Six-pawed puppy to go under the knife

This is Octopus, so-called because he was born with six paws, two more than the average pooch.

He was due to be destroyed until vets rescued him in Hong Kong.

The six-week-old tiger-striped mongrel was born with a rare deformity in which the two bones of his forelegs have grown apart. As a result, a separate paw has grown on the end of each bone, giving him four front paws.



Australian vet Stephan Lehner plans to operate on Octopus. He has been consulting overseas experts to determine the best way forward.

'I have only ever seen anything like this two or three times in 15 years as a vet,' he said.

X-rays indicate the dog's right front leg may have to be amputated because it is so badly deformed.