A miniature dachshund has been given wheels for paws after he was left paralysed, leaving him unable to walk properly.

Adorable seven-year-old Jafar, who suffers from a spinal disease, was fitted with the doggy wheelchair four months ago after slipping two discs in his back.

The ‘sausage dog’ is now able to race around and enjoy his freedom to the delight of his owner.

Gemma Crofts, 35, from Hillsborough, Sheffield, said: “He’s adapting well and quite happy on his wheels. It’s nice to see him playing with other dogs again.”

Following surgery in July this year to remove part of his vertebra, Jafar has started to move his legs again and can occasionally even wag his tail.

The now mobile pooch was diagnosed with ‘Intervertebral Disc Disease’, which is unfortunately common for his breed. Although treatable, the outcomes cannot be guaranteed. 

Sadly, along with his hind legs’ paralysis, his owner, Gemma, explained Jafar can still feel pain in his toes.

The £8,500 operation drained Gemma of her savings, and the stress of Jafar needing 24/7 care following his surgery caused her to take a temporary break from her Masters Advanced Clinical Practice degree and work.

Gemma, who works for the NHS, couldn’t leave her beloved dog’s side for six weeks during his required bed rest and could not go outside – a far cry from the regular hikes the pair were used to.

“It was probably the most stressed I have been in my life, but it’s worth it for my little family member,” Gemma said.

While people have generally been very supportive, she wants to encourage the public to be more mindful of how they approach owners of disabled dogs, as well-intended comments can be harmful and frustrating.

She described people calling over their family to point and stare at Jafar while ignoring Gemma entirely, making her feel “like a freak show”. 

Gemma said: “People say ‘aww’ and ‘how cute’ – but my dog is disabled, and it’s changed our whole life; it’s been very stressful.”

She has also been on the receiving end of some nasty and hurtful comments, including being shouted at by a group of men outside a pub in Buxton to “just put him down, love”, despite Jafar being a very happy boy and adjusting well to his new lifestyle.

As his symptoms improve, Gemma is working to get back to her and Jafar’s usual reality.

She wants to educate people about how comments they believe are helpful may actually be patronising and blind to how owners are feeling and what they are going through.

While not denying Jafar is very dashing in his new wheels, Gemma wants people to treat him like any other dog, and communicate their curiosity with respect to the stress they are facing.