Green puppy called Pistachio born in Italy

Pistachio’s shocking colour to fade over time

2020 has delivered yet another shock to a farmer in Italy, after one of his eight dogs gave birth to a bright green puppy.

Cristian Mallocci, who lives on the Mediterranean island of Sardinia, was surprised by the arrival of the green-furred puppy, one of a litter of five born to his dog, Spelacchia. All the other puppies had white fur, the same colour as their mother, who is a mixed-breed dog.

The farmer named the little dog Pistachio to reflect his unusual colour and told Reuters he plans to raise the puppy to look after sheep with his mother on the farm he runs with his brother-in-law, Giannangelo Liperi.

It is a rare phenomenon for a dog to be born with green-coloured fur, but it is believed to occur when dogs with pale fur are stained by the “meconium” in the mother’s womb, which is the earliest stool produced by an infant animal.

It could also have been caused by a green pigment in the mother’s womb called biliverdin, the same pigment that causes the green colour in bruises. The surprising colour will fade over time, as the mother bathes her puppies and they get older.

Pistachio, a puppy who was born with green fur (via REUTERS)

In January, a German Shepherd puppy was born a shocking lime green colour due to the same phenomenon, to a family in North Carolina, US, who aptly named him ‘Hulk’.

Hulk was likely white in colour under the bright green stains, just like some of his siblings.

According to Mr Mallocci, the colour green is a symbol of hope and luck, so Pistachio’s arrival in the midst of very difficult times as the coronavirus pandemic continues was “meant to be” so he could make people smile.