Vets saved a sick donkey by swallowing 24 liters of cola

British veterinarians used the famous soda to open the stomach of a seriously ill donkey.

A donkey sanctuary has been restored in Sidmouth in the south of England. Joey, one of its residents, survived a severe stomach obstruction thanks to a very original remedy, the BBC reported on Friday 2 February.

According to the shelter’s website, the 15-year-old donkey stopped eating after her mother Josie died last November. He then developed “gastric impaction”, which is characterized by the concentration of solids in the animal’s stomach.

To dissolve the mass, the vets gave him six liters of sugar cola per day for four days, through a tube placed in his nose and connected directly to his stomach.

“Like a drain cleaner”

“Basically, cola works like a drain cleaner. It eats away at the tough material and softens it until it eventually passes through,” said veterinary surgeon Jamie Forrest.

According to experts, the sugar in soda also helps provide calories needed to prevent damage to the animal’s liver and kidneys.

The sanctuary warns, however: “Cola should never be given to a healthy donkey without being administered by a qualified veterinarian.”

“Today, Joey has regained his joy in living,” says the horse shelter. The donkey, who had isolated himself from the rest of the group since his mother’s death, reunited with his companions and even made “a new friend”.

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