Help Us, Help Jude MRI & Spinal Tap Fundraiser

In mid October, our rescue family was contacted in regards to an American Bulldog puppy that supposedly has Swimmers on a rehoming site. The young woman found this poor little nugget struggling to walk in an alley in Detroit. We immediately reached out to the finder and she kindly agreed to surrender her over to rescue so that a legal stay hold could be completed, as well as seek the proper medical attention.

Upon intake, this beautiful baby girl completely stole our hearts. Within seconds, you could tell that there was definitely something medically wrong neurological. After a few minutes of assessing her we realized that it wasn't swimmers, but appeared to be Cerebellum Hypoplasia- also known as CH. Everyone say hello to the cutest little nugget that you'll ever meet... Baby #Jude.

You're probably wondering what CH is? CH occurs when something negatively impacts the development of the cerebellum while a puppy is in utero (before birth, still inside the mother). Cerebellar hypoplasia can be caused by intrinsic factors due to genetic mutations or can also be caused by extrinsic factors. Poor nutrition of the mother dog and infectious diseases, including (but not limited to) canine herpes virus, canine distemper, fungal diseases, tick-borne diseases, and accidental migration of intestinal parasites into the brain have all been associated with cerebellar hypoplasia in dogs. Exposure to toxins and brain injury or trauma can also cause abnormal underdevelopment of the cerebellum. CH triggers neurological issues and slows down their motor skills such as high stepping, head bobbing, and general clumsiness are symptoms.

While there is no cure or treatment for this condition, as a puppy grows-up they will likely learn to compensate for their condition and go on to live a long, happy, and pain free life. Pets with Cerebellar Hypoplasia can often benefit from the use of a dog wheelchair to help support them and keep them mobile. Poor coordination means these dogs may require additional attention, but they can be very happy, loving companions.

That being said, last week our rescue family consulted with Dogwood a neurological specialist for Jude's care. They agreed that Jude has CH and she will be going in for an MRI and a Spinal Tap on December 22nd. Unfortunately they do not take call in donations.

Want to Help Us, #HelpJude? Here are the ways that you can donate:

Venmo:  LendingAHelpingPaw

PayPal: [email redacted]

GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/9e3ea47c

Attached is a picture of Jude's Estimate for her MRI & Spinal Tap at Dogwood.

Thank you in advance as always for all of the love and support. We promise to keep everyone updated on Jude's progress.

Love,

Jude & The Help Us, Help Them Dog Rescue Family