In Costa Rica, a shelter has been caring for a puppy born with five legs and two tails. Casas Cunas Animal Shelter took in the puppy after her owners were unable to care or afford the specialized treatment the puppy would require.
According to the Mirror, the puppy has been named Mia and is adjusting to her life in the shelter making milestones in her improving health by something as important as drinking water.
Mia’s extra paw and tails are located next to her stomach, and she also suffers from other genetic disorders including having two vaginas and two anuses – where she will go to the bathroom through her two anuses. The shelter is currently raising funds to provide her with surgery, but first she will need more detailed x-rays and ultrasounds to figure out how to best proceed with the needed surgical procedures.
Mia’s litter mates have not been affected by the same disorder, and all of the other puppies have been adopted.
According to a specialist at Neel Veterinary Hospital who treated a puppy named Skipper in 2021, it is believed the puppy was supposed to have a twin, but they failed to completely split apart – meaning Skipper was born with six legs, two tails, two pelvic regions and two reproductive systems. Mia likely suffers from the same congenital birth deformity.
The extra appendages are the result of two intertwining congenital birth defects, according to the Neel Veterinary Hospital, which has been caring for Skipper. According to the hospital, Skipper has monocephalus dipygus and monocephalus rachipagus dibrachius tetrapus, which results in her having a single head and chest cavity, but two pelvic regions, two lower urinary tracts, two reproductive systems, two tails and six legs. The defects, according to the hospital, may be the result of a twin that failed to separate while in utero.
Mia has been under constant veterinarian care. Her latest update seems optimistic, and it is hoped the puppy can lead a long life. For now, helping her is a challenge and very expensive. It is hoped that by sharing Mia’s story, animal advocates will help with the costs of her expected surgeries.
Today we left early morning with mia for the hospital of minor and wild species UNA to carry out the relevant tests, they made plates and ultrasound. In the plates you can completely tell the deformation starts from the chest down, moreover she looks very good and is astonishing to everyone, on the ultrasound it looks a little bad her kidneys so they decided to let her bE hospitalized to do blood tests and examine those kidneys to see if she should be operated now or later
Donations are needed to help Mia:
Phone:63205898 Sharon Solano
PayPal account is now available at [email protected].
Updates to follow.
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