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Throughout South America, working equids (horses, donkeys and mules) are essential for transporting people, produce, fuel and water in rural communities. Colombia has an estimated 1.5 million working equids and is ranked 16th in the world for income inequality by Gini index (World Bank, 2017). Many working equid owners live in conditions of poverty, and diseases such as colic not only impact animal welfare, but also the livelihoods of their owners. Lack of education and experience with colic means early signs are not recognized. Limited financial resources and lack of access to veterinary care can lead to ineffective or inappropriate colic treatments. To address these issues, researchers will co-develop new educational resources and workshops for equid owners living in underserved communities in Colombia. Training materials will focus on risk factors, clinical signs and treatment of colic. Educational materials will be easily transferable to other Spanish-speaking countries throughout Latin America. Researchers hope this new resource will help prevent and reduce the risk of colic for working equids in the region and be a win-win for animals and their owners.

Study ID
D22EQ-027
Study Status
Active
Start Date
06/01/2022
Grant amount awarded
$70,682
Grant recipient
University of Nottingham
Study country
United Kingdom
Investigator
John H Burford, MA VetMB PhD
Study category
Gastroenterology (Liver, Stomach, Intestinal Tract)