P-aww.
A tough pup named Skipper is believed to be the first six-legged dog to be born alive – and she continues to thrive.
Skipper the Aussie and Collie mix recently made her debut at Neel Veterinary Hospital in Oklahoma City, born with six legs and two tails, the animal hospital confirmed on Facebook. According to the birth announcement, published Sunday, Skipper has congenital, collaborative conditions monocephalus dipygus and monocephalus rachipagus dibrachius tetrapus. She has, among other things, a head and a chest cavity, but “2 pelvic areas, 2 lower urinary tract, 2 reproductive systems, 2 tails and 6 legs” due to the rare conditions.
“All of her legs move and respond to stimuli, just like a normal puppy,” the animal hospital wrote of Skipper.
(Neel Veterinary Hospital)
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Staffers speculated that the precious pup may have been in utero with a sibling, but the two embryos did not ultimately separate. The newborn dog also has signs of spina bifida, the animal hospital wrote, but Super Skipper’s organs are in “great shape” with active bowel movements.
Skipper is a true medical “miracle,” wrote Neel Veterinary, as no published research indicates that another dog survived birth with her combination of congenital conditions.
The fighting pup has been rejected by her mother and is bottle-fed, according to a GoFundMe page founded on her behalf. More than $ 4,600 has been raised for the adorable dog to date.
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“She will need many vet visits and possibly future surgeries to fix some of the issues,” the organizer explained.
But “all of her legs move and respond to stimuli, just like a normal puppy,” wrote Neel vets. “We will continue to monitor her condition, monitor her development during rechecks, and help keep Skipper pain-free and comfortable for the rest of life.”
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For now, Skipper settles into her home where she’s once been and joins big sister Malibu, a seven-year-old Chihuahua with epilepsy, her owners said.
The newborn pup has also won many following awards, with her “Skipper’s Journey” page already reaching nearly 28,000 Facebook fans.