Golden retriever gives birth to green puppy
A Scottish dog mum was left spellbound after her golden retriever gave birth to a green puppy.
When three-year-old Rio gave birth to nine pups on July 7, all but one arrived with normal coloured fur.
Louise Sutherland, from Golspie in the Scottish Highlands, named the green woofer Forest, due to its unusual hue.
“The first pup was stuck, so myself and my daughter Claire managed to free him and pull him out safely,” she told The Sun.
Mrs Sutherland said a bit of research revealed the unusual occurrence was due to a condition developed in the placenta.
“It was all hands on deck but then as the puppies started to arrive, we noticed that one of the puppies had green fur. We couldn’t believe it.”
Veterinarians believe the discoloration comes when light-colored puppies are exposed to a green bile pigment found in the placenta, called biliverdin, which can stain their fur when it mixes with the mother’s amniotic fluid.
“The colour has faded quite a bit already and will be gone soon, I’m told,” Mrs Sutherland said.
There are only three reported cases of puppies being born with green coats in the world, so Forest has become an unique little doggo.
Mrs Sutherland said she has found homes for the rest of the pups, but would keep Forest for herself.
