When it comes to dogs, more is always better.
Meet Skipper. She is one of a kind, and truly exceptional in the fact that she’s got six legs and two tails.
What was supposed to be a life threatening condition proved the opposite for this Australian shepherd collie mix.
Vets in Neel Veterinary Hospital in Oklahoma posted this miracle puppy four days after she was born. Skipper is a February baby.
The team suspects that she failed to fully separate from her litter mate in utero.
That left her with two pelvic regions, two lower urinary tracts, two reproductive systems, two tails, six legs, and a single head and chest cavity.
Skipper’s mother rejected her which meant that this puppy had to be bottle fed.
No other dog on record has been found to have the same congenital defects.
Skipper chooses to live despite the odds. She continues to grow because she eats well, and goes to the bathroom regularly.
Her organs are healthy and function well, and her legs respond to stimuli. She will need help walking and moving about when the time comes but this little pup is a tough one!
Skipper’s conditions are two congenital disorders called monocephalus dipygus and monocephalus rachipagus dibrachius tetrapus.
She’s part of a litter of nine.
The little pup also has signs of spina bifida, a birth defect in which the spinal column doesn’t close properly during development. But Skipper continues to defy the odds stacked against her!
Viewers are amazed at this miracle pup.
“I’ve never seen that before She’s adorable, hopefully she survives.”
“Even though she looks different she’s still a blessing”
“This poor baby! I hope she lives a long and healthy life!”
Skipper’s two tails means she can wag a little extra when she’s happy!
Would you look at that face? She’s really pretty!
Her family describes her as a blessing, and you know what? They’re absolutely right.
She gets daily physical therapy all while being fitted for a back brace. Skipper isn’t even a month old yet but is already receiving fan mail from kids across the country.
Alison Everett of Neel Veterinary Hospital says,
“Right now, we have no indication that she is feeling any pain or discomfort. She is healthy. She is strong. She is doing everything a normal puppy should do.”
Skipper’s owner, Jennifer Golden says cleaning up is doubled down there but that she couldn’t imagine her family without the miracle pup.
Milk-Bone donated money for Skipper’s bills and will give her a lifetime’s supply of treats.
Now Skipper can eat to her heart’s content! Let’s hope those six legs work well for her. That’s extra traction for when she wants to run and jump on people’s laps.
All signs are positive, with every part of this pup working as they should. Skipper needs lots of TLC right now but don’t be surprised to hear more from this special pup in the future.
Take a look at this adorable pup below!
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