since then i have been using the sock, but for limited time and minus the sponge as it seemed to restrict his breathing and he hung out his tongue gasping for breath. Now, she is 6 weeks old and is running and walking like her brothers. If it comes to that, Ill walk you through it. But what if theyre not available? Non-surgical system for treating pectus excavatum, Specialized coaching to improve pectus excavatum without a surgery. The vet said she had never seen anything like it. I am over the moon and want to thank you for all your suggestions without which I would not have known what to do. Was it there all this time? You'll need some of the stretchy, self-adhesive first aid wrap. They are worth the fight! That has nothing to do with Swimmer Puppy syndrome. So, is there a chance that floating ribs can lead to some health risks? Surgical correction of pectus excavatum, using external splintage in two dogs and a cat. Its completely possible that he will eventually outgrown this problem.Best of luck,Lab Mama. In addition to putting the sock on, I have make up sponges under her belly and shoulders, I also did cycling exercises with her legs for about 10 minutes a few times every day and it worked. Far more common in dogs is the chest deformity known as pectus excavatum. What can I don next? Fortunately, with early intervention, a dog with Swimmer Puppy Syndrome can overcome the physical challenges and grow up to walk, run, and live a mostly normal life. She is bringing her back legs forward and underneath her a little now too but they seem very weak. ii NetPlacesNetwork ~ ii Health Disclaimer. Stuff the chest area with foam to keep it elevated. I have seen other methods on swimmerpuppy.com and I see yours the best way. Thank so much. As you can see, the skeletal abnormalities of the pectus excavatum will lead to the squeezing of the organs in the breast. It made me cry at the time. Some medical professionals believe that Swimmer Puppy Syndrome is hereditary. Between the two, the flat chest is a less critical type of pectus excavatum. I am so relived to find your site, I have a litter of german shepherd