for the Mobile Hospital programme through funding for operational staff, including two veterinarians and para-veterinary personnel.
Key Challenges
Extreme summer heat affected field operations and the health of working animals.
Difficulty in locating working animals during outreach visits led to delays in providing treatment.
Owners or handlers were often unavailable at the time of scheduled visits, limiting timely intervention.
Self-treatment or delayed veterinary consultation by caregivers resulted in complications that required more extensive medical management.
Case Studies
A horse with severe colic
Horses who provide joyrides along Chennai’s beaches often endure long hours of physical exertion and are vulnerable to health complications.
One such horse from the Triplicane beach area was brought to our attention after developing severe signs of colic - a potentially life-threatening condition requiring immediate veterinary care.
Upon admission, our veterinary team conducted a thorough clinical assessment and determined that urgent intervention was necessary. To relieve the condition and stabilise the horse, a nasogastric intubation procedure was performed, allowing the team to decompress the stomach and administer appropriate treatment.
Following the intervention, the horse remained under close observation and received supportive care, medication, hydration, and nutritional management.
The dedicated efforts of the veterinary staff and caregivers ensured that the animal’s recovery was carefully monitored over the following days.
Emergency treatment for a horse with an abdominal abscess
A horse working along the beaches of Chennai developed a painful contusion abscess on her abdomen. The swelling and wound caused significant discomfort and, if left untreated, could have progressed into a serious infection affecting the horse’s health.
Upon receiving an alert, BCI’s Mobile Hospital responded promptly and reached the location to provide immediate medical assistance. The veterinary team conducted an on-site examination and carefully cleaned the wound using normal saline, povidone-iodine, and metronidazole solution to reduce contamination and control infection.
To facilitate proper healing, a Betadine-impregnated gauze dressing was inserted into the abscess cavity, allowing continued drainage while protecting the wound from further contamination. Antibiotics were also administered to combat infection, along with pain-relieving medication to reduce inflammation and improve comfort.
The animal’s caregiver was advised on wound management, hygiene, and the importance of follow-up treatment and rest.
With continued veterinary care and regular dressing changes, the wound gradually healed, the infection resolved, and the horse made a full recovery.
Thank you for having a heart for working animals and for your ongoing support. Together, we are alleviating suffering and reaching hundreds of working animals in Chennai, India.