Welcoming home a new puppy is filled with joy, training, and endless snuggles—but not always. One woman’s expectations of owning a pup turned upside down when his health issues started at a young age.
Abigail Irwin brought home a 10-week-old golden retriever puppy, Moose, during a difficult time. She told Newsweek that she needed something to help with her stress. All was going smoothly with her pup, or so she thought.
She noted Moose would unusually carry his ball, but she thought perhaps his mouth wasn’t big enough yet. Then, by the third and fourth months, she noticed Moose developing a pink and reddish bump around the corner of one of his eyes, which is known as cherry eyes. This was just the start of his health scares and surgeries.
Her March 10 TikTok video posted under the account @sillymooseymood explained Moose’s health journey during his first six months. What started with the cherry eyes became a much bigger issue. Although it’s “been a bit rough,” she wouldn’t change him for the world. He’s been a warrior, always bouncing back to his energetic self.
His health journey started when Moose received surgery to “secure the prolapsed glands under his third eye” when he was only four months old, the text on the video reads.
But during the surgery, Irwin got a call from the vet asking if Moose had trouble eating, playing or showing signs of jaw pain. They asked because the vet noticed Moose could not open his mouth fully as they tried to intubate him.
@sillymooseymood/TikTok
Irwin traveled three hours to visit a specialist who discovered Moose had fractured his jaw at some point in his life. While healing, it “over-healed,” and a new bone formed, connecting his jawbone to his cheekbone. The specialist believed the cherry eyes were a result of the broken jaw. He has received surgery to correct the jaw.
“Moose is good, we’re just on our way to get him now,” she said Wednesday morning. “He’s potentially got to have one more surgery in around six months to sort out some teeth that haven’t developed properly due to his jaw, but they’re really happy with how the operation went.”
Despite the health scares, Moose has been a ray of sunshine in her life.
“He’s so amazing and saved me in so many ways,” she said. “I’m very lucky to have my parents who have supported me through this and also helped with costs because his insurance does not cover everything.”
She commented that her insurance annual limit is £5,000, but she’s already gone through nearly all of it before his most recent surgery. She told Newsweek that any earnings she makes from TikTok will go toward paying her parents back.
Viewer Reactions
TikTok users flooded the video with positive thoughts and messages for Moose’s speedy recovery.
“What a sweet boy. Wishing this is the last of any issues,” said one viewer.
“I hope he has no more problems and lives a stress free life! Well done to momma too! Amazing care taken at every step making sure he was looked after,” another person commented.
“He’s just getting all the drama and problems out of the way early. Hope it all goes well,” a commenter wrote.