A dog owner who discovered that her malamute has a brain deformity has revealed the daily struggles he faces, but she refuses to give up on her adorable bundle of fluff.
When Stephanie Larson, 37, got Storm the Alaskan malamute in January 2019, it quickly became evident that something wasn't quite right with him. She told Newsweek that he was "circling the room endlessly," always in the same direction, and he had a noticeable head tilt that affected his coordination.
Larson, from Grand Rapids, Michigan, asked around to see if other people's puppies behaved this way, but by February, his health took a drastic turn. At 12 weeks old, Storm was hospitalized for seizures, but neurologists warned Larson that he'd likely been having them since birth.
After many tests and scans, Storm was diagnosed with hydrocephalus and a right forebrain lesion.
Larson said: "It wasn't until he was about 6 months old that the seizures became grand mal seizures, and we knew we needed to figure out the cause. We finally got a diagnosis nearly a year after we brought him home.
"They did an MRI and spinal tap to confirm his hydrocephalus and right forebrain lesion. They also performed a test to see if he has a wince-reflex for movements coming towards his eyes. He passed on the right side but failed on the left. Meaning that while his left eye is functional, it doesn't transfer information to his brain."
Hydrocephalus is the abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain cavities, creating pressure on the brain. The website PetMD explains that the symptoms can include blindness, abnormal gaze, seizures, brain dysfunction, and gait abnormalities.
As a result, Storm takes 14 pills every morning at 7 a.m., followed by 17 pills at 7 p.m., including four different anticonvulsants for seizures.
Larson was warned that Storm probably only had three years to live, which was "a gut punch." She had only had him for a matter of months, but she was already counting down to the end of his life.
However, Storm has continued to defy expectations—even celebrating his sixth birthday in 2024.
"No one wants to be told their puppy isn't going to live past 3, but it made us make the best of his life for as long as we could," Larson told Newsweek.
Storm's condition was under control for a while, and he went two years without a seizure. However, they came back in early 2024 and he suffered a terrifying six-minute seizure. Larson feared she was about to lose him and spent three days waiting to find out if he was going to wake up.
Larson was torn up, wondering if there was anything she should have done differently. The truth was, she'd done everything right and nothing could have prevented the seizure.
She said: "The hospital told us his brain was overheating, and they didn't know if he would still be Storm when he woke up, or brain-dead. Despite preparing to say goodbye for his entire life, the house felt so empty without our thundering clutz for those three days. I felt like I had no purpose without being his caregiver."
Larson decided to quit her job so she could become a stay-at-home dog mom. Saying goodbye to her career wasn't difficult, but foregoing a dual income (with her partner Kaden) was an adjustment.
With Storm's seizures occurring approximately every three to four weeks, Larson needs to be on hand at all times. Staying home to care for her dog often leaves Larson "feeling ashamed," but Storm is worth it.
She continued: "His recovery from a seizure is the challenging part. The emergency meds make his back legs function poor, and he has little coordination or stability, yet he's extremely restless. This, coupled with his size and stubbornness, is a bad combination.
"His recovery includes 24/7 supervision, assistance standing, earmuffs because and sounds startle him, mental enrichment, and eating many bell peppers (his favorite low-calorie treat since seizures cause extreme hunger)."
Raising Awareness on Social Media
Larson regularly posts about Storm on TikTok (@storm.cloudboi) to document his health journey. One video, detailing the story of his diagnosis, has gone viral over 221,900 views and 27,900 likes on TikTok in a matter of days.
The positive response is amazing, but what makes it even better is helping other owners caring for disabled pets.
Larson told Newsweek: "I know what it feels like to be in their situation, and it's an honor to help them. It has truly taken a village to care for Storm and for him to have made it as far as he has. We have a tribe that has banded together to help, from Kaden, family, friends, pet sitters, veterinarians and even neighbors."
The viral TikTok video about Storm has amassed over 1,600 comments so far. As one user wrote: "I love this story! Thank you for taking good care of him."
Another person wrote: "Thank you for not giving up on him."
While another comment reads: "He is so precious and is still here because of the love and care you're giving him."
Do you have adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to life@newsweek.com and they could appear on our site.
English (US) ·