Meet the intersex puppy—so rare it’s one in 100,000!

A routine wellness visit for a Golden Retriever puppy turned into a medical mystery that left one British family reeling.

What started as excitement for a new therapy dog soon became a race against time for her health.

Emma and Matt Priest welcomed eight-week-old Penny into their Stratford-upon-Avon home last September, hoping she would support their two disabled children as a therapy dog.

Within days, Matt noticed something was 'not quite right' with their new puppy.

Concerned, they arranged a veterinary examination that revealed a startling truth.

A Rare Intersex Diagnosis

Penny was born intersex, possessing one testicle and one ovary, along with half a womb and a single fallopian tube.

Even more unusually, her reproductive organs were located midway up her abdomen rather than between her back legs.

This condition is extraordinarily rare, affecting just one in every 100,000 dogs.

Experts said it was far more likely to be struck by lightning than to encounter a dog with Penny’s combination of organs.

The Financial and Medical Challenges

'She's so incredibly special and she's our world' — Emma Priest, GB News

The financial implications of treating Penny’s condition were daunting.

Classified as a birth defect, her intersex condition was not covered by pet insurance, forcing the Priests to pay thousands of pounds out of pocket.

The surgery alone cost approximately £1,600 (about $2,700 AUD) and had to be performed laparoscopically due to the unusual positioning of Penny’s testicle.

Vets warned that failure to use keyhole surgery might require a more invasive operation.

The surgery was urgent because Penny faced an elevated risk of cancer due to her undescended testicle wrapped around her lymph nodes.

She had already experienced intestinal parasites and bacterial infections, making timely intervention critical.

'The only way that this is going to happen is for her to have this huge surgery, because they've said it could be catastrophic if we leave her any longer. But from a medical point of view, we just want her to be healthy and to be able to lead the most healthy life she can,' Emma explained.

Surgery and Community Support

Penny’s spay surgery took place on 16 October 2024.

'The vets are quite confident that, because the external part is female, although it's in the wrong place, then she will lead a female life once her insides have been taken out,' Emma shared before the operation.

The family received significant support from their community, raising over $1,500 through crowdfunding efforts to help cover Penny’s treatment.

Intersex conditions, while rare in dogs, do appear across many animal species.

Unlike humans, the primary concern for animals is medical—preventing cancer and ensuring comfort.

Lessons from Penny’s Journey

Despite the emotional and financial strain, the Priest family remained committed to Penny’s wellbeing.

'We're dreading it. We really are dreading her having to go, but from a health point of view, she has to have this done. She's so incredibly special and she's our world,' Emma said before surgery.

Penny’s journey demonstrates the unpredictability of pet ownership and the devotion families show to ensure their animals live healthy, happy lives.

Penny’s story highlights how even routine veterinary care can uncover unexpected and complex medical issues in pets.

Sometimes, treatments meant to help can lead to unforeseen complications, showing just how delicate pet healthcare decisions can be.

For another real-life example of the challenges and emotional impact of pet care, this story offers insight and guidance.

Read more: ‘I had a hand in killing my dog’: The treatment some owners wish they never tried

What are your thoughts on how pet insurance should handle rare congenital conditions?