Surgical Procedure Performed on Dog with Additional Limbs

Ariel, a dog with six legs, was discovered abandoned in a supermarket parking lot and has undergone surgery to remove her extra limbs. The 11-week-old spaniel gained media attention after being left outside a B&M store in Pembrokeshire in September. Thanks to generous donations from all over the world, about £15,000 was raised to fund her life-changing operation. Surgeons were able to successfully save all four of her normal limbs, despite concerns that one might need to be amputated. Ariel was taken in by Greenacres Rescue near Haverfordwest, which is managed by Mikey Lawlor. He revealed that the initial assessment of Ariel revealed she had two additional back legs and an extra vulva. A subsequent CT scan also showed she only had one kidney, increasing the complexity of the required medical treatment. Additionally, Ariel's pelvis did not form properly due to having two hip joints on one side. This caused her normal back right leg to have weak muscle tone, potentially requiring its removal. However, recent months have shown signs of significant improvement in the leg's strength. Named after the Little Mermaid character, Ariel underwent surgery at Langford Vets Small Animal Referral Hospital in Somerset. The two-hour procedure was successful, and Ariel was up and walking the next day. She is expected to be discharged and returned to her foster family in west Wales soon. After several weeks of physiotherapy and recovery, the goal is to find Ariel a permanent home. The response to Ariel's story has been overwhelming, with calls and emails pouring in from as far away as New York and Australia. The hospital director at Langford Vets, Vicki Black, expressed pride in their collaborative effort to treat Ariel, emphasizing their commitment to treating pets and their joy in the dog's successful recovery.