Cherished two-year-old ChiPooPom Bear is back on all paws after undergoing lifechanging spinal surgery at North Downs Specialist Referrals in Bletchingley.
Paralysed Therapy Dog Bear Roars Back To Fitness After Intricate Spinal Surgery At Surrey Vets
A paralysed therapy dog called Bear has roared back to fitness after spinal surgery at one of the UK’s leading veterinary hospitals.
The two-year-old ChiPooPom (Chihuahua Poodle Pomeranian crossbreed) successfully underwent the life-changing operation at Linnaeus-owned North Downs Specialist Referrals (NDSR) in Bletchingley, Surrey.
Relieved and grateful owner Clare Ware, from Epsom, Surrey, admitted she was “absolutely devastated” when Bear was suddenly left paralysed but is full of praise for the caring NDSR team for getting her precious pet back on all four paws.
Clare said: “I had noticed something was wrong the day before Bear became paralysed. We were playing fetch but he just didn’t want to chase the ball.
“This was highly unusual as Bear is ball-obsessed and can even play football using his paws. He seemed quieter than normal, too, so I took him home and he just wanted to snuggle up with me and sleep.
“As we went to bed he couldn’t jump up, so I helped him but when I put him down on the floor the next morning I was absolutely devastated to see that he couldn’t move. He just sat there and looked very poorly. I was so worried.
“The vets told me a large piece of disc had lodged into his spinal cord and everything below that point was paralysed.
“I was completely floored, utterly shocked and beyond heartbroken. There are no words to describe my feelings. I was utterly broken.”
Now, both Clare and her therapy pet Bear are back on the up again thanks to the expertise and experience of the expert NDSR team.
NDSR’S neurology clinician Christophe Dupont took charge of Bear’s treatment and led the intricate surgery to repair the young dog’s damaged disc.
Christophe described Bear’s problem and the resulting operation, saying: “Bear came in with paraplegia and a painful slipped disc. It was important that we acted quickly.
“We surgically removed all of the displaced spinal disc material to take the pressure off his spinal cord. Surgery went well but we were very worried during his recovery because you never know how complete the recovery of nerve function will be.”
Clare added: “I am so grateful to Christophe and North Downs. Bear is my therapy dog and literally saved my life in 2015 after I suffered a breakdown and gave up on life.
“I live with debilitating depression and anxiety but since I was given Bear by my best friend we are living our best lives together.
“We are inseparable and I would be lost without him. He’s a very special little boy to me and even has his own Instagram and TikTok pages @tinybeartales!
“Bear and I are also volunteers at Epsom RDA (Riding for the Disabled) and he is very gentle with the disabled riders who absolutely adore him.
“That’s why I’m so proud of him since his operation. He amazes me every day with his resilience.
“He’s still wobbling about at times but he’s getting stronger and stronger each day. I have North Downs to thank for that. Everyone was absolutely wonderful.
“Christophe was kind, but very honest about his chances so I was never blindsided. I knew it would be touch and go whether Bear would recover.
“It was very worrying but I was called each evening by the nursing team with updates. They also sent me a photo of him the day after his surgery to reassure me.
“I was even taught how to express his bladder and they were very patient as I gathered myself and tried not to break down in tears. On the day he was going home, they even bathed him and clipped his nails.
“The whole team went above and beyond and are extremely talented and clearly care immensely for their patients.”
NDSR offers specialist-led services in anaesthesia and analgesia, cardiology, dentistry, dermatology, diagnostic imaging, internal medicine, neurology, oncology, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, soft tissue surgery and spinal surgery.
For more information, visit https://www.ndsr.co.uk/home or search for North Downs Specialist Referrals on social media.
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