Latest news with #AlaskanMalamutes
Newsweek
08-07-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
Dog Owner Spots 'Crack' in New Puppy's Eye, Internet Stunned at Reason Why
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A worried dog owner turned to Reddit for answers after noticing what looked like a thin crack across her new puppy's eye—sparking a flurry of helpful responses from fellow pet lovers and professionals. The original poster, u/AllineCICI, wrote in the subreddit r/dogadvice that she had recently brought home an Alaskan Malamute puppy from a local seller. While describing him as "super sweet," she noticed something unsettling about his eye. "There's a very thin, straight line on the surface of one of his eyes. It almost looks like a tiny crack or a scratch. It doesn't seem to be bothering him—he's not squinting or pawing at it—but it's definitely there," she explained in the subreddit. Although the puppy already had a vet check-up scheduled, she admitted: "I'm trying to tell myself not to panic, but it's hard when you're a new owner." In her full post, she elaborated that she was hoping for advice or insight from the community to ease her mind in the meantime, asking if anyone had encountered something similar. Despite struggling to get a good photo due to her puppy being a "total wiggle worm," she remained concerned. Veterinary professionals and experienced pet owners were quick to respond—many pointing to a possible diagnosis: persistent pupillary membranes (PPMs). What Are Persistent Pupillary Membranes? Dr. Eliza O'Callaghan, managing veterinarian for Small Door Vet, explained to Newsweek PPMs are remnants of a fetal blood vessel network that once nourished the developing lens. These membranes usually regress before or shortly after birth, but in some cases, tiny strands remain visible in the eye. "In simpler terms, PPMs are leftover tissue from before a puppy was born," said O'Callaghan. "You might see them as tiny threads or lines inside the eye. They're relatively common, especially in certain breeds, and most of the time, they're harmless." She noted that Alaskan Malamutes are among the breeds predisposed to PPMs, alongside Basenjis, Pembroke Welsh Corgis, Chow Chows, and others. In most dogs, the condition is merely cosmetic, but it can occasionally interfere with vision depending on where the strands attach. Medically, PPMs are categorized based on attachment points: iris to iris (most common and benign), iris to lens, or iris to cornea. Complications may arise if the strands attach to the lens or cornea, potentially causing cataracts, cloudiness, or corneal edema. A stock image of Alaskan Malamute puppy. A stock image of Alaskan Malamute puppy. William Eickler / 500px/500Px Unreleased "If your puppy is under 4 months old, there's still a chance they may fully regress," said O'Callaghan. "For more involved cases, topical treatments, laser therapy, or even surgery might be considered, but that's rare." Most dogs with mild iris-to-iris PPMs go on to live completely normal lives. However, because the condition is suspected to be inherited, O'Callaghan emphasized that dogs with PPMs—especially those affecting the lens or cornea—should not be bred. She also cautioned that other eye anomalies in puppies, such as iris colobomas, synechiae, trauma-related scarring, or congenital cataracts, can sometimes be mistaken for PPMs, and may require a veterinary ophthalmologist for an accurate diagnosis. Reddit Weighs In Reddit users were quick to offer their thoughts—some even recognizing the condition immediately. "Vet here. This is a persistent pupillary membrane. It's a remnant left over from birth. Majority of the time it doesn't affect sight and most dogs don't have any issues. But it's sensible to get this assessed by a vet or veterinary ophthalmologist because it depends where the strands are attached to know if it will cause an issue further down the line. It's recommended not to breed from dogs who have PPM. This isn't an emergency," one commenter wrote. Another added a personal touch: "Yep I have one on myself, not as remarkable as this one. Only really see it when I look thru scopes like microscope, rifle scopes... anything that has narrow tunnel and light entering thru it to your eye." One Redditor named Becca shared a relatable story: "I knew right away because my cat has one! It's not near as noticeable as this but the vet that told me about it was really excited to see it in my cat! My cat does have vision issues in that eye but of course not because of the PPM." Newsweek reached out to u/AllineCICI, for comment via Reddit. We could not verify the details of the case. Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Yahoo
Stockton woman charged with 12 counts of animal abuse
