She Can’t Walk, but She Can Love: Meet the Paraplegic Golden Who Inspires Everyone

Lola is a paraplegic Golden Retriever, and her physical condition doesn’t stop her from being happy. On the contrary, this cutie knows how to live life to the fullest, thanks to the unconditional support of her owners, Junior and Andréa.

The dog wasn’t born that way. When she was seven years old, she was diagnosed with medullary lymphoma, a type of cancer that affects the bone marrow and lymphatic system. Her life expectancy was five months.

Nowadays, the dog is 10 years old, overcoming medical expectations and showing that life should be lived to the fullest. Lola is an inspiration! Nothing can stop this Goldie and her wheelchair.

Lola’s Adoption

In an interview with Amo Meu Pet (our Brazilian website about pet news), Junior said that Lola was originally a gift for his mother-in-law. At the time, she had just lost a dog, and the family, touched by her sadness, decided to gift her a Golden Retriever.

During that time, Junior’s mother-in-law’s neighbor rescued three puppies, and she fostered two of them until they found homes.

But what was supposed to be temporary ended up being permanent. So Mel and Luke joined the family, along with Lola.

“As time went by, the three of them grew, and the first problems began to appear: Lola was hungry, and after eating her food, she would go to the other dogs’ bowls to check if anyone had left food. Usually, it was Mel who ate the least, and this led to Lola becoming an 88-pound Golden Retriever,” Junior said.

Given the circumstances, the family got together and decided that the best option would be to move her to Junior and Andréa’s house. There, she would not have the opportunity to steal her siblings’ food.

In addition, her food portions were reduced, and they started taking longer walks, all so that Lola could lose weight. And it worked.

The couple made several changes for their dog, including helping her lose weight and only visiting pet-friendly places, among other things. The most important thing for them was to keep the dog happy, and that dedication continues to this day.

The Diagnosis

The family’s turning point happened three years ago. There were countless consultations and tests, accompanied by several diagnoses, the first of which indicated a herniated disc. An orthopedic veterinarian even gave her only five months to live.

“We did a CT scan and an MRI to confirm the herniated disc, and the tests suggested lymphoma,” Andréa reported. ““There would only be a definitive diagnosis if a biopsy were performed. As we know, there are risks of total loss of movement. We decided not to do it and to prioritize Lolinha’s well-being,” he said.

The beginning was tough — Lola couldn’t hold her pee or poop, and it was diaper change after diaper change. But with love and dedication, they adapted to the new routine. As Junior put it, “a good sailor isn’t made in calm seas.”

“We bought a wheelchair, sent her measurements to the manufacturer and, within a week, it was ready. We put her in the chair and in less than two days, she was already adapted and ready to start a new chapter in her life,” he explained.

Lola undergoes physiotherapy and acupuncture, and through treatment, she has begun to show some reflexes, albeit involuntary, in her paws. In addition, she can control her bladder and bowel movements. When she needs to go, she lets them know by barking or panting.

“At her most recent appointments, it was concluded that she wasn’t an oncology patient after all, but rather had a rare case of myelitis — a condition more commonly known in humans and still not well-studied in dogs.”

With her little chair, she lives a busy life, running on the beach, on the grass, in the mud, and wherever she wants. She loves swimming in the pool. According to Junior, she loves water even more than food. Her joy is so great that it’s contagious to everyone around her!

“Lola is our reason to wake up every day. She motivates us and teaches us through her joy for life, her strength to overcome, and her ability to adapt. Dogs adapt very easily to situations, no matter how difficult they may seem to us humans,” said Andréa.

Paralysis was never a reason for the couple to give up on their dog. And you can see how much she is loved through the videos of her happily playing in her wheelchair.

Check it out:

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