Meet Joey. When he first arrived at Atlanta Humane, he could barely walk. His hind legs slipped out from beneath him and, try as he might, he just couldn’t get his legs to support him.
Physically, Joey had begun to form wounds where his paws would drag over the ground behind him. Mentally, he was visibly depressed by his inability to get around.
Our Shelter Medicine Team knew he needed our help and immediately began working on a plan of care.
The first step was conducting a thorough exam to determine the cause of his issues. Using a sling, our veterinarians checked his spine, legs, and gait, and eventually diagnosed him with a spinal condition that is possibly worsened by his weight.
We began sending Joey to physical therapy at Georgia Veterinary Rehabilitation, where the team helps him through both land and water therapy to improve his mobility. He also does daily exercises and receives laser therapy and dry needling with electrical stimulation in support of our goal to help him walk better.
Joey has been fitted with a wheelchair that helps him get around more easily. Although he still needs one-on-one care to help with some basic life functions, the wheelchair has greatly improved his quality of life. He enjoys going on short walks and experiencing what it’s like to move around freely again!
Joey will continue receiving this exemplary care while he remains at Atlanta Humane, but we also know that his forever home is out there. This sweet boy is a staff and volunteer favorite in the shelter, and for good reason! Joey has good manners, is housebroken, enjoys meeting people, and is an affectionate cuddle bug. He wants to be the only pet in the home so he can keep all your love to himself.
If you’re interested in adopting Joey, you can learn more about him by clicking below.
