A green puppy isn’t something we see in our day-to-day lives, but that doesn’t mean they’re unheard of. Quick Googling will lead you to a myriad of articles about green puppies born to families from all over the globe.
While it’s fascinating to look at their uniquely-colored fur, one can’t help but worry that there might be something wrong with them. Veterinarians would always chime in whenever this is brought up, of course. They tell fur parents to rest easy because the puppy’s coat is bound to return to its original color as it gets older.
From one green puppy to another
Early October this year, we learned about Pistachio, a green puppy born at a farm in Italy. His fur dad, Cristian Mallocci, immediately noticed him because he was the only one with a different fur coat. All of his siblings had white fur, just like their mom, Spelacchia.
Almost a week later, the world came to know about another green puppy born in the Philippines. Just like Mallocci, his fur mom, Chona Lacsamana, had no idea how to react upon seeing him. Albeit confused, she decided to name the pup “Wasabi” because of its green fur.
Identifying the culprit
The rise in the number of green puppies prompted some people to ask what caused these babies’ fur to turn green. Apparently, it’s caused by a compound named biliverdin. It’s a bile pigment that helps heal animals’ wounds.
Sometimes, there are high amounts of this compound inside the puppy’s birth sac, causing its coat to stain. The effect of this natural hair dye is not at all permanent. As the puppy grows older and sheds fur, the color will eventually disappear. This is also why the only green-colored adult dogs we see are the ones dyed by their fur parents.
Credits to Chona Lacsamana
