offering a lifeline for sick & injured working animals in chennai, india

Written By Renate Homburg

Blue Cross of India (BCI) offer a lifeline for sick or injured working animals in Chennai. Recently, they treated 15 animals with various conditions and attended to five emergency cases involving serious injuries. With your wonderful support, they are alleviating suffering and providing compassionate care, relief and dignity.

Summary

During August, 15 working animals were treated across Chennai, including 13 horses, one pony and a calf.

BCI also attended to over 20 rescue calls and five animal emergency cases.

All concerns were received via phone calls, and the cases were managed through BCI’s mobile hospital and clinic.

Treatments included IV fluids, medication, injections, pain management, topical applications and tetanus vaccine administration.

Key Highlights

  • 15 animals were treated during the month.

  • Horses represented the majority of cases (13), but a pony and calf also received care.

  • Animals in need were reported from various Chennai locations, including Marina Beach, Saidapet, Triplicane, Chepauk, Mylapore and Ayodhikuppam.

  • A range of conditions were addressed, including colic, septic arthritis/abscess, colitis with fever, back sores, a capped elbow, various injuries, mastitis, a cyst, osteoarthritis, contusion, dermatitis and shoulder-joint inflammation.

  • Interventions included IV fluids, IV medication, injections, topical treatment, pain management and tetanus vaccine administration.

Emergency cases

BCI attended to five emergency cases during August, including:

  • Three calves who had been in road traffic accidents.

  • A sick and abandoned bull calf.

  • A cow who was in a road traffic accident.

Urgent veterinary care was provided for all these animals.

Challenges Faced

  • There was a high incidence of wounds and soft tissue injuries, requiring regular dressing changes and continuous follow-up care.

  • Respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses - such as respiratory infections, colic, and colitis - required emergency fluid therapy and intensive medical management.

  • Poor hygiene and working conditions contributed to hoof infections and chronic wounds, highlighting the need for greater owner awareness and preventive care.

  • Most treatments were delivered in the field, requiring the veterinary team to provide effective care under challenging outdoor conditions.

Conclusion

August treatment activities reflect ongoing veterinary support for working animals in Chennai. The 15 recorded cases were addressed through a combination of medical, supportive and preventive interventions.

Continued mobile veterinary outreach and timely reporting of cases remain important for ensuring timely access to treatment for working animals.

With you by their side, BCI will continue reaching working animals across Chennai to provide care and treatment, and relieve pain and suffering.

Renate Homburg
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