A beloved French Bulldog has been left paralysed after suddenly collapsing while playing – leaving his devastated owner fighting to save him.
Gurnaik Singh was watching his carefree three-year-old Hugo run around when the pooch suddenly yelped and dropped to the floor.
Panicked, the 33-year-old marketing worker rushed him to the vets, where he was told the dog was paralysed from the waist down.
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“Hugo yelped and then collapsed within minutes,” Gurnaik, from Brentford, West London, told What’s The Jam.
“He couldn’t move his back legs at all. I rushed him to the emergency vets straight away.
“They diagnosed him with grade four IVDD – a severe spinal injury that’s left him paralysed from the waist down.
“The vets said surgery would give him the highest chance of recovery.
“But it’s very expensive and just to find out the severity, the MRI is even more money.”
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The collapse happened on Sunday morning (5 Oct) – just hours after Hugo had been running, jumping and playing as normal.
With an MRI scan costing £4,000 and surgery around £7,000, Gurnaik says he feels “stuck” but is determined to give Hugo every chance.
He said: “It was honestly heartbreaking.
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“One minute he was running around like normal, the next he couldn’t stand or move.
“I felt helpless but determined to do everything I could.
“I brought him home, started crate rest and therapy, and have been caring for him round the clock.”
Vets are monitoring Hugo’s progress closely, with another assessment and physiotherapy session due soon.
Gurnaik said: “They’ve said if there isn’t enough improvement by then, surgery may still be the best option to give him the best possible chance of recovery.”
He has since launched a GoFundMe titled Help Hugo Walk Again to raise money for treatment and rehabilitation.
Gurnaik said: “The support so far has been incredible, and it’s meant I can keep his treatment going while we prepare for what’s next.
“My hope is that, with the right care and a bit of luck, he’ll get his mobility back and live a pain-free, happy life.”
For Gurnaik, Hugo is more than a pet.
He added: “He isn’t just a dog.
“He’s my family, my shadow, my comfort through hard times.
“Seeing him like this is breaking my heart.
“I want to give him the chance to get back up on his paws, to feel the grass under his feet again, and to live the life he deserves.
“I am asking for your help – whether it’s a donation, no matter how small, or simply sharing this page with others.
“Every bit of support gets us closer to giving Hugo his legs and his freedom back.”
