Puppy born with six legs and two tails, regarded as a miracle

With six legs, a newborn puppy called Skipper was born. (Image credit: Neel Veterinary Hospital)

 

With its unusual circumstances, the puppy, called Skipper, may be the first dog to survive.

Every dog owner undoubtedly believes their canine is one of a kind, but according to news reports, a newborn puppy called Skipper is truly unique; she was born with six legs and two tails.

With her unusual collection of congenital disorders, or conditions that are present at birth, her vets say Skipper could be the first dog to be born alive.

It's a miracle by the name of Skipper. Literally, workers at Oklahoma's Neel Veterinary Hospital, where Skipper was treated wrote. She has lived longer than any other canine we suspect has... The hospital wrote, with its mixture of congenital conditions, adding that published research would not suggest that one [a dog with these conditions] was born alive.

Skipper is a combination of a border collie and an Australian shepherd, and she was born on Feb. 16 as part of a litter of nine puppies.

Skipper was diagnosed by veterinarians with two congenital abnormalities called monocephalus dipygus and monocephalus rachipagus dibrachius tetrapus, "which literally means that she has 1 head and chest cavity but, among other items, 2 pelvic regions, 2 lower urinary tracts, 2 reproductive systems, 2 tails and 6 legs," the Facebook post stated.

It is possible that Skipper was part of a womb twin, and when the fertilized egg tried to split, Dr. Tina Neel Said did not break completely.

There are also signs of spina bifida in Skipper, a birth defect in which the spinal column does not close properly during development.

Given her unique circumstances, Skipper appears well. It seems that her organs are in great condition, and she is developing properly. Just like a regular puppy, all of her legs shift and respond to stimulation.

As she gets older, she will require physical therapy and help with mobility. During rechecks, we will continue to study her circumstances, monitor her growth and help keep Skipper pain-free and happy for the rest of life.