It is a fact that most people can’t resist cute fluffy animals; cats, dogs, bunnies, or pandas – you name it! And the tinier they are, the more adorable, agree? I guess mother nature thought of playing a prank and made a substantial German Shepherd into a cute tiny pup for as long as he lives. Sad to say, it had to come with a consequence.
Ranger is a full-grown 2-year-old purebred German Shepherd who, regardless of his age, will stay as a puppy forever. He was diagnosed with Dwarfism after he got infected by a parasite called Giardia. Thus, he will remain as a tiny dog for the rest of his life.
Shelby Mayo, Ranger’s owner, talked about his condition. She said when they first got Ranger from the breeder, he was smaller than all his other siblings, but they thought it was because he had a parasite called Coccidia. In the next few weeks, they brought him home, and he was free of the pests, but later on, he ended up getting another parasite called Giardia.
At the same time, they also found out that Ranger had a massive infection on his neck. Luckily, they were able to get the infection under control. A few months later, Ranger was able to fully recover from infections and parasites.
After he got better from the sickness, his owners realized that there might be something wrong, as he wasn’t growing at the rate they are expecting for him to grow. So they took him to the vet for them to check out Ranger’s strange condition.
Even though his condition had him stuck in this forever puppyhood, some side effects come with his condition. Because of that, he had such health problems as shedding fur and flaky skin. It is all caused by a disease of the endocrine system called Hypothyroidism. It causes the thyroid gland not to produce enough thyroid hormone.
Let’s not worry, since his loving owners and fascinated online followers made sure he got the right care. Ranger has never let any of it stop him. He is generally a happy and healthy little dog that enjoys his time with his canine friends and siblings. He may be tiny, but he is a big charmer.
