Sefacon™ Dedication |
This page is dedicated to all the horses we did not have a chance to save and one horse specifically:
Jancy Dandy Bar
Jancy was a very special horse. When he was donated to the rescue, he had been afflicted with EPM for at least 3 years. He experienced severe neurological deficit and per the previous owner had been treated with Bute. He was a horse we really thought we had a chance to save because he had the heart to survive the disease for all that time with no treatment. As we analyzed his condition we found that his S. Neurona antibody levels were so high they were off the charts, but he also had a second disease, a specific parasitic infection that had done irreparable damage to his body. He had equilibrium problems, and was constantly injuring himself as he tried to maneuver, he had trouble getting up in the stall when he laid down. One of the additional side affects of this disease is high propensity for mechanical colic. Even though he was a terrible candidate the research team agreed to try. Jancy was treated for the EPM and his antibody levels decreased to a low level. We documented the improvement in his neurological deficit, but that left us with the damage that had been done by the parasitic infection; as he underwent treatment for the parasite problem Jancy became more and more prone to colic. After several treatments for colic he was down and was doing physical damage to himself trying to stand and then collapsing from the lack of coordination. The medical advise received was to euthanize. It is easy to place blame when that decision has to be made for the good of the horse. There are a lot of "ifs" that make it hard to accept a decision like that i.e.: if the horse would have come to us sooner......., if Sefacon™ had been available years ago....., if the horse had not had the parasite problem along with the EPM, if the horse would have received some appropriate treatment when EPM was first suspected, if ....., if..... if.....
What we do know is that he did not have EPM caused by S. Neurona infection when he died. While he was at the rescue Jancy got love, attention, and relief from his suffering. He represents the heart and soul of why Sefacon™ came into being. Horse lovers have seen other horses with hearts like Jancy's suffer as long as we intend to allow it. Jancy's fight with the disease gave us the drive to find a way to repair neurological damage. When undertaken, it seemed as hopeless to everyone as finding a cure for EPM. However, you will see in the link below the achievements made in Jancy's honor. Stem Cell Research
Thank you Endocrine for giving us the tools needed to beat this disease!
EPM Analysis Phase I EPM Analysis Phase II EPM Analysis Phase III
EPM Analysis Phase IV Conclusion Report Owner Testimonials!
For information on obtaining Sefacon™
contact
Endocrine Technologies, Inc or Indiana
Horse Rescue
