Meet my new MS guru: a Beagle puppy!

The best medicines for a complex and unpredictable illness like multiple sclerosis might not only be in the form of a daily Copaxone injection and 29 tablets to combat several types and levels of neuropathic pain and severe fatigue, but it might just happen to arrive in the form of a lively puppy, complete with a wagging tail, furry paws, and a wet nose ready to patrol your central nervous system.

Behold the image of a stunning 14-week-old Beagle pup above, with long, silky, floppy ears and eyes of mischief. When I first met Caoimhe (pronounced “kwie-va”) at the tender age of 8 weeks, she wriggled past her five siblings in her crate to leap into my lap, and she could not have been more direct in choosing me as her human and provider of her forever home. It left an immediate imprint on both our hearts and minds. I immediately recognised a stubbornness that matched mine, and she made an indelible impact on me and the environment we will conquer together.

Her name might be hard to pronounce and remember if you’re not Irish as it is enunciated as “Kwee-vah” in English or “Kwie-vah” in Flemish and Dutch. Its meaning—gentle, beautiful, and precious—captures her perfectly.

Of course, I am biased, but she’s all that and more. I’m sure any parent or dog owner will understand.

Now that the formalities are over let’s rewind six months and see how we got here.

If you’ve been following my story, you might be aware of the horrendous loss I experienced with my previous dog, Oisín, who was taken far too soon at just 3.5 years old due to severe epilepsy.

While everyone advised me to get a new pup as soon as possible, in my heart, I remained fiercely loyal to Oisín and felt he deserved to be honoured through my grief. Truth be told, after witnessing Oisín endure a series of seizures, I felt hesitant about bringing another dog into my life, fearing a repeat of such heartache. In fact, the sudden shock of Oisín’s passing still frightens me today, and as soon as I see Caoimhe acting in a way that might resemble the start of a seizure, I am there to pick her up, ready to comfort her at the first hint of anything amiss.

Remembering Oisín: He was not “just” a dog

We all encounter loss in various forms throughout life, and we each grieve in our unique ways. My bond with Oisín ran deep—even though he wasn’t officially trained as a therapy dog, he seemed to have an innate understanding of the challenges multiple sclerosis posed for me, call it being an MS whisperer. He was my safety blanket, my fortress, my coach, my physiotherapist, and simply, my best friend. Eventually, I realised that the only way to place Oisín’s life and passing in an even more meaningful frame of mind was to honour him with the search for a new pup to light up the most painful days of life with MS. I rest assured that Oisín would have wanted me to be guided by another canine therapist.

Soon enough, I caught an ad for Beagle puppies fifteen minutes after the ad was posted as if this was supposed to be. When the breeder and I met, I had the first choice from a litter of six pups. Immediately, Caoimhe climbed out of her crate and straight into my lap, and the rest, shall we say, is history.

Seven days later, Caoimhe became a permanent fixture in my home, and we never looked back. As soon as she wakes up, her appetite demands double servings to ensure she’s ready to conquer the world around her. She captivates everyone we meet—at the vet, during our walks, or on social media. Like with Oisín, I create funny, slapstick conversations between us on Facebook, and I started her Instagram account. Her future is bright, although I say this with a distinct sense of trepidation.

Caoimhe, now a healthy four-month-old pup, is a breath of fresh air with the self-assured attitude of a five-year-old dog. Like all Beagles, she is obsessed with food, twists me around her little paws as if she just injured herself to gain whatever she believes she’s entitled to, and lifts her eyes to create that typical haughty air of “You talkin’ to me?” when she so clearly questions my intentions. She continuously makes me giggle, reminding me of Miss Piggy’s behaviour.

Most importantly, however, she took over the reins from Oisín as my MS guru and began picking up changes in chronic pain levels, including those wretched bouts of excruciating trigeminal neuralgia. She is still a very young pup, though, and I have complete confidence that she will seamlessly be woven into my daily MS struggles just like Oisín did. Caoimhe will, as such, be more than just a pet; she will be my alternative neurologist tasked with trying to divert my attention away from excruciating shooting nerve pain in my eyes, ears and face. She’s already proven to be the provider of countless laughs as her curiosity knows no bounds, picking up new commands as long as they come with treats in the form of cold roast chicken.

I was taught by Oisín, the top MS expert in my life, to include him in almost everything I did. From starting the day together under the duvet, teaching him to warn others if I couldn’t swallow food and liquids, and allowing him to drift off to sleep with his back against mine at night under the duvet, he learned to be a buffer against daily aches and pains. Vacuuming my bed daily and large weekly laundry sessions were necessary, but the rewards were worth the effort. From the day Oisin entered my life, he felt the need to touch my body, regardless of how uncomfortable it was for him to twist his long, lanky legs into an awkward position. As such, he was aware of every itch, twitch, and spasm my body experienced and seemed to know when it became too painful or uncomfortable for me due to neuropathic pressure pain or fatigue. Caoimhe’s knowledge about daily routines is still a work in progress, but she is learning fast. As for now, everything is a toy, even my body. The only thing she finds disgraceful is me changing the bedsheets, and she barks and cries as if I’m abusing the bed.

It’s fascinating watching how an animal learns and adapts to its owner’s illness. Therapy and disability dogs are most certainly an invaluable support system to anyone with health issues.

Caoimhe and I navigating this will eventually come down to knowing how to adapt and make the most of our journey, despite it being filled with hospital appointments, monthly runs to collect a bag of medicines, and days when life seems to pass by because pain and severe fatigue seem immeasurable.

There is still much to learn, that one, still much to learn, little one.

2018 Winner Best Blog Post, Ireland Blog Awards by Ashville Media Group, Dublin, Ireland

◾ Everyday Health: Top 10 MS Blogs to Follow in 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2018
◾ Feedspot: Top 45 Best Multiple Sclerosis Blogs and Websites in 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017
◾ My Therapy: Multiple Sclerosis Blogs: 10 of the Best
◾ MyTherapy: Best MS Blog for Simplicity 2018
◾ Blog Awards Ireland: Winner Best Blog Post 2018; Finalist 2017, 2015, 2014 (Awards competition discontinued from 2019 onwards)