Quadriplegic Springer Spaniel Learns To Walk
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113 commentsSammi was an active, happy 8 year-old Springer Spaniel who had suddenly become a quadriplegic due to bone growing inside his spinal column, putting pressure on his spinal cord. The dog required intense rehabilitation following surgery because his surgeon was unable to remove the excess bone.
The prognosis for Sammi’s complete recovery was bleak. He could not walk at all, or even hold his little head up. Nobody was sure if he would ever walk again. Full paralysis in pets is, just as with humans, complicated and challenging to treat.
After three months of daily rehabilitation to strengthen his core muscles, including electronic stimulation, electro-acupuncture, assisted standing in the underwater treadmill, and sensory rehabilitation over a therapy ball, Sammi was able to master sitting up from a down position. Treatment was continued to pattern his legs to walk again, while constantly fighting them, as they were stiff and rigid from his neurological condition.
Then one day it finally happened — he took his first steps, and although he could not even stand and balance on his own that day, through continued rehabilitation, patience and sheer determination, he learned to walk again – and never looked back.
See Sammi’s owner’s heartfelt reaction to watching him walk for the first time after months of rehabilitation.
Awesome!
Hi lark!!!!!!! Baxter’s mom here!
I can watch this a million times and a millions times I will cry.
I believe in miricles!
thats beauiful
Shared♥♥♥
Inspiring
LOVE!
reminds me to never give up!!
Lisa, you’re so right! Such a heartwarming story! Now I need a tissue haha
Fantastic!
Dogs are the best. Grace under fire.
So wonderful! ♥
Brings tears to my eyes….I know my boy will never walk again but seeing others make that accomplishment is so wonderful. WTH Sammy!!!
That just might be one of the sweetest stories ever. The videos made me cry. INCREDIBLE!!! Yay Sammi!!!
Yes.. Dogs are the BEST!!! Ditto on the happy tears!
Hard work and Gods Help!
Way to go Sammi!
Just wonderful. Sammi’s a fighter.
OMD – another reminder to never, never, never give up!
YEAH! Go dog Go!
Go Sammi
I love when Sammi shows his mama what he can do again
What a wonderful story! I had a springer for 15 1/2 years and he was the light of my life<3. At the sweet age of 12 , my springer Oscar stared to loose control of his back end…. Doctors told me he would only last 3 months. I took him to the beach every few months after that and he was happy for 3 1/2 more years !!! I feel blessed every day that he was in my life!!!!
<3 <3 <3 !!!!! and more <3 <3 <3
how wonderful!!
Beautiful!!
What a beautiful, beautiful story
Thank you for this. Miracles do happen
beautiful
HAPPY tears!!! Thank you God for you miracles! It shows us that giving up just shouldnt be an option!
wow!! It is a proof that every living being has determination, will to live! And he is one lucky pretty boy!
Miracles DO happen. :’)
Beautiful !! My 12.5 yr old Shepherd /Lab cross who has bad arthritis in his back hips got injured and was paralyzed from his waist back. It took me 3 months of therapy to get him to walk again. In 3 days he’ll be 13!! Never give up
Cried like a baby. Love the stubby tail wagging. If this were my 10 year old spaniel, he would probably be saying “What’s everyone standing around for, throw my tennis ball already!”
absolutely beautiful!
Beautiful <3
OMG
Wonderful. Kudo’s to all the people that help this little dog and others with their rehab.
what a wonderful story!!
Crying my eyes out. Thank you for sharing this!!
I am truly amazed. A wonderful, beautiful story. I wonder if the same treatment would work on a human.
All of us who have had paralyzed dogs can relate to this. I remember when my Merlina stood up and took a step after her disc herniation. I felt like I was witnessing a miracle!
Amazing!
Never give up on true love… Go sammi…
God Bless Sammi.
That’s really amazing!!!Those people care alot about animals to do that and not give up!!
He was lucky to have a well-off owner or good insurance; this must have cost a fortune. Lucky boy, lucky owner!
Awesome!
Brings tears to my eyes. Yeah Sammi!
