López CA, Villalba M, Aluja AA

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Page: 51-54
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The International Donkey Protection Trust, the International League for the Protection of Horses and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences of the National Autonomous University of Mexico are operating an extension service in order to assist poor peasants in the care of their equids. Two ambulatory clinics work every day of the week in one of the following states of the Republic of Mexico: Mexico, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala, Puebla, Guerrero and the Federal District, where they give medical and surgical care to donkeys, miiles and horses in villages, markets and small farms. During the months of May 1991 to June of 1992 a total of 14,395 animals (6,000 donkeys, 2,800 mulesand 5,595 horses) from 7,422 owners were assisted. The veterinarians in charge give informal lectures to peasants, cliildren and students of Veterinary Medicine on the adequate care of their animals. Students of the states of Tlaxcala and Puebla have enthusiastically collaborated. Table 1 shows that the great majority of pathological conditions treated are those which affect the locomotor system and the skin. Most are due to, either ignorance, or negligente of the owners, as they do not give proper hoofcare to the animals and do not use correct loading or harnessing methods. Every Monday the teams go to the animal market of San Bernabe, where they help the badly injured animals. Some small progress is being made there, as owners do allow the very exahusted and injured animals to be euthanized - butmuch has still to be achieved. In the Federal District (Mexico City) and surroundings the equids that work in Cd. Netzahualcoyotl are looked after. In this locality the animals are mainly iised for pulling garbage carts ti the nearby dump. The programme is receivingvaluable assistance from the departments of Parasitology, Bacteriology and Pathology of the School of Veterinary Medicine. Many pharmaceutical companies have donated medicines, for which we are most grateful.