We mentioned earlier this week that we had wanted to give Phabeni a second blood transfusion after discovering his white cell count was very low, and to give him a boost of healthy blood from big bull, Mambo. We went ahead with this once the weather was cooler and are sharing the procedure in this new video. Phabeni is currently doing much better following this blood transfusion, the extra drips, and with added fruit to his diet.
We gave him three bags with 500ml of blood from Mambo, as well as drips with vitamins, including vitamin B12 to rehydrate him and replenish his levels. Phabeni was very weak at the beginning of the weak, with such low energy that he could not join the herd out in the bush. We kept him home while he recovered.
Adine picked up this week that the wound on Phabeni's hip has acted up again as it became hot. So during the blood transfusion procedure, Dr Rogers attended to the wound. He opened it and found pus, which was cleaned out. He applied an antibiotic ointment to it. From previous Xrays we took of Phabeni's hip, we can tell them a piece of bone in the hip area fractured off, likely from the dart that was used to tranquilise the little bull during his rescue. We are organising sonar equipment to assist us in getting a better look at the bone now so that we can proceed in removing it so that it doesn't cause further trouble. We importantly need to prevent the bone from getting infected.
Dr Rogers gave Phabeni a broad-spectrum, long-working antibiotic to assist with the infection in the wound, and later this week followed this up with another antibiotic.
Phabeni drank two full milk bottles after the blood transfusion, thanks to the sedation medication that boosts appetite.
This procedure is going a long way in helping to get Phabeni back to usual strength! Thank you for your concern for him, and your continued compassion for the elephants.
Негізгі бет Үй жануарлары мен аңдар A Second Blood Transfusion for Baby Elephant, Phabeni
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