If you're a regular visitor to Imgur, chances are you've seen Felix's cute little face. Felix has won the hearts of thousands of people and is perhaps the most popular dog on the network.
Felix has had his share of difficulties due to his cleft lip and cleft palate. Thankfully, he had successful mouth reconstruction surgery in January. Felix is now as happy and healthy as any other excellent boy, and he even had his first dip in the river not too long ago.
More info: Imgur
We introduce Felix, a black labrador with a cleft lip and palate.
Photo by: thevaiobandit101
"I adopted Felix when he was 11 days old. In an interview with Bored Panda, Felix's rescuer and owner, Jamie, explained how she came to care for the dog. "I was the rescue worker who was called in by the breeder after they noticed that one of the puppies from their litter was not thriving, and was, in fact, dying because he had a severe cleft palate and cleft lip, and was not able to nurse off of his mother properly," Jamie said. He had aspiration pneumonia and was in grave danger of dying within the next day. I brought him home and fed him via a tube for the following seven weeks. And I even took care of his pneumonia. He's 14 months old now, so he's a full-grown adult Black Lab! ”
But in January he had surgery, and today he's happy and healthier than ever before.
Jamie told Bored Panda, "the reason of a cleft lip and palate is unknown." To paraphrase the article: "It is a congenital abnormality observed in animals and humans, and is assumed to be linked to insufficient nutrition in the mother or exposure to toxins during gestation."
"Felix got his face wet in the water today for the first time after his operation!"
This poor little child suffers from more than just a cleft lip and palate. yet it doesn't stop him from enjoying life to the fullest! Since Felix's colon developed on the incorrect side of his body, he also experiences digestive problems. Curious, but it does the job. "Other than the fact that he only has one working eyeball, his jaws don't line up, and the right side of his face looks like a burned candle, I guess he is alright," Felix's owner informed us. Even worse, he has mismatched teeth and can only consume soft, canned foods. I try to make him feel more included by feeding him certain hard foods, but it might be challenging for him to use a spoon to eat them. It keeps him occupied, however.
Jamie, Felix's owner, told Bored Panda that on January 31st, Felix underwent surgery to fix his clefts. Both of his palates were affected by his unilateral cleft palate: hard and soft. His soft palate had been completely absent, but his doctor was able to rebuild it with tissue taken from his own mouth. Since the operation, perhaps as a result of the shifting of his skull, he has developed a neurological tic that periodically leads him to spin around and bark at thin air. New drugs are being tried to see if they may help him out.
His owner told Bored Panda that poor Felix has been unable to eat and drink normally. "I had to use a special tool I devised to clean his cleft after every meal," she said. Every time the vet gave it a thorough cleaning, he had to put him under anesthesia beforehand. A entire salmon skin and a dental flosser made of plastic have both been discovered caught in the ceiling (all of these items are common in Alaska). She described him as "a bit of a hot mess."
Felix is lucky to have such a large and supportive family. This is the fourth time I've heard someone say, "Felix has four siblings!" Telling Bored Panda, Jamie said. A less serious cleft in my second dog that didn't need surgery says, "I have another dog with a cleft. Sammy is an Australian Cattle Dog, and his name is. PB is my small dachshund, and he is 12 years old. I have a Bethel, Alaska terrier named Baby Girl. Last but not least, we have Meera, who resembles a brindled whippet and weighs 20 pounds. They rescued a really diverse group of people, but they sure are a strange lot. Every day at work, I help a veterinarian who specializes in animal rescue. The dude is fantastic. Felix gets along perfectly with his siblings, his foster siblings, his cat companion, and any other pets I bring into the house. Since 2013, I have fostered more than 400 pets.
And now look at him, all grown up and mature!
This black lab was born with a cleft lip and a cleft palate, but after surgery, he can now swim and play with the other dogs.
Photo by thevaiobandit101.
Evidently, Felix is content and secure in his home with his human caretaker and his siblings. Jamie said, "Felix is the happiest dog I've ever had." "He has more energy than he or I know what to do with, and he is completely oblivious to the fact that he has any health issues. This past weekend was the first time I took him swimming, and he loved it. It is my goal to teach him to be a "true retriever" this summer. I could have saved his life if I hadn't attempted to take him swimming the day before his operation.
After three surgeries in as many months, Felix is "nearly 100% back to normal."
This black lab was born with a cleft lip and a cleft palate, but after surgery, he can now swim and play with the other dogs.
Photo by thevaiobandit101.
This cheerful, active goofball's favorite activity is unquestionably playing. Bored Panda was informed by Felix's owner, "He will do it allllll day if you'll toss it," that Felix is a ball enthusiast. To to his owner: "He can eat and drink regularly now, and he's the strongest dog I've ever met. Several weeks after his operation, he had a feeding tube coming out of his neck, and I had to force liquid dog food through it. He was very silent and motionless as I worked. Not being able to put anything in his mouth was challenging since he always had to chew on something. He has been quite resilient; I wish him well in the future.
Because Felix swallowed a rock and two plush animals, he required two operations.
This black lab was born with a cleft lip and a cleft palate, but after surgery, he can now swim and play with the other dogs.
Photo by thevaiobandit101.
The level of affection shown to Felix by his family is evident. There, he may interact with various animals, including dogs, cats, and plush toys. He has such a soft spot for stuffed animals that he ate two and had surgery because of it.
This cute lab is just like every other well-behaved Labrador male, then.
This black lab was born with a cleft lip and a cleft palate, but after surgery, he can now swim and play with the other dogs.
Photo by thevaiobandit101.
The finest part of all his operations has been seeing him recover to this state. The man who owns Felix can't stop gushing about him. He smiles and laughs a lot.
