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

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