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Rio the Golden Retriever with her green puppy named ‘Forest’
‘Rio’ the Golden Retriever gives birth to a green puppy, named ‘Forest’, Golspie, The Highlands, Scotland, UK – 07 Jul 2017
According to an article on Anything German Shepherd, dog owner Louise Sutherland was given the shock of her life when her three year old Golden Retriever ‘Rio’ gave birth to a litter of 9 puppies, with one coming out a mint green colour. The extremely rare occurrence is thought to have only happened three times before in the world.It is caused by a bile pigment called billiverdin that is found in the placenta of dogs.
The substance can stain the puppy’s coat when it mixes with the mother’s amniotic fluid – the liquid that protects and nourishes the pup. Owner Louise from Golspie in the Highlands of Scotland has found homes for all the puppies but is planning to keep the green puppy she has named the ‘Forest’ for herself.
According to The Sun U.K., one lucky green puppy was recently born to a Golden Retriever named Rio in the town of Golspie in the Scottish Highlands.
The pup was named “Forest” by her owner, Louise Sutherland, due to her uniquely colored fur. Forest is one of nine puppies, all the rest of whom have completely normal fur.
“The first pup was stuck, so myself and my daughter Claire managed to free him and pull him out safely,” Sutherland told The Sun. “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.”
Sutherland had every right to be stunned: the occurrence is so rare, it’s only known to have happened three other times. According to a 2014 article in TIME, veterinarians believe that exposure to biliverdin — a green bile pigment found in the placenta — may be the cause.
“The color has faded quite a bit already and will be gone soon, I’m told,” said Sutherland, and the TIME story backs this up. Apparently the condition tends to resolve itself within a few weeks.
Beautiful!! 5 healthy puppies and their mommy!!