“If Harlow could talk, she’d probably say, ‘There’s always light at the end of the tunnel!’
This incredible Weimaraner girl has faced so much since 2021, and her journey is a true testament to resilience and inspiration.”
“Harlow, once known as the ‘skeleton’ dog, bravely fought against all odds. With the unwavering support of her mom, Alana, she not only survived but also shared her incredible story with the world. Let’s dive into their journey!”
Harlow’s Condition
Source: The Dodo
“Harlow has been a cherished member of Alana’s family for years. This sweet Weimaraner has always been the most lovable companion, but in 2021, her life took a heartbreaking turn.
She began losing weight rapidly, and despite endless love, care, and countless vet visits, no one could figure out why. Test after test came back perfect, leaving her family puzzled and helpless.
Harlow was wasting away, even though she was eating well, and Alana was left desperately searching for answers.”
Source: The Dodo
“We could see every rib, every vertebra, all the bones in her legs. It didn’t matter how much we fed her—Harlow was deteriorating before our eyes,” Alana shared with The Dodo.
Despite her frail body, Harlow never lost her enthusiasm or her love for playtime. Her spark still shone brightly, and it was clear she had so much more to give.
“Despite all that Harlow was going through, she never lost her spark,” Alana shared.
But behind the glimmer of Harlow’s resilience, a heartbreaking reality loomed. Alana and her family didn’t know how much longer she could endure this relentless condition. Day by day, it was getting worse, and it felt like only a matter of time before Harlow would lose the strength to keep fighting.
The Mystery Finally Resolved
Source: @thisweimlife
Harlow eventually reached a heartbreaking point of total lethargy and illness. She refused to eat or drink, and emergency trips to the vet became a routine—two to three times a week.
The spark that once defined Harlow began to fade, and her family faced the devastating reality that her journey might be coming to an end.
One Friday night, in the face of this painful truth, Alana and her family decided to create a bucket list filled with Harlow’s favorite things. They planned to spend the weekend making her final days as joyful and love-filled as possible, with the intention of saying goodbye on Monday.
But then… the phone rang.
Source: @thisweimlife
Dr. Amy Lam, who had previously treated Harlow, reached out to Alana with a breakthrough. After carefully reviewing Harlow’s case, she delivered a diagnosis: chronic neutrophilic enteritis—one of the rarest and most challenging forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in dogs.
It was an answer that finally explained Harlow’s mysterious deterioration, offering a glimmer of hope in what had felt like an impossible situation.
Dr. Amy Lam explained that Harlow was experiencing an allergic-like reaction to animal proteins, and the key to her recovery was a vegetarian diet.
The transformation was almost immediate. From her very first vegetarian meal, Harlow began to feel better. Her family had hoped for gradual progress over a few weeks, but Harlow had other plans—she amazed everyone with how quickly she started regaining her strength and energy.
Harlow’s symptoms completely disappeared, and, for the first time in a long while, she began gaining healthy weight. Her recovery was nothing short of miraculous.
By November 2022, her chronic disease index scored zero—a milestone that marked not just her physical recovery, but also the incredible resilience and determination that carried her through. Harlow was finally healthy, happy, and thriving once again.
“This little girl well and truly fought her way into remission. To say her veterinary team is absolutely amazing would be a huge understatement—they are forever heroes in my eyes,” Alana shared on Instagram.
Today, Harlow is living her best life, embracing every moment with joy and boundless energy. Her bad days are firmly in the past, and her family couldn’t be more grateful to see their beloved girl happy, healthy, and back to being her playful self.