A family received a surprise after doing genetic testing on their dog, Darla. The results indicated that their Australian Shepherd was intersex, according to CBS 3 Eyewitness News.
Genetic test shows Australian Shepherd is intersex
The Warrens always thought Darla was female because of her outward appearance. But before spay surgery, her dog mom, Sandy Warren, decided to do genetic testing. Because Australian Shepherds may have adverse reactions to some medical procedures and/or medication, she wanted to ensure Darla wouldn’t have any complications due to spay surgery.
As it turned out, Darla was sensitive to one of the drugs used during the surgery. But there was another unexpected discovery.
“They said, ‘are you sure she’s a female?'” Warren told CBS 3 Eyewitness News. “And I was like, ‘Yeah, she’s a female. Outwardly, yeah, she’s a female.'”
But the test revealed that Darla had XY chromosomes, indicating that she was genetically male.
“She could be a they,” Julie Sanders, Darla’s veterinarian, told the news outlet.
Veterinarian discovers unique anatomy during surgery
Sanders performed neutering surgery at the Rockledge Veterinary Center in Rockledge, Pennsylvania – and made another shocking discovery.
“We found testes, not ovaries,” the vet said. “Darla has female external genitalia, but testes on the inside.”
The vet removed the internal testes. She also adjusted Darla’s medications to ward off complications. The genetic testing proved crucial in keeping Darla safe during and after the procedure.
“It allows us to customize and be proactive about the complications that might occur,” Sanders said of pre-surgical genetic testing. “It can be life changing, it can prevent a major post-operative bleed.”
Darla came through the surgery well and recovered quickly.
Warren, however, was dumbfounded by the news of Darla’s unique anatomy.
“I didn’t know what to say,” she recalled. “I was like, ‘this is crazy.'”
Though Darla is not technically female, Warren still calls her “beautiful girl” and “good girl.”
“I still call her a she because I mean outwardly, she looks like a she,” the dog mom explained. “She’s still Darla to us.”
