We are used to sirens from ambulances taking patients to hospitals. Most of the time, these people require emergency or critical care, which if delayed would result in fatalities. Now we have an animal ambulance, which assists with rescuing and transporting injured and sick animals to receive emergency veterinary care.
Five years ago, an animal ambulance hit the Kenyan roads leaving motorists confused about whether to give way or not.
Dr Gabriel Ouma of Small Five Veterinary Hospital located in Rongai, Kajiado County, owns this kind of ambulance. He said, “We serve the people of Kajiado, Nairobi, and the whole republic with this sophisticated gadget.”
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The ambulance is one of two ambulances in the country, which are owned by the hospital. It is fully equipped with oxygen, emergency drugs, surgical equipment, and state-of-the-art communication devices. This is to make sure animals are saved on time, allowing full recovery and ensuring that the families who own these animals are relaxed.
“Thank God we have supportive clients who delight in the top-notch services we offer to them and their animals. The cohesive partnership between our clients, Toyota Kenya, and our bank helped us raise enough funds to acquire the two animal ambulances that we currently have. They are expensive vehicles,” said Dr Ouma.
Since acquiring the ambulances, the Small Five Veterinary Hospital has been able to save over 10,000 animals’ lives. The animals rescued include horses, cats, dogs, cows, goats, sheep, camels, and wildlife. It has also made work easier for the animal hospitals and are now able to see many clients in a short time, considering the crazy traffic in Nairobi.
Dr Ouma advises Kenyans not to block animal ambulances, saying any ambulance is an ambulance. Animals have rights too. Very soon you are going to see more animal ambulances within your vicinity, he says.
Some of the cases that require emergency ambulance services in animals are colic in horses. Horses with colic have a two-hour survival window. In dogs: snake bites, choking and difficulty in breathing, severe bleeding, seizures, injury to eyes, among others call for immediate treatment.
In cows, difficulties when giving birth, milk fever, bloating, among others, require emergency treatment.
In the defence forces, there are sophisticated, expensive, and highly trained animals such as dogs that the government has used millions of shillings to train. These are used as bomb detectors and anti-narcotics by Kenya Wildlife Service, Kenya Prisons, Kenya Police, and Kenya Revenue Authority – the customs. All these animals sometimes require emergency treatment and would be in grave danger if they are not attended to in an hour. The hospital works hand in hand with veterinarians in these departments.
With over 54 animal hospitals in Nairobi and its vicinity, Dr Ouma forecasts a rise in fully branded animal ambulances in the near future due to a rise in demand. This will ultimately improve the accessibility and availability of animal health in the country.
Animal ambulances observe traffic rules, ensuring the public is not disenfranchised by their services, says the doctor.
