If you’re an avid follower of Imgur, chances are that you’ve stumbled upon the irresistible countenance of Felix. This lovable dog is easily the most popular pooch on this social media platform, and it’s not difficult to see why. Despite being born with a cleft lip and palate, Felix has won over thousands of hearts with his endearing face. However, life hasn’t always been easy for this little guy. He’s had to face several challenges due to his congenital condition. But things turned around for him this January when he underwent surgery to fix his mouth, which was a resounding success! Today, Felix is just like any other healthy and happy dog out there. In fact, he recently had his first dip in a river, something he couldn’t have done a year ago. If you want to know more about Felix, head over to Imgur.
The owner of Felix, a black Labrador, shared their heartwarming story with Bored Panda. As an 11-day old puppy, Felix was rescued by Jamie, who was called in by the breeder. Felix had a severe cleft palate and cleft lip, making it difficult for him to nurse off his mother and leaving him on the brink of death due to aspiration pneumonia. Jamie took Felix home and tube-fed him for seven weeks, nursing him back to health. Now, at 14 months old, Felix has finally undergone surgery and is thriving.
According to Jamie, who spoke with Bored Panda, the reason behind a cleft lip and palate remains a mystery. This issue occurs in both animals and humans during birth and is believed to be linked to insufficient nutrition during gestation or exposure to harmful chemicals. Jamie also shared that Felix had his first river experience after the surgery, and he was elated to get his face wet.
The charming little boy in the picture has unfortunately been diagnosed with other medical conditions aside from cleft lip and palate. However, it doesn’t seem to affect his cheerful demeanor! According to his owner, Felix also experiences digestive issues due to a peculiar case where his colon developed on the opposite side of his body. Additionally, he only has one working eyeball, mismatched jaws, and the right side of his face appears distorted. Despite all this, Felix seems to be doing okay overall. One more thing that sets him apart is that none of his teeth align properly, meaning canned food is his best bet for sustenance. Although he sometimes tries harder food options, it’s difficult for him to grab anything. Nevertheless, it does keep him occupied. His owner claims that Felix had a blast during their time together.
According to Jamie, Felix’s owner, Felix underwent a corrective surgery on the 31st of January to fix his clefts. One of these clefts was a unilateral cleft palate that affected both his hard and soft palates. However, Felix’s doctor was able to reconstruct his mouth roof using his own tissue and even rebuilt his non-existent soft palate during the surgery. After the surgery, Felix started suffering from a neurological tic that makes him bark at the air and spin around occasionally, possibly due to the shift in his skull. To alleviate this problem, Jamie and the doctor are currently trying out new medications. Jamie expressed her gratitude that this surgery was possible since it would not have been feasible a year ago.
According to Felix’s owner, before his surgery, the little guy had trouble eating and drinking due to his cleft. She even had to make a specialized tool to clean his cleft every time he ate, and he needed regular sedation to have it cleaned and flushed at the vet. It was a bit of a hassle as there were even instances where a salmon skin or a plastic dental flosser got stuck up in there. But now, Felix is doing much better, and we can see him here as a cute little baby. Image credits go to thevaiobandit101.
Luckily, Felix is a part of a loving and extensive family. According to Jamie, who spoke to Bored Panda, the cute little pup has four other furry siblings. One of them is Sammy, an Australian Cattle Dog, who also has cleft but not as severe as Felix’s, and didn’t need surgery. There’s also PB, a 12-year-old miniature dachshund, Baby Girl, a terrier from Bethel Alaska, and Meera, who resembles a 20-pound brindled whippet. All of them are rescued pets, which Jamie fosters regularly as she works for a vet who specializes in rescue operations. Felix gets along well with his brothers, sisters, cat friend, and other foster animals that Jamie brings home. Since Jamie started fostering animals in 2013, she has helped over 400 dogs find their forever homes. Now, Felix is growing up to be a healthy and happy dog.
As per the image credits given to thevaiobandit101, it seems that Felix is leading a happy and secure life with his caring owner and siblings. Jamie expressed that Felix is the most joyous dog she has ever owned. Despite his health issues, Felix remains unaware of them and possesses abundant energy which neither he nor Jamie knows what to do with. Recently, Jamie took Felix for his very first swim, and he performed exceptionally well. She hopes to train him further to become an expert retriever in the upcoming summer. Had Jamie attempted to take Felix for a swim before his operation, he would have drowned within seconds. Following three consecutive surgeries within three months, Felix is almost fully recovered and back to his usual self.
The adorable and lively dog named Felix has a great passion for playing. His owner shared with Bored Panda that Felix can play ball all day long if someone throws it to him. Interestingly, despite undergoing several surgeries, Felix is now able to eat and drink normally and is the strongest dog his owner has ever known. During his recovery period, he had a feeding tube attached to his neck and his owner had to feed him liquid dog food through it. However, Felix never once complained and stood still while his owner did it. Although he loves having something in his mouth at all times, Felix couldn’t keep anything in his mouth during his recovery phase. According to his owner, Felix has been brave throughout his challenging times, and he hopes that the rest of his life will be filled with joy. Two of Felix’s surgeries were due to his habit of eating rocks and stuffed animals.
The cute lab named Felix is undoubtedly a cherished member of his household. He enjoys spending quality time with other furry companions, including dogs and cats, along with indulging in his favorite stuffed toys. However, Felix’s love for these toys resulted in him accidentally eating two, which led to him undergoing emergency surgery. Despite this mishap, Felix remains a good Labrador boy in every way.
According to Felix’s owner, seeing him happy after his surgeries is the best feeling in the world. She just can’t help but gush over him and his amazing personality. However, there was a recent incident where Felix ate a dead bird which made him extremely sick.
Jamie expressed her delight about having Felix as a part of her life, despite some people suggesting that he should have been put down. She believes that he serves as an inspiration to those who are struggling to overcome challenges and those who are different from their peers. Additionally, she advocates for pet owners to have their pets spayed or neutered. Despite being a handful, Felix is doing well now, according to his owner.
Don’t miss out on viewing Felix’s adorable pictures and videos on his owner’s Imgur account! You’ll definitely be glad you did as it’s filled with daily heartwarming content that is sure to leave you with a smile on your face.