STOCKTON, Mo. — A woman from Stockton faces animal abuse charges over a month after the Humane Society of Missouri rescued 42 dogs and nine cats from her residence. According to online court dockets, Sarah Walborn, born 1989, faces 12 counts of animal abuse — which are all Class A misdemeanors — in Cedar County Circuit Court. According to the affidavit filed publicly on Tuesday, May 13, a Cedar County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) deputy arrived to Walborn's residence to serve legal papers on March 13. Upon arrival, the deputy was immediately hit by a strong odor reminiscent of a dead animal. Upon further observation, the CCSO deputy noted Walborn had several dogs housed in kennels that lacked proper flooring. The dogs were standing directly on dirt and grass. Some dogs appeared malnourished, and some kennels did not have food or water available for the animals, the affidavit says. The deputy attempted to make contact with Walborn, but found nobody home at the time of the visit. On March 31, the CCSO deputy spoke with a representative from the Missouri Department of Agriculture Division of Animal Health. During that conversation, the representative provided the deputy a packet containing documentation of an inspection report of Walborn's residence that the representative conducted on March 28, which detailed similar observations regarding animal's the conditions. A warrant has been issued for Walborn's arrest with a $5,000 cash-only bond. According to previous Ozarks First coverage, the Humane Society of Missouri (HSMO) rescued 42 dogs and nine cats from Walborn's Cedar County property last month. The Animal Cruelty Task Force was sent to the facility of a formerly licensed breeder on April 3 to rescue several animals. According to a news release, the animals were seized after being seen in concerning condition by a witness. HSMO says there were multiple dead animals, like horses and deer on site. Dog skeletal remains were also found. The facility was under a formerly licensed breeder operating under the name 'Wynter Knights', and the rescue was made with the help of the Missouri Department of Agriculture and the Missouri Attorney General's Office. Ozarks First Investigates dug through court documents revealing the State of Missouri took legal action against Walborn in March 2025. Filings allege that since becoming a licensed breeder in February 2024, Walborn violated multiple provisions of the Missouri Animal Care Facilities Act and the Canine Cruelty Prevention Act. The state claims that despite numerous inspections and citations from the Missouri Department of Agriculture, including four visits from June 2024 to February 2025, Walborn did not address the violations and continued to operate under substandard conditions. The April 3 discovery prompted action from the Animal Cruelty Task Force, which was supported by the Missouri Department of Agriculture and the Missouri Attorney General's Office. Corgis, Alaskan Malamutes, and Doodle mixes were among the breeds rescued. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Yahoo
Stockton woman ignored animal care violations, State says
STOCKTON, Mo. – Ozarks First Investigates is uncovering additional information about the woman at the center of an animal cruelty investigation and rescue operation in Cedar County, where multiple dead animals, including skeletal remains of dogs, were found. On April 3, the Humane Society of Missouri rescued 42 dogs and nine cats in dire condition from Sarah Walborn's Stockton-based business, Wynter Knights Kennel and Grooming. Ozarks First Investigates dug through court documents revealing the State of Missouri took legal action against Walborn the month prior, in March 2025. Filings allege that since becoming a licensed breeder in February 2024, Walborn violated multiple provisions of the Missouri Animal Care Facilities Act and the Canine Cruelty Prevention Act. Records show violations include, but are not limited to: (1) Failed to provide adequate veterinarian care for several animals under her care (2) Failed to provide adequate shade for animals (3) Failed to provide adequate, clean, dry bedding material (4) Failed to remove excreta or food waste from enclosures daily (5) Failed to properly identify animals being held at the Facility, purchased, boarded, sheltered, or otherwise acquired, sold, released, given away or otherwise disposed of, or removed from the Facility for any reason (6) Failed to maintain required medical records on all animals brought (7) Failed to conduct daily observations of all animals to assess their health and well-being (8) Failed to provide adequate shelter structure for outdoor facilities housing animals USPS updates service standards, impacting mail delivery times The state claims that despite numerous inspections and citations from the Missouri Department of Agriculture, including four visits from June 2024 to February 2025, Walborn did not address the violations and continued to operate under substandard conditions. The April 3 discovery prompted action from the Animal Cruelty Task Force, which was supported by the Missouri Department of Agriculture and the Missouri Attorney General's Office. Corgis, Alaskan Malamutes, and Doodle mixes were among the breeds rescued. 'The severe neglect these poor animals suffered is abhorrent and inexcusable,' said Kathy Warnick, President of the Humane Society of Missouri. 'We will do everything in our power to ensure the rescued dogs and cats are rehabilitated and given a second chance at a happier life.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
