Who says that dogs can only have 4 legs? Skipper, a mix of Australian shepherd and border collie is here to prove that dogs with extra legs can have a wonderful life.
From the outside, it might seem that Skipper is just like any other puppy. She is full of energy, loves to play, eats, drinks and sleeps just like her siblings. However, there is a special characteristic that is unique to Skipper that none of her siblings have – she has six legs.
Skipper – one of a kind dog with 6 (yes 6!!!) legs
The fact that Skipper has six legs is already a miracle in itself. But what’s even more extraordinary is that she was born during the snowstorm that hit Oklahoma on February the 16th, along with her eight other siblings. Her owner brought her in to the hospital as soon as the storm passed so that the vets could examine her. After a few ultrasounds, it was determined that Skipper actually had two different types of congenital disorders.
Rare Disorders
These were monocephalus rachipagus dibrachius tetrapus and monocephalus dipygus, but essentially what this meant was that Skipper was born with one head and chest cavity, but two sets of lower urinary tracts, reproductive systems, tails and more than four legs.
The vet hypothesized that Skipper was originally one half of a set of twins, but the egg was unable to fully separate in the uterus. This is probably why only half of Skipper’s body was able to replicate.
History Made
Even though she’s only a few weeks old, Skipper has already survived longer than any other canine born with a congenital condition. She might have some tough challenges in front of her, but so far, she’s passed through them with flying colours. Her vets are equally determined to give her the best chance to live her best life.
However, the vets are still keeping a close eye on Skipper given her unique attributes. They will continue to monitor her conditions, her development, and assist in any way possible to make Skipper’s life as pain free as possible. For the meantime, it seems like Skipper is doing quite well at home.
