A Channel Nine journalist shared a touching account of her beloved French bulldog’s medical trauma after he was tragically misdiagnosed by a vet.
Alice Pooley, a television reporter from Perth, described to 9Honey the heartbreak she endured when her five-year-old dog Raul was paralysed in his rear half.
According to Alice, a vet told her and her husband that Raul was suffering from symptoms of gastro when, in reality, his ailment was much worse.
Alice Pooley says her beloved French bulldog Raul (pictured) was misdiagnosed with gastro when he had a slipped disc
The Channel Nine news reporter opened up about the stressful period when her beloved dog was sick
‘He actually had a slipped disc in his back. This led to the missing of a crucial time-frame during which he could have been successfully operated on,’ Alice explained.
‘By the time we received a proper diagnosis we were told there was a 10 percent chance he’d never walk again.’
Two years later and after surgery, the adorable pooch is walking with the assistance of a wheelchair.
Alice says her bulldog ‘loves’ his doggy wheelchair and only faces problems with stairs – but she often wonders what could have been.
Two years later and after surgery, the adorable pooch is walking with the assistance of a wheelchair
Alice says her bulldog ‘loves’ his doggy wheelchair and only faces problems with stairs – but she often wonders what could have been
The five-year-old pooch ‘loves’ his wheelchair and only faces obstacles with stairs
‘It took us months to get over the anger and sadness at his misdiagnosis… but soon realised that what would get us through this initial grief was staying positive – not looking back and placing blame,’ she said.
‘Although he still has no feeling in his lower half, his legs do move and sometimes he is able to take a few steps at home, this is despite our surgeon telling us he’d never walk again.’
Raul now has regular aqua therapy and acupuncture and drags himself around the house without the assistance of a wheelchair.
‘By the time we received a proper diagnosis we were told there was a 10 percent chance he’d never walk again,’ Alice (pictured) said
Raul now has regular aqua therapy and acupuncture and drags himself around the house without the assistance of a wheelchair
The adorable pooch is often approached by strangers in the park intrigued by his wheelchair
The doting parents enjoy taking him to the park and say they are often approached by other intrigued owners about his legs.
Others question Alice and her partner about why they didn’t euthanise Raul, but they are quick to fire back that he is a happy and much-loved member of their family.
‘Whether he walks again or not, we know he’s had the best life possible.’
Others question Alice and her partner about why they didn’t euthanise Raul, but they are quick to fire back that he is a happy and much-loved member of their family
‘Whether he walks again or not, we know he’s had the best life possible,’ Alice said