A six-year-old horse, who had injured its foreleg and was abandoned in Dehradun, underwent a surgery to amputate the damaged limb in an operation that lasted over three hours.
Veterinarians said the white horse is still not out of danger and it will take at least a month’s time for its wounds to heal.
It was injured in an accident a month ago and was brought to Raahat shelter home in Nanurkheda, in the state capital on April 8. It developed gangrene and septicemia or an infection of the blood and needed immediate amputation.
It is being compared to the police horse Shaktiman that was injured during an alleged attack by a BJP legislator on March 11. His leg was amputated on March 18 and on April 8, it received its permanent leg under expert care.
Read | Dehradun: This injured and abandoned horse is not as lucky as Shaktiman
Dr Kailash Uniyal, veterinary officer, along with three other veterinarians from the department of animal husbandry and two indoor doctors of the shelter home performed the surgery on Monday evening.
“The injury was big. And so it will take at least a month’s time to heal. However, unlike Shaktiman, there’s a positive thing about this horse - it has injury in its foreleg. Generally, the maximum weight of the body rests on hind legs and so we are hopeful that it will be able to stand soon,” Uniyal said.
{{/usCountry}}“The injury was big. And so it will take at least a month’s time to heal. However, unlike Shaktiman, there’s a positive thing about this horse - it has injury in its foreleg. Generally, the maximum weight of the body rests on hind legs and so we are hopeful that it will be able to stand soon,” Uniyal said.
{{/usCountry}}He added that Shaktiman’s weight was about four quintal and that of Rola is 2.25 quintal so it might have an advantage in the future.
Jamie Vaughan, a prosthetic expert from Bhutan’s The Maya Foundation and who is looking after police horse Shaktiman, was also present during the surgery along with Tim Mahoney, a volunteer from the US.
The state veterinary department had volunteered to provide support but said it didn’t have resources like medicines, oscillating cutter, bandages, syringes and other items. Volunteers at Raahat generated Rs 25,000 to make the surgery successful.
“We wanted to save the equine and through contribution from people we know, we managed to get its surgery done,” Pooja Bahukhundi, vice-president Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and founder of Raahat, told Hindustan Times.
The NGO does not have resources to arrange for a temporary prosthetic leg for the horse. Bahukhundi said that dealing with its daily expenses would also be a severe challenge if they are unable to raise more money.
“About Rs 4000 is needed every day for its bandage, medicines and feed. We are trying to seek funds through our contacts and wildlife lovers, but it’s one of our major concerns as we won’t be able to manage for long. Under such circumstances, we want people to come forward and support Rola,” Pankaj Pokhriyal, an activist associated with Raahat, said.
The decision to transfer the animal to Gurgaon-based Donkey Sanctuary post amputation have been dropped considering its condition.