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The 5-week-old tiger-striped mongrel, nicknamed Octopus, was part of a litter of six puppies abandoned and due to be destroyed in government kennels before being saved by Hong Kong Dog Rescue.
Octopus has an unusual condition in which the two bones of his forelegs have grown apart and a separate paw has grown on the end of each bone, giving him four front paws.
He is barely able to stand and his condition is worsened by the fact that he has a severe case of tick fever, which vets must be cured before any surgery can be carried out.
Vet Stephan Lehner is consulting overseas experts to determine the best way of treating Octopus. "I have only ever seen anything like this two or three times in 15 years as a vet," he said.
X-rays indicated that Octopus's right front leg is so badly deformed it might have to be amputated. Hong Kong Dog Rescue is looking for someone to adopt the puppy when his surgery is completed.
"He has a long, long road ahead of him," Lehner said. "Whoever takes him in has to be strong enough mentally to endure seeing a dog they love suffer, but they will be giving him a life he certainly wouldn't have had otherwise." – (Sapa)
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Pet Centre
November 2007
