Allow me to introduce Tipsy! She came into this world as a small and helpless creature, left to fend for herself without the nurturing care of a mother. Fortunately, one of the members from PowShow’s rescue team stumbled across her one day when she was lying on the ground, weak and close to death. Thanks to their kindness and dedication, Tipsy has been able to grow up healthy and strong. It was only after two weeks that she finally took her first steps. However, little did they know that she had a congenital spinal condition that they didn’t notice at the time.

At just over 3 weeks old, this little one was already showing signs of growth and development. Despite being a bit young for weaning, she was eager to experiment with some solid, meaty foods.

Regrettably, at this point, we realized that something was amiss. Up until then, she had been moving around effortlessly, but suddenly she was unable to walk like before. Often, she resorted to dragging or scooting her hind legs along. Despite this, she could still feel pain and had a wee bit of control over her legs.

We didn’t waste any time and immediately began performing passive range of motion exercises coupled with physical therapy while we searched for an appointment with a neurologist. Following radiographs, it was discovered that she had experienced some form of spinal fracture/luxation. The concerned area in her T spine showed a loss of vertebral bodies as well as bone density even in the initial X-rays.

We didn’t see any incident that could have caused the fracture or dislocation, and our dog didn’t show any signs of pain. The neurologist believed that it was a genetic abnormality and that it could have happened without any major trauma. We made sure to continue with her physical therapy, and she was getting better. Our pup is incredibly determined, and nothing can hold her back! At just seven weeks old, her foster family can hardly believe how far she’s come. She can now walk and even run a bit.

Yesterday, my tiny angel received her first acupuncture treatment and dozed off into a peaceful slumber for around 3-4 hours post the session. Although she managed the treatment quite well, towards the end, she grew a bit restless and anxious. At just 9 weeks old, she’s soon to have her own wheelchair. However, her foster noticed that when anything is wrapped around her chest, she feels restricted and finds it challenging to move around in her wheelchair. But with some practice, she’s gradually adapting to her new mode of mobility.

For 16 weeks, Tipsy has been having a blast in her wheelchair. She can zoom around the field and have fun playing with other dogs, who also love to play with her.

After 20 weeks, she has continued to grow and her happiness remains unmatched by anyone in the world.

B