A video of a paralyzed dog pulling itself across a floor to show its owner some love has gone viral on TikTok.
The clip was posted from @luck_balu, the TikTok account of a 7-year-old Alaskan malamute in a wheelchair. The video has had 42.3 million views since it was first shared five days ago. The footage was captured in the Ukrainian city of Odessa, according to the post.
The video shows a dog, whose hinds legs are paralyzed, pushing open the door of a room with its body. The canine scoots the lower half of its body into the room, where a woman is sitting, pulling a knee-high boot up her leg. The dog pushes itself closer to the woman, reaching towards her face and licking her nose as the clip ends.
A caption shared with the post reads: "Mommy I miss you."
Causes of Paralysis in Dogs
Paralysis in dogs occurs when "the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and muscles don't communicate properly with one another to produce normal body movements," veterinarian Barri J. Morrison explained in an October 2023 article for PetMD.
Nerve trauma is the most common cause of leg paralysis in canines.
"Hind-leg paralysis originates from injury to a dog's lower back or tailbone, or the nerves located between the spinal cord and the hind legs," the veterinarian said.
Some dog breeds may be more prone to paralysis due to a medical condition, such as intervertebral disc disease (IVDD). This results from the protrusion of disc material between the spinal bones, which leads to spinal cord compression. Dogs with long backs, such as dachshunds and basset hounds, are more prone to IVDD, Morrison said.
Some may be predisposed to paralysis due to a genetic condition known as degenerative myelopathy (DM), a genetic condition that causes the destruction of nerves originating from the spinal cord.
Older dogs as well as German shepherds, boxers, Welsh corgis, and Chesapeake Bay retrievers are prone to DM, Morrison noted.
'Pure Love'
Users on TikTok were moved by the dog's gesture in the latest viral clip.
Prettyhips2 noted: "He pushed the door open...and poured out his heart."
User spichka said "Unconditional love !" and user1948108799357 wrote "Oh goodness, now this is pure love."
User @charmaynet noted: "omg the way he scooted that sweet lil bottom towards his mummy after pouring his heart out."
Rdog2 wrote: "This is precious. He loves you so much and I know you love him in return."
Karen o allen said: "Omg my heart I'm crying he's so beautiful we don't deserve animals."
Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok and Instagram. This video has not been independently verified.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Soo Kim is a Newsweek reporter based in London, U.K. She covers various lifestyle stories, specializing in travel and health.
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