I Gave a Home to a Stray Dog with Two Mouths, One in Place of an Ear
Toad, my beloved pet, is approximately six years old. She wandered into the shelter where I used to work, and her unusual appearance stunned all of us. On top of that, she was extremely aggressive upon arrival. A shelter personnel had to use a muzzle to restrain her and took her to the vet clinic. While being examined, Toad and I locked eyes, and it may sound strange, but she immediately calmed down.
Later that day, I brought her to my office to assess her temperament, and she promptly snuggled up to me. Despite her intimidating and bizarre appearance, Toad felt comfortable resting her head on my shoulder. It was then that I decided to adopt her, and we have been inseparable ever since.
Mutt Misfits, a rescue organization that caters to sick, injured, deformed, and special needs pets, was established due to the inspiration of a woman. The founders, who were once employees of a shelter, witnessed the fate of “misfit” dogs brought to their facility. Because of this, they decided to create Mutt Misfits in May 2017, which has since saved around 200 dogs.
Yes, you read it right. Toad has two ears on the left side of her head. If you lift one of them, you’ll see an additional mouth complete with teeth and saliva glands. While many would find it repulsive, the unique characteristic only endears Toad more to the strange bunch she hangs out with.
The second oral cavity lacks a jaw, hence rendering it unable to chew. However, it salivates and is linked to the first mouth. Following a meal with the primary mouth, the second mouth drools. The said additional mouth features three teeth and requires periodic cleaning and brushing by the veterinarian.
We’ve received various explanations from veterinarians regarding our furry friend’s deformity, but the majority suggest that it was a twin she absorbed while in the womb. This unfortunate incident is often a result of overbreeding dogs, and it’s essential to prevent such occurrences. Despite this setback, she’s living a contented and healthy life, though her lifespan may not match that of a healthy dog.
After having Toad for quite some time and gaining more knowledge about her condition since we first met her, we decided to take more X-rays of her skull. Upon analyzing the X-rays, we were able to better comprehend them. The initial image revealed that her skull is oddly shaped, with an additional orbital bone surrounding her eye socket. It is likely due to the absorption of her twin while still in the womb, which has caused her skull to appear more bulbous. The red circle on the X-ray indicates two sets of hyoid bones, while the yellow shows that her vertebrae are not connected correctly. Furthermore, the green circle reveals an extra trachea that is not entirely developed.
.
.
This girl is simply charming and flawlessly delightful, and her loved ones cherish her deeply.
.
.
.
If you’re interested in helping those who are difficult to save by either donating or adopting, take a look at our website.
