Jo

Jo was transported to Beauty’s Haven on the evening of October 20, 2019.  Time was truly, of the essence, as we did not know how much longer she would have lasted.  Thankfully, her owner did reach out to us to help this precious and very kind, old soul.  At the time, we were unsure if Jo had days, weeks, months, or hopefully, many years left on this earth, but we did know that she would get the very best of care in her sunset years.

Jo’s vetting and bloodwork were performed soon thereafter, and revealed that her kidneys and liver were stressed and she was fighting infection.  She has a heart murmur, severe muscle atrophy, and was about 300 pounds underweight with a Body Condition Score of 1.  She had a poor coat and patches of skin without hair. Her appetite is and always has been fine and she’s drinking and getting her necessary supplements. She’s also being treated for ulcers.

During her first days at the rescue, Jo also received a much-needed bath and spa treatment which she thoroughly enjoyed and she even seemed to hold her head a bit higher afterwards! Her sores were treated and her mane and tail were brushed out.  Jo also had much needed farrier and dental care.

Dr. Bess Darrow, our equine dentist, determined that most of Jo’s issues came about due to the condition of her teeth.  Dr. Bess discovered ulcers in Jo’s cheeks, gums, tongue, and soft palate due to sharp points.  One sharp point put the palatine artery at significant risk of being cut which could have caused Jo to bleed out.  There were large ramps and her front teeth are on a slant due to misalignment which physically obstructed the motion she needed to properly chew.  Because Jo couldn’t chew, it decreased the ability of her digestive system to extract much needed nutrients from any food she did manage to get down. It also put her at risk for choke and colic.  The day after Dr. Bess did Jo’s teeth, it felt wonderful knowing that she could finally use her mouth without the pain and discomfort that she had experienced for quite some time.  Jo actually looked brighter and happier!

Jo continues to progress nicely.  She is truly a very beautiful and wise old soul and we are so very blessed to have her as a member of our beloved little herd.