Un-fur-gettable! Puppy is born with GREEN fur on a Sardinian farm due to extremely rare pigment in its mother’s womb

• Cristian Mallocci was shocked to see green-tinted puppy on the farm in Sardinia
• The tiny dog, which he has since named Pistachio, was part of a five-dog litter 
• Rest of the litter, as well as the puppies’ cross-breed mother, all have a white coat

A puppy with green fur has been born on a farm in Sardinia due to an extremely rare pigment in its mother’s womb.

Italian farmer Cristian Mallocci could not believe his eyes when one of his eight dogs gave birth to the green-tinted puppy on the Mediterranean island.

The tiny dog, which he has since named Pistachio, was part of a five-strong litter born earlier this month.

The rest of his siblings, as well as the puppies’ cross-breed mother, all have a white coat.  

Italian farmer Cristian Mallocci could not believe his eyes when one of his eight dogs gave birth to the green-tinted puppy

The tiny dog, which he has since named Pistachio, was part of a five-dog litter born earlier this month

It is extremely rare for a dog to be born with green-coloured fur. 

It is thought that it only occurs when pale-coated puppies come into contact with a green pigment called biliverdin – the same pigment that causes bruising in humans – in their mother’s womb. 

But Pistachio’s peculiar colour will not last forever and will continue to fade as he grows.       

It is extremely rare for a dog to be born with green-coloured fur and only occurs when pale coloured puppies have contact with a green pigment called biliverdin in their mother’s womb

But Pistachio’s peculiar colour will not last forever and will continue to fade as he grows

Mallocci, who runs the farm with his brother-in-law Giannangelo Liperi, has said that he will keep Pistachio and train him up to look after the sheep with his mother Spelacchia.

But the rest of the littler will be given away to new homes. 

Mallocci added that green is the symbol of hope and luck and thought it was a sign that Pistachio could put a smile on people’s faces during the coronavirus pandemic.

The green puppy phenomenon

 Puppies with green fur are an incredibly rare occurrence (Pistachio pictured)

Puppies with green fur are an incredibly rare occurrence.

The tinting comes from a bile pigment called biliverdin which is found in the placenta of dogs.

Biliverdin dislodges as the puppy is born and mixes with the amniotic fluid which surrounds puppies in their mother’s womb.

If the levels of biliverdin are uncommonly high as it mixes with the fluid, it can stain the puppy’s coat. 

There are no known health risks involved with the phenomenon and the colour usually corrects itself within weeks of birth.

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