From South America to Europe
From Brazil to Italy, Spain and England, something extremely rare has been reported in new born puppies. Dog owners and experts have been taken off guard upon seeing for themselves these normally fair-color-fur puppies. Above all, this has produced something adorable.
The Experts
An extremely rare occurrence happens inside the dog’s placenta when a substance comes in contact with a pup’s fur. The mother dog’s amniotic fluid, which protects and nourishes the pup, on rare occasions, mixes with a green bile pigment. This pigment is called Biliverdin and causes the pup’s fur to turn a green color.
Puppy Owners Speak
The green color fur is most evident in fair-color-fur pups. Although, dog owners have reported the green color has completely gone in several weeks. The pups with green fur are not sick and behave just like their siblings.
Green With Envy
In some cultures the color green is considered to be good luck, hope and love. While in other traditions, the color green represents the beginning of new life. Pups born with green color fur appear to have a normal survival rate.
What’s In A Name
As a result, the Granny Smith apple color has inspired some expected names for these green fur pups. In Sardinia, Italy, the pet owners named their green fur pup, Pistachio. In Sao Paolo, Brazil, the pup owners named their green puppy Hulk, after the comic book superhero.
Reported Cases
Although smaller than their siblings these green fur puppies don’t appear to die of causes related to Biliverdin exposure. There was one case reported in Brazil, one in Italy, one in Spain and one in England all born with green fur. To date, local news for each of these countries has reports dated in the years 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2020.
Breeds Reported
One owner, breeds hunting dogs in Valladolid, Spain. In Clayton-le-Moors, Lancashire, the puppy was from their two-year-old golden Labrador. The owners from Sardinia, Italy are Farmers but the breed of their puppy was not mentioned. And the puppy born in Sao Paolo, Brazil was also a Labrador.
Rare In Dogs, Common In Other Species
However, Biliverdin is common in many species. This green pigment is found in fish blood, frog eggs and the wings of moths and butterflies. Similarly, even humans have Biliverdin, it can be seen in bruises that are healing and babies born with jaundice.
References
Why This Puppy Was Born With Green Fur, 10-22-20, https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/puppy-born-with-green-fur-in-sardinia/vi-BB1aibbm?ocid=HPDHP17
Inside Edition, Cristian Mallocci/Handout, Inside Edition Digital’s Mara Montalbano
Puppy born with green fur in Sardinia, CBS News
Wikipedia/Biliverdin
BYJACK LINSHI, JUNE 13, 2014 3:02 PM EDT, Newsfeed/Animals, https://time.com/2871430/these-puppies-were-born-with-green-fur/
Photo by:Reid and Rebecca: World’s 1st GREEN puppy? http://dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2656315/Spanish-dog-owner-kittens-litter-five-produces-two-green-pups.html
https://www.thelocal.es/20140611/green-puppies-shock-spanish-dog-breeder, 11 June 2014 by George Mills
DAILYMAIL, By HELEN POW, PUBLISHED:07:02 EDT, 9 October 2012
PHOTOS BY CASCADE NEWS