Such dedication and love! Great job to everyone who helped in this amazing recovery! Very touching video <3
Instant tears! Just took a killer vet school exam on neurophysiology that made me crazy…but this reminds me why it’s worth it!
That was amazing. that dog loves his mom.
Shared
I have two Spaniels (a cocker and a Cavalier mix) and those long ears melt my heart. What an inspirational story. Amazing dog and amazing owner!
What angels the therapists are who were so dedicated and worked so hard to help Sammi!!!!!
Yay go sammy!!!! <3
Miracles and a determination..what a marvelous dog….and love…
That is wonderful.
<3
I loved it.
<3 what a wonderful story.
Amazing story……….
<3
amazing dog, amazing people that work and work with him, amazing mom, to do everything for her beloved pet. Beautiful ending
God is sooo AWESOME!!! I LOVE dogs!!
Wow that made me cry! <3 loved both sammi and her moms reaction. Everyone involved has a spot in heaven waiting for them.
I havent cried this manyhappy tears in awhile…so awesome!
So sweet! -Dogs always blow my mind. Thank goodness they never quit.
OMG if this was my dog I would have collapsed to the ground in shear happiness and shock I am just glad he got a second chance at living and you can tell he is so happy to be alive and that he can walk all the wants to do is play with his mom this makes me just so happy to see that people don’t give up and if there is a will there is hope!
What an awesome video. It was so special to see this dog walk.
Happy tears. :’)
Bless this poor dogs heart and the people willing to invest the time it took to get him back. Our dog went paralized while on a long walk in the woods, some vertabrae in her back broke and shot pieces of bone into the underneath side of her spinal cord. They were able to get to the pieces, but couldn’t say for sure she would ever walk. She was still paralized for a few weeks after surgery, so we just used a towel under her, down by her hind legs like a sling, to help support weight while she walked with her front legs. In a few weeks, her feet started to respond and she tried to hold her own weight. She was walking in no time. She’s still not a 100% but she can walk and run and she’s happy:)
I was a quadriplegic that nobody expected to live and then they decided I would be in a wheelchair long term. I walked within 6 weeks of the life threatening event! Good for Sammi!
I believe in miracles…..do you???
One of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen!
Now that is dedication! God bless those who never give up (human and animal).
Beautiful!
Thank you for sharing this, it is so touching and makes me just love Sammi and everyone involved in his therapy. I’m happy for Sammi:))♥♥
Omg im crying like a baby. Balling. Such a great story.
Tears rollling down when I see Sammi walking again…Tears of happiness!
Sammi you and your family are amazing. Good job for never giving up. You all are amazing.
Absolutely amazing!!
What a wonderful facility and the people who don’t give up on our animals!!!
incredible – yahayyyyyy!
goooose pumps!
What a miracle n a lovely one at that, bought tears running, so happy for the dog n his mum,lovely story with a very happy ending! <3
Amazing!!!!
God bless him I cried watching that. What amazing and dedicated and people that worked to get him to walk. Lovely ending
WoW!!!!!!!!!!!!! Incredibly!
what a beautiful story…
unbelievable…
That made cry with total pleasure to see the live and dedication for this lovely dog. Hope he has a fantastic life with his caring owner. Xxx
I honestly didn’t think he would make it, but he did,what a wonderful mum to never give up, and it was like a miracle xxx
What a reunion!
I had to cry..
My dog, Frederico, had his neck broken and went through a cervical surgery by a vet neurologist. Made a lot of phisiotherapy and used a wheel chair for some time…AND FINALLY WAS BACK TO WALK TOO.
Wow…thats an amazing story and what a beautiful reunion! God bless those therapists that worked with him for so long to help him walk! Never give up!
Wow! This is so incredibly good!
Wow! Amazing is right!
OMG I am crying at my desk! lol Way to go Sammie and his therapists!
<3<3<3<3<3<3<3
<3
That’s a Springer for you!!
) Congratulations to Sammi and all those who worked with him to get him up and moving again! What an accomplishment – wow!
what a truly inspiring and amazing story. thank goodness for all of Sammi’s champions to help him learn to walk again!
i wanna cry when i see this type of stuff