A couple issued a warning after they were left with a $10k (£7,800) vet bill when their dog was paralysed by a ruptured disc - while playing fetch.<br /><br />Chaps, a seven-year-old Australian cattle dog, was playing fetch with her owners when the tragedy struck.<br /><br />A video shows Chaps running before stumbling and sliding across the ground "yelping in considerable pain".<br /><br />Angela Axton, 35, and Bradley May, 33, rushed her to an emergency vet, where an MRI scan showed a herniated disc had pushed into Chaps' spinal cord.<br /><br />Chaps was temporarily paralyzed in her hind limbs and lost of control of her bladder after pieces of the disc became lodged in her spinal cord.<br /><br />After 48 hours in emergency care, Chaps was released and taken home. <br /><br />Now back with the family, Chaps is undergoing regular therapy, but is in "good spirits".<br /><br />Angela, who runs her own equine business in Salem, Wisconsin, USA, said: "Chaps suffered a disc extrusion, a burst caused by the downward, fast, force of fetch while chasing her ball.<br /><br />"The force of the disc blowing shocked and inflamed the spinal cord."<br /><br />The couple have spent $10,000 on medical bills and, with upcoming therapy sessions at $300 a session for the next six months, they are likely to spend almost as much again.<br /><br />Angela said: "So far we have spent $10,000 and her continued therapy is twice a week for three weeks and once a week for four weeks, which is roughly $300 per treatment.<br /><br />"The therapy could take up to six months to a year.<br /><br />"We will include red light therapy, essential oils, chiropractic, water therapy, emotional release therapy, supplements, physical therapy exercises, massage, reiki acupuncture, raw food diet, and herbs."<br /> <br />Despite the lucky escape from permanent paralysation, Angela and Bradley want to raise awareness because they believe this could happen to other dogs.<br /><br />Angela said: "With roughly 15,000 comments on our video close to 5,000 have experienced this, in some fashion.<br /><br />"We need to work more preventively to see signs of spinal distinction or weakness before it becomes a traumatic injury and we need to educate that certain activities can lead to this and should be shifted in the best interest of the dog.<br /><br />"Such as fetch, if we knew this was possible we have played fetch with her in a way that wouldn’t lead to the fast downward force.<br /><br />"We need to look into spinal supplements and preventative care like acupuncture and chiropractic."<br /><br />Despite the traumatic events Chaps suffered, she is on the mend and feeling better.<br /><br />She is more balanced and has better control of her bladder. <br /><br />Angela said: "She is recovering extremely well. Staying more balanced when getting up from sitting or laying down.<br /><br />"The hardest part will be keeping her quiet, so we have purchased many items like lock mats, enrichment toys, and squeaker toys to keep her busy.<br /><br />"We also researched which herbs would help her keep calm once she is off the medication from the veterinarian."
