One Paw at a Time by Jo Sellers

How would you cope if your dog suddenly became disabled after an accident?

This is the situation Jo Sellers found herself in when her beloved dog Reba ran into a tree in her garden in the dark. She found herself in her worst nightmare, with her dog hanging onto life by a thread, with a broken neck making her body unresponsive. From that moment, her world turned upside down and she has chronicled her emotional journey from the moment of the accident, the surgical interventions, and the long process of helping her dog heal not only from the physical injuries, but the emotional ones too.

Publisher: Green Cat Books
Genre: Non-Fiction
Pages: 156 including images

She is an expert in canine separation anxiety, but had never had to nurse a dog back to health before. Follow Jo through the steps she took to adapt to her dog’s changing needs, how she helped to teach her dog to stand and walk again, and how you can find inspiration from any similar situation of rehabilitating a dog after spinal injury. 

My Review

One Paw At A Time is written in diary form. Each day we follow Reba’s progress from quadriplegic to restored mobility (up to a point). It’s a miraculous journey for both dog and owner.

Following Reba’s horrific accident in the garden, the operation to stabilise her neck, and the extended stay at the vet hospital, Jo has to now rehabilitate her beloved dog at home. She must perform the daily physio, provide reassurance as Reba is very distressed, help with the toileting, and cope with sleepless nights.

Initially Reba is on pain medication and sedatives, and has no control over her bladder or bowels. She cannot walk at all, so Jo must carry her everywhere. This is taking a toll on Jo’s health, she is exhausted, and has a bad back from the weight of the dog. She does have friends and family who come round to help her.

Slowly but surely, Reba begins to get better. As she becomes stronger and her mobility improves, she is less distressed. Jo cannot leave her alone in case she has another accident, and the soaring costs of the vet bills and therapy sessions are impacting on Jo’s finances. She has exceeded the insurance pay out, used all her savings, and is unable to take on work as before. But Reba comes first.

When I said I would read this book, I thought it would be heartbreaking and that I would be crying all the way through. In fact it is uplifting (once you get past Reba’s initial distress), and the strength of both pup and owner shine through. I hope we’ll get an update on Reba’s progress in due course.

About the Author

Jo Sellers is an award winning ABTC Accredited Trainer and a Certified Separation Anxiety Behaviourist. Pippin Pets Dog Training was established in 2015 at the same time her dog Reba joined the family. This cheeky Cocker Spaniel/Bichon Frise crossbreed led her to specialise in Separation Anxiety after helping Reba overcome her fear of being home alone.

Helping dogs overcome Separation Anxiety is now the principal part of her business and online support for other trapped at home owners, and she has helped hundreds of other dogs and owners.

In 2024, Reba’s freak accident shook her world, and a long road of recovery loomed ahead. She took on the challenge, learning about dog’s biology and motion, the various rehabilitation therapies, and alongside the many specialists, helped her dog to learn to walk again.

Jo regularly studies and learns from other amazing professionals to keep up to date and learn new skills and techniques in order to provide her clients with the best support and guidance.

Many thanks to Hygge Book Tours for inviting me to be part of #OnePawAtATime #blogtour

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