A PARALYSED dog defied the odds and is now wagging his tail with delight while out on walkies.
Cooper, a five year old Staffie, was left unable to walk, stand or even wag his tail after slipped a disc on his backbone.
Owner Michelle Gilroy, from Solihull, took her beloved dog to Willows Veterinary Centre and Referral Service in Shirley where he underwent surgery and physiotherapy.
Willows’ neurologist Robert Clark performed delicate back surgery to relieve the acute pressure on his spinal cord, which was being caused by a herniated disc.
There was still no guarantee Cooper would walk again, though, with Robert revealing just how serious the Staffie cross’s condition was.
He said: “Cooper’s owners first became aware something was wrong when he yelped in pain one day as he lay down on the sofa.
“A full neurological examination and an MRI scan showed he had an intervertebral disc extrusion which was so severe there was a less than 50 per cent chance he’d recover.”
The operation went well but Cooper then faced a five-month fight to recover and regain his mobility under the care of Willows’ specialist in anaesthesia and analgesia, Jacques Ferreira, and veterinary physiotherapist Emma Box.
Emma said around three weeks after his operation Cooper first wagged his tale and then slowly but surely his started to move his paws.
It was five months after his accident Cooper took his first unaided steps and he continues to grow in strength.
Michelle said: “The result is that Cooper’s happy again and loving his life.
“It’s been a long, slow road but all the moments along the way, when he wagged his tail again, learned to stand, sit and even now taking steps on his own, wouldn’t have been possible without Willows.”
