Andhra Pradesh: Horse donated to TTD ‘goshala’ dies of chronic illness

A nine-year-old horse donated to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams' Sri Venkateswara Goshala died despite intensive veterinary care. Preliminary findings indicated chronic liver, heart and kidney ailments, while authorities await the final post-mortem report to confirm the exact cause of death

Tirupati: A nine-year-old male horse, recently donated to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams’ (TTD) Sri Venkateswara Gosamrakshana Shala, died despite medical treatment.

The horse was placed under quarantine immediately upon its arrival at the goshala on July 13, and blood and dung samples were sent to the State Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in Tirupati.

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“Despite all medical efforts and continuous monitoring by veterinary doctors, the nine-year-old horse died on Saturday,” said SV Goshala Director AVN Sivakumar in an official press release from the temple body late on Saturday.

Preliminary tests indicated that the animal was suffering from chronic liver and kidney ailments, he said.

From day one, the horse showed signs of illness, including poor food and water intake, frequent sitting, rolling and difficulty in standing, he said, adding that veterinary doctors closely monitored the animal and provided necessary treatment and special care based on expert advice.

The donor, Vadivelu Mugandhan of Madurai, had visited the SV Goshala on Saturday and was present when the horse died, it added.

Sivakumar said a post-mortem examination was conducted to ascertain the exact cause of death, and necessary samples had been sent for detailed laboratory analysis.

A team of veterinary experts from Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University conducted the post-mortem.

Preliminary findings revealed that the horse had been suffering from chronic liver, heart and kidney diseases, while the exact cause of death would be confirmed after the final post-mortem laboratory report is received, said the press release.

Following the post-mortem, the horse was buried scientifically as per the prescribed procedure, it added.

TTD is the official custodian of the Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati, considered the richest Hindu shrine in the world.