Sophie’s Comeback: Purdue Veterinary Specialists Help a Lame Dog Walk Again

A black dog named Sophie is sitting on a brown couch

Today our series of articles about animals and their owners who’ve found help and healing at the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital continues as we share Sophie’s story. This is just one of the heartwarming tributes provided by hospital clients to highlight the vital care and treatment their animal companions received from the hospital’s teams of clinicians, veterinary nurses, staff and students.

Veterinarians in the Neurology and Neurosurgery Service at the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital gave a paralyzed dog named Sophie a second chance to walk after an Easter morning emergency two years ago.

Sophie’s owner, Cody White, awoke that holiday to find his dog dragging her hind legs across the floor. He drove Sophie straight to the hospital’s 24 hour emergency room, where specialists diagnosed a spinal disc injury that was compressing her spinal cord.

Surgeons recommended immediate spinal surgery, explaining that Sophie had about a 50 percent chance of regaining the use of her back legs. White agreed, and the neurology team operated the same day.
Recovery was slow. Sophie showed no movement in her lower body for nearly two months. With daily rehabilitation and follow-up visits at Purdue, she progressed from standing with assistance to now happily walking unassisted.

“Purdue was there to help with any question I had and truly cared about her well-being,” White said. “I got my fur friend back thanks to Purdue and will always recommend the Purdue Veterinary Hospital to anybody with serious concerns about their animals. Boiler up.”

Today Sophie enjoys walks, play sessions with other dogs, and yard time with White, who praises the hospital’s neuro team for her comeback.

Writer(s): Mackenzie Martin | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Recent Stories

“Paws Up” – brought to you by the PVM Wellness Committee

Today we are highlighting Michelle Schmierer, a technologist in the Clinical Pathology Laboratory who makes intentional efforts to share her kindness with those with whom she works.

PVM Symposium Provides Veterinary Technicians/Technologists Opportunity to Enhance Knowledge and Skills

A day set-aside for veterinary technicians and technologists to gather for learning, sharing, and growing is coming Sunday, March 8, when the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine hosts its annual Veterinary Technology Symposium at Lynn Hall. Registration is open for the program that will give veterinary technology students, veterinary assistants and veterinary technology professionals the opportunity to increase their professional knowledge and skills through both small and large animal educational sessions.

Elegant Evening in Indianapolis Spotlights ADDL’s Importance to Poultry Industry

It’s called “An Evening Under the Stars with the Indiana State Poultry Association” because the yearly event is a celebration of the poultry industry that’s held in downtown Indianapolis at the iconic Indiana Roof Ballroom. Purdue Veterinary Medicine was a Silver sponsor for this year’s January 20 event, which attracted a record turnout and provided an important opportunity for Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (ADDL) representatives to showcase ADDL services and the laboratory’s important role in supporting the state’s poultry industry.

Purdue Veterinary Medicine Contributes to Purdue’s Top Seven National Ranking for U.S. Patents Received

An innovation to detect heart rate, respiration and oxygen saturation. An adenoviral vector system for gene delivery. A protein-based adhesive. These are among the 172 innovations created by Purdue University researchers for which the Purdue Research Foundation (PRF) received patents in the 2025 calendar year from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, reflecting Purdue’s status as a global leader in protecting and promoting intellectual property.

New Staff Members Join Department of Comparative Pathobiology

Two administrative assistants, Heather Fell and Amanda Scheurich, recently joined the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Comparative Pathobiology (CPB).

Dr. Darryl Ragland Named as Purdue Veterinary Medicine Extension Director

Purdue Professor of Food Animal Production Medicine Darryl Ragland has been selected as the director of extension for the College of Veterinary Medicine. In that role, he will oversee the activities of the college’s extension service, which shares practical applications of Purdue research with livestock producers in Indiana and around the world, and enables Hoosier farmers to raise animals using healthy and sustainable livestock production practices.

Purdue Veterinary Alumnus Jeffrey Harker Receives Indiana Pork Award for Meritorious Service

Indiana Pork recently presented awards to individuals who have dedicated time to advancing the swine industry and one of the recipients is well known to Purdue alumni for his career as a swine practitioner. Dr. Jeffrey Harker of Frankfort, Indiana, received the Indiana Pork Industry Meritorious Service Award.

“Paws Up” – brought to you by the PVM Wellness Committee

Today we are happy to highlight Dr. Camilla Jamieson, clinical assistant professor of large animal emergency and critical care.

Strong turnout for Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s Equine Wellness Forum Demonstrates Value of Equine Health Education

The 2025 Equine Wellness Forum attracted an enthusiastic audience that included additional attendees who participated virtually. The day-long continuing education event hosted by the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine on Saturday, February 8, highlighted the value of the equine health education provided by the college to equine enthusiasts.