Jude

(2-20) Jude in holding before coming to SWFHR.
Gallery
View all of Jude's images.
Click Here
Previous slide
Next slide

Current Status of Jude

Jude in March of 2021 was humanely euthanized to prevent imminent, inevitable, and immobilizing pain associated with degeneration in his front left leg.  A condition generically called “coon-foot” and if science hasn’t changed the name of this condition, its scientifically called “bla bla bla” also known as DSLD.  Jude is SWFHR’s 3rd case of euthanization based on this condition.

The joint structures in his front left leg, weakened by genetic degeneration and compromised by human overuse, finally gave way to bouts of immobility leading to constant immobility.  If not intervened while Jude still had the capability to stand.   Misery and inability to move were inevitable.  

Social Links for Jude

See more of Jude on social media through:

#swfhrjude

Jude's Details

rESCUE tYPE

Dissolution

Dissolving organizations or institutions for either criminal or non-criminal reasons have to distribute the equines they have.

Herd Hierarchy

Alpha

dominance hierarchy is colloquially called a pecking order where the top level, known as Alpha, is the leader.

Chronic Conditions

DEGENERATIVE SUSPENSORY LIGAMENT DESMITIS

Degenerative suspensory ligament desmitis (DSLD) is a disease that affects the connective tissue of the lower limbs in Peruvian Pasos, Paso crosses, Arabians, Saddlebreds, Quarter Horses, and Thoroughbreds. Signs of DSLD include:

  • Heat and swelling in suspensory branches or fetlock area, typically bilateral hindlimbs, but may be in all four limbs (figure 1)
  • Pain on palpation of suspensory ligament and/or flexor tendons
  • Varying degrees of lameness
  • Stumbling and tripping
  • Digging holes and standing with toes pointing toward hole
  • Pasterns may appear horizontal during weight bearing as disease progresses
  • Hindlimb conformation may change to post legged stance (figure 2)
  • Change in gait such as weight shifting, landing toe first, or stiff robot like movement
  • Lying down frequently and not wanting to rise (sometimes misinterpreted as colic)
  • Instability in gait or when standing that can be misdiagnosed as neurologic disease

 

 DSLD_figure_1.jpg                                         DSLD_figure_2.gif
 figure 1  figure 2

Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis

Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM) is a master of disguise. This serious disease can be difficult to diagnose because its signs often mimic other health problems in the horse and signs can range from mild to severe.

More than 50 percent of all horses in the United States may have been exposed to the organism that causes EPM. The causative organism is a protozoal parasite called Sarcocystis neurona. The disease is not transmitted from horse to horse. Rather, the protozoa are spread by the definitive host, the opossum, which acquires the organism from cats, raccoons, skunks, and armadillos and possibly even from harbor seals and sea otters. The infective stage of the organism (the sporocysts) is passed in the opossum’s feces. The horse comes into contact with the infective sporocysts while grazing or eating contaminated feed or drinking water.

Once ingested, the sporocysts migrate from the intestinal tract into the bloodstream and cross the blood/brain barrier. There they begin to attack the horse’s central nervous system. The onset of the disease may be slow or sudden. If left undiagnosed and untreated, EPM can cause devastating and lasting neurological damage.


SOURCE

Restrictions

Pasture bound / Not Rideable

Horses identified as having ailments & injuries or considerable age that would preclude them from riding anymore.   Being adopted with any thought of, even the slightest, pasture riding in some cases may be quite devastating.  We inform all potential adopters, over and over of the severity of each horse’s issues, in the hopes that average adopters with not have much consideration to ignore the issues at hand.

This doesn’t mean these horses can not be adopted but the scrutiny for adoption will be high in order to ensure that the adopter is highly aware of the considerable factors at hand.

Jude is available for:

ADOPTION

Can you adopt Jude & give the best possible life to live?
Adopt Jude Total Adoption Fee = $1050.00
  • Rehabilitation Fee ($350)

    * All equines start with a base adoption fee at a rate of $350. No mater big or small, old or young, papered or not, etc. $350 is but a small amount in the grand schema of owning an equine. We believe no one horse is better than the next.

  • Trained Fee ($700)
Ridable

SPONSORSHIP

Give from your heart regularly for the care of Jude.
Sponsor Jude Sponsorship options vary
  • General - (Full) Sponsor $300/mo +
  • General - (Half) Sponsor $150/mo +
  • General - (Partial) Sponsor $25/mo +
  • General - (Flex) Sponsor $you name it
SANCTUARY

The Story of Jude

Jude also is known as “Andy” (at the time of rescue) was one of a few horses that remained from the shut down of a horse rescue on the east coast of Florida. 20+ other horses had been rehomed already except Jude and 2 other horses.   

Jude's Timeline

  • 02/20/2020

    Jude arrived at SWFHR. Initial intake eval was performed and then taken to quarantine.
  • 03/02/2020

    Partnered with Nash not strongly bonded (Beta position)
  • 03/19/2020

    Moved and partnered with Promise instant bond between the to. (Alpha position)
  • 05/10/2020

    First indicators of erratic movement neurologically involved.
  • 05/14/2020

    Officially diagnosed with EPM
  • 02/28/2021

    Jude euthanized as the degenerative disease had finally come to a head with immobility in his front left leg.
Contact Us

We're not around right now. But you can send us an email and we'll get back to you, asap.

Not readable? Change text.