Selma Blair celebrates her service dog's graduation: 'I am so happy to have him'

After being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2018, Selma Blair is welcoming a new service dog.

The actress, 49, revealed in a new Instagram post on Saturday that she and Scout, an English Fox Red Labrador, are officially a "service dog team."

"It has been a year and a half in the making, but today my new partner, Scout, and I graduated!" wrote Blair. The post featured a series of photos of herself and Scout, who even sported a graduation cap of his own. "We are now a service dog team."

In the following shots, Blair snuggled up to the pup, who wore a red service dog vest and sat proudly next to a sign that read "Congrats Scout."

Blair went on to share more about Scout's role, saying that he "helps me with some personal stumbling blocks and aids in my mobility." Noting that Scout is "very handsome and friendly" and "very good at his job," the Hellboy star explained the complex tasks a service dog plays for someone like herself, who has a disability.

"If you see me and Scout, and we are working (which he really always is, as am I) then give a smile but please don’t approach. Distractions really set me back," Blair said. "I am building stamina and coordination with the aid of this special dog and training! I am excited for this time to focus and settle and get out of the house more."

Video: Selma Blair's courageous battle against MS

Blair shared that she is "so happy to have him" and that she will continue to share about their journey together as they "evolve."

"If you see me down, do not worry, Scout has me covered. Literally actually," said Blair.

Blair received an outpouring of love from friends and fans ranging from Mia Farrow and Glenn Close to Leslie Jones and Sharon Osbourne. Close friend Sarah Michelle Gellar, with whom Blair starred in the 1999 film Cruel Intentions, shared that she "loves Scout already — with all my heart."

Blair's health journey has been a complicated one. Back in October, she appeared in the documentary Introducing, Selma Blair, which depicted her experience undergoing a stem cell treatment this summer. She shared that she's found a level of satisfaction these days, and is "pretty comfortable with my body now and unapologetic about that."

However, that wasn't always the case. Before learning that she was living with MS, Blair said she was "miserable." She suffered from "recurring trigeminal neuralgia (stabbing face pains), dystonia, dental work [and] constant neck and nerve pain, down my leg, my joints, plus the pseudobulbar affect," which is defined as episodes of laughing or crying.

She also struggled with alcohol abuse, but has since gotten sober.

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