Not only humans, but also dogs are sometimes affected by a genetic defect. Ranger“, a German shepherd dog, has a rare genetic defect.
The animal will be the size of a puppy for the rest of its life.
Despite his purebred ancestry, Ranger will never reach the size of an adult animal. The disease is called pituitary dwarfism and mainly affects sheepdogs.
After the mother’s last litter, the breeder Shelby Mayo immediately realised that something was wrong.
The devastating diagnosis and the dog’s future life
Naturally, the breeder quickly sought medical help. But the diagnosis did not bode well. Initially, a parasite was even suspected that was hindering growth.
Despite intensive treatment, Ranger developed further infections.
In addition to his short stature, an infection appeared in the poor animal’s neck. In fact, at the beginning of the treatment, the doctors suspected a parasitic infection and not a genetic defect. But fortunately the diagnosis was then clearly recognised.
A short time later, Ranger was neutered. But from this point onwards, the owners noticed serious health problems with Ranger. In addition to hair loss and brittle skin, the animal lost a noticeable amount of weight.
Some Instagram users who shared Ranger’s fate warned the owners that Ranger might have a thyroid condition. It’s good to know that animal lovers on the internet are taking care of poor, sick dogs.
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A sweet and normal German shepherd with complications
Unfortunately, the story is true and not fiction. Several vets examined Ranger extensively and found that the animal did indeed have thyroid problems. This can cause symptoms such as hair loss and a lack of appetite.
In addition, Ranger, the dwarf sheepdog, probably also has other health problems. However, the poor animal is receiving the full attention of his owners and is also receiving the best veterinary care.
Apart from its size, the dog has the character traits of a normal German shepherd. Fun and play as well as the classic protective instinct towards his owners are not neglected despite his health problems.
A sad and at the same time exciting story. But Ranger has a good chance of living a long life.
