We all secretly hope our pets could stay cute and plump indefinitely, but puppyhood is a fleeting phase. Most dogs grow from lovely, funny puppies to fully grown, magnificent adults in just a few months. While German Shepherds are known for turning into massive, majestic working dogs, Ranger, a one-of-a-kind puppy, will remain little for the rest of his life.
Despite his age, the almost 3-year-old purebred German Shepherd suffers from a rare illness known as Pituitary Dwarfism, which means he will never grow out of puppyhood. He was diagnosed with dwarfism after catching Giardia, a parasite infection.
Ranger is endearing, yet his illness has a terrible impact. In some breeds, like German Shepherds, pituitary dwarfism can be inherited recessively, and Ranger’s owner told SWNS that he believes Ranger’s illness is linked to his parents’ genetics: “When we originally obtained Ranger from the breeder, he was smaller than all his other littermates,” Ranger’s owner, Shelby Mayo, explains.
“We brought him home a few weeks later, and he was parasite-free, but he got Giardia later.” Ranger was also suffering from a serious infection in his neck, which we discovered at the same time. We were able to gradually control the sickness, and a few months later, we were finally free of Giardia.” Ranger recovered from his health issues, but his humans noticed that he wasn’t growing as quickly as he should have been. They returned him to the veterinarian, who diagnosed him with Pituitary Dwarfism.
Hypothyroidism, a thyroid disorder in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones, is commonly connected with the condition. Ranger developed dry skin and hair loss as a result of this, but he is now on medication to alleviate his symptoms.
Ranger comes from a family of two sisters. The German Shepherd Jessie and the Labrador Hazel. Ranger does not let his short stature hold him down, even though his sisters are taller. Ranger is happier and healthier than ever before. Despite his diminutive stature, he is an important member of the Mayo clan and has garnered many fans online.