According to an Oklahoma veterinary hospital, a puppy in Oklahoma is desperately fighting to live despite being only one week old. Skipper was not only born during last week’s record-breaking winter storm, but she also had unusual features. Two tails and six legs.
Skipper was born in Chickasha, Oklahoma, on February 16. It is the day after a brutal winter storm brought sub-zero temperatures to Oklahoma and other states. The National Guard called into action the day before Skipper’s birth, as temperatures dropped to their lowest that never happened in over a century.
According to the hospital, the dog has monocephalus dipygus and monocephalus rachipagus dibrachius tetrapus. In short, Skipper only has one head and chest cavity, two pelvic regions, two lower urinary tracts, two digestive systems, two tails, and six legs. They further added that the abnormalities might be her twin that didn’t split while in the womb.
The veterinarians also believe that she has spina bifida. So she needs physiotherapy and mobility assistance when she gets older. But despite these obstacles, the Veterinary Hospital reports that she’s still fighting and behaving normally.
They also concluded that the dog’s organs appear to be in good condition, and she is very strong. She’s breastfeeding well and so far developing normally. Her legs all move and react to stimuli in the same way that a normal puppy does. According to the vet, Skipper’s life’s a record-breaking, as they claimed that she survived longer than any other dog born with her congenital conditions.
Skipper’s Journey, a Facebook page devoted to the Aussie and Collie cross, reports that she’s doing well and creeps around her owners’ house. She was one of eight puppies born in a litter. The owners say that none of the others seem to be abnormal, and Skipper’s still doing great.
Credit: @ABCWorldNewsNow/Facebook & @NeelVeterinaryHospital/Facebook