Puppy Behaves Strangely Before Vets Discover Shocking Reason

Adopting a pet is always an exciting experience, yet things become a bit more complicated when that animal turns out to be nothing like you expected. When one Phoenix woman opened her heart to an adorable German Shepherd puppy, she couldn't wait to watch him grow into a healthy, normal-size dog. But as the months went by the woman began to notice a few unusual traits about her pup, and a trip to the vet confirmed the truth: this was no ordinary pooch.

Tiny puppy

Yet how could Shelby Mayo have known? When the 18-year-old Phoenix native first laid eyes on a tiny German Shepherd puppy called Ranger, she assumed he was just the runt of the litter.

Vet visit

Still, Ranger's small size was somewhat cause for concern, leading Mayo to make an appointment with her vet. There, she learned that her pup was suffering from a parasite called Coccidia, which was likely stunting his growth.

Parasites

But even after ridding Ranger of the Coccidia, she discovered that he had a second parasite, Giardia, as well as an infection on his neck. The frequency of his maladies seemed unusual to Mayo, yet the rookie pet owner simply attributed it to poor luck.

Deep concern

The vet, however, was a bit more concerned. In addition to his various ailments, Ranger had barely grown since being adopted. Even for the runt of the litter, this was quite abnormal.