DENVER — A Craig Hospital therapy dog is fighting for his life. Sage, a 6-year old Doberman, has a spinal cord compression which is similar to a pinched cord at the neck.
A Wheat Ridge veterinarian conducted an MRI earlier this week after the dog’s owner, Jane Saunders, noticed the problem on Monday.
“If you were to watch him, he would start tripping,” said Saunders. “That’s not just normal for him. The doctor is afraid he’s going to take a digger. If he hits his head, he can go completely paralyzed.”
Saunders, who is a Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputy, adopted the dog at 13 weeks old.
Sage is one of 40 therapy dogs at Craig Hospital. He has helped hundreds of patients at the Englewood hospital for three years.
“He’ll never be the same, but it’s like the patients and you adjust,” said Saunders.
Sage has also served as a therapy dog at Littleton Care and Rehab for more than five years.
“There is going to be a lot of people that are going to be very upset if something happens to him,” said Saunders.
Sage is scheduled to have surgery on Tuesday.
To help pay for Sage’s medical bills, visit his Go Fund Me page.