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Dog born with Spina bifida

Pet Owner Makes Life Better for Spina Bifida Dogs

Home » Blog » Pet Owner Makes Life Better for Spina Bifida Dogs
October 25, 2021 by Sharon Seltzer
Table of Contents[Hide][Show]
  • Debbie and Mellie's story
  • A wheelchair and an amputation
  • A typical day
  • Facts about Spina bifida dogs
  • Breeds prone to Spina bifida
  • Treatment options
  • Boxers on Wheels
  • Another chapter to the story+−
    • Want to learn more?
Dog born with Spina bifida

You never know when one event will change the direction of your life. That’s what happened to a pet owner when she adopted a Spina bifida dog. Today Debbie Thompson and her boxer Melody (Mellie for short) are on a mission to let world to know that dogs with Spina bifida deserve a good life.

Spina bifida (SB) is a birth defect that prevents the spinal cord from fully closing. It can have a variety of symptoms, depending on how many of the vertebrae are open and exposed, but the most common side effects are incontinence, weak muscles and paralysis in a dog’s hind legs.

If you haven’t heard of Spina bifida in dogs before, you’re not alone. The condition is often hidden from public view because many breeders believe puppies born with SB should be euthanized soon after they’re born.

That’s the fact that transformed Debbie’s life as an animal lover and retired nurse to an advocate for dogs with Spina bifida. It spurred to her start Boxers on Wheels, a group whose motto is, “Mobilize, Don’t Euthanize.” 

Debbie and Mellie’s story

Spina bifida dog

Mellie is one of lucky Spina bifida victims. Soon after she was born her breeder contacted a boxer rescue group in Washington state to see if they would take in a puppy who had little to no use of her rear legs. The group accepted Mellie into their program and thought she would do best in a foster home while they consulted with veterinary specialists.

They turned to Debbie for help because of her experience as a nurse. They knew her medical background would come in handy for Mellie’s care.

When Debbie met the puppy, everyone realized her status as foster parent wouldn’t last long. Debbie took one look at Mellie and fell in love. On January 28, 2018 Mellie became a permanent member of the Thompson family.

Over the next few weeks, Debbie got Mellie settled into her new home. She worked on healing the open wounds Mellie had on her legs from dragging them and she found the right diapers to help with her incontinence.

When the rescue group and Debbie heard back from the specialists, they were told the puppy had two problems. She was born with Spina bifida, but the paralysis in her back legs was due to a neurological disease. The veterinarians concluded there wasn’t a treatment available to improve Mellie’s medical condition. The damage had been done before she was even born. There were no surgeries sophisticated enough to fuse or fix the effected vertebrae.

A wheelchair and an amputation

The news sent Debbie in another direction. She began to search for a dog wheelchair for Mellie. Her goal was to keep her as mobile as possible.

A nonprofit group called Gunnar’s Wheels generously donated a wheelchair, but unfortunately it caused an unforeseen problem. The seat rubbed against the open site of Mellie’s Spina bifida injury and created a lot of pain. Mellie was forced to stop using it.

To compensate for the cart Mellie began to move around by doing a handstand. She lifted her hind end in the air and walked by using her two front paws.

Another boxer with Spina bifida named Dunkin became famous for this walking technique, but Debbie’s medical training told her it could be bad for Mellie’s health in the future. She worried it might damage her bones. Debbie wanted to find a way for Mellie to use her wheelchair, instead.

The concern led to another exam with a veterinary specialist. The vet recommended that Mellie have a double amputation of her rear legs. It would prevent future sores on her limbs and it would enable her to comfortably use the wheelchair. Both the veterinarian and Debbie thought the surgery would improve Mellie’s long-term quality of life.

May 14, 2018, Mellie had bilateral rear leg amputation.

“Mellie doesn’t realize she has no legs,” said Debbie. She is great in her cart and pain-free while using it. Some days she’s in her wheelchair 5-6 hours while we visit children’s hospitals, veteran centers and assisted living facilities. She’s very social and loves meeting new people.”

Debbie Thompson, Boxers On Wheels

Since that time, Debbie invented a specialized wheelchair saddle for pets with amputations. It adds additional comfort and holds their lower torso in place as they move.

Debbie also had a prosthetic made for Mellie which she wears when she isn’t in her cart. The piece fits over the dog’s lower torso and allows her to sit and balance herself like an able-bodied pup.

A typical day

Boxer with Spina bifida wearing a prosthetic
Mellie wearing her prosthesis.

Debbie explained that her family doesn’t focus on what Mellie can and can’t do. Instead, they start each morning with a potty break and dressing Mellie in her diaper and suspenders. Then the boxer is off and running. She loves to play with the family’s Shar Pei and three Standard Schnauzers who live on the property.

Debbie and her husband David take the dog on all sorts of daily errands. The couple live in a small town and Mellie is welcome wherever they go. Then in the evening Mellie and her family have playtime.

Life is pretty normal.

Facts about Spina bifida dogs

Spina bifida is called an inherited disease because it happens in the womb before a dog is born. It causes one or more of the vertebrae in the lower half of the spine to only partially fuse together. This prevents the spinal column from closing over the spinal cord. Dogs with the condition have part or all of the affected vertebrae open and exposed.

The cause of SB isn’t completely understood, but researchers think there’s a strong genetic component linked to malnutrition in the mother dog during pregnancy.

Other risk factors that might play a role are: being exposed to environmental toxins during pregnancy and undue stress.

Puppies born with SB have problems walking, controlling their muscles and are usually incontinent. They can also have drainage from their spine. The good news is the condition doesn’t get worse over time.

Breeds prone to Spina bifida

English bulldogs are the number one breed effected by Spina bifidia
English bulldogs are the number one breed prone to Spina bifida.

SB is seen in dogs and cats. A variety of dog breeds appear to be prone but the condition is most commonly seen in English bulldogs. Other breeds such as: French bulldogs and Boxers are also at-risk.

Treatment options

There are very few treatments available for Spina bifida. Unfortunately, it appears that once the damage is done to the spine, repairs are not reversible.

That said, several years ago researchers at UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, were successful in treating a pair of English bulldog puppies with a combination of surgery and stem cells. And today mild cases of SB are treated with surgery to close the open portion of the spinal cord.

Boxers on Wheels

Mellie the boxer born with Spina bifida birth defect
Mellie and her pet mom founded Boxers on Wheels.

Because many breeders routinely euthanize SB puppies, Boxers on Wheels serves as an advocate for dogs. They educate people to mobilize a dog, rather than euthanize them. The group teaches pet owners about dog wheelchairs and Debbie’s special wheelchair saddle for pets with amputations.

They also explain how a few simple changes to a home can accommodate the needs of a SB dog. Debbie recommends purchasing a ramp so your dog can join you on the couch. And she suggests using a support harness for easy lifting.

Mellie and I are showing how good life can be for these dogs by our example.”

Debbie Thompson

Over the years Mellie has become a therapy dog. Together she and Debbie demonstrate that disabled Spina bifida dogs deserve a great life by visiting hospitals, senior centers and community events.

Another chapter to the story

Nala the double amputee Boxer
Nala joined the Boxers on Wheels family in June, 2022.

On 5/21/22, at the age of 5, Melody passed away from kidney failure. The position of the Spina bifida on her spine started to affect her bladder and kidney. She went into renal failure and passed away.

Debbie posted the news and vowed to continue the work she and Mellie had started with Boxers on Wheels. Her goal was to continue to help dogs with Spina bifida and double amputees.

But, as the saying from John Lennon goes, “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans”, a surprise set of circumstances took Debbie on another path.

She heard about another Boxer named Nala, a puppy who lost both of her hind legs after breaking her back. Nala was living with a foster family in Kentucky.

Debbie arranged to meet the puppy in South Dakota. She traveled from her home in Washington state and Nala’s foster family drove from Kentucky.

On June 15, 2022 Debbie and her husband David adopted Nala. Together the family will continue to help disabled dogs.

Debbie says her new pup is full of surprises and the complete opposite of Melody.

Mellie was a princess; Nala is a tomboy. She loves to travel, which is great for us as we’re on the road again.”

Debbie Thompson

Nala turns 2-years-old in December. She will be fitted for a prosthetic, just like Mellie, in early January. We wish the Thompson family many happy and healthy years together.

Want to learn more?

7 Of The Most Common Spinal Cord Problems In Dogs

9 Physical Therapy Exercises To Do At Home With Your Dog

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About Sharon Seltzer

I’m a blogger, professional writer and co-founder of the Heaven Can Wait Animal Society. I’m also a pet mom who’s raised 9 dogs, 6 cats and lots of other critters. When my dog Sophie became paralyzed in 2008, it was a lonely experience. It took months to find all of the resources to help her live a quality life. My mission is to share those services with other pet owners and to teach people how to care for a disabled dog.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Chrissy Elliott

    December 15, 2021 at 2:03 am

    I have Searched the internet for almost a year looking for help, support and ideas…. I ran across this page and I’m in tears, I a 13-month-old Spina Bifida Tibetan Mastiff named Castor. He was My “free” dog from the breeder. I Love this dog more than he knows, I am a dog Groomer and own my own grooming shops, so he goes with me every day! I keep him shaved as a lion and that helps with keeping him clean however I’m struggling to keep him from getting urine scald, I need help with ideas on what I can use to keep him from getting it so often. I can’t express how relieved I am that I have a place to refer to. I’m located in Iowa.

    Reply
    • Sharon Seltzer

      December 15, 2021 at 6:43 pm

      Hi Chrissy, I’m sorry to hear about your dog, but I’m thrilled that you found my site. Helping pet owners like yourself, is the reason I started my blog. In addition to the story I have about Mellie, I have another post about urine scald. Here’s the link: https://dogwheelchairlife.com/why-urine-scald-in-a-paralyzed-dog-is-a-big-problem/
      The article will give you tips to prevent the problem. That said, the best thing you can do is to manually express Castor’s bladder and limit the use of diapers. Diapers trap moisture and manual expressing will help you empty his bladder fully. It also talks about barrier creams and supplements. The story gives you all the tips. You might also want to read about how to prevent urinary tract infections. https://dogwheelchairlife.com/three-key-elements-to-stop-dog-urinary-tract-infections/ AND Manually expressing: https://dogwheelchairlife.com/learning-how-to-express-your-dogs-bladder/ You are an angel for adopting Castor. Please let me know if you have other questions. – Sharon

      Reply

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DogWheelchairLife.com is a blog that teaches pet families how to care for their paralyzed dog. As the owner, I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and the Amazon Influencer Program. These are affiliate programs designed for sites to earn advertising fees (commissions) by linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate and Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases. For more details, visit the Affiliate Disclosure page

We Are A Resource for Pet Owners

Dog Wheelchair LIFE teaches pet families how to care for their paralyzed dog. This is not a medical site and I am not a veterinarian. I am a blogger and pet mom who was the caretaker for Sophie, a paraplegic dog. I’m also a co-founder of the Heaven Can Wait Animal Society in Las Vegas, NV and an animal writer who has contributed to websites and magazines.

The information shared on this site is based on my personal experience and the research I do for each story. Please do not use the content from this blog in place of professional veterinary care.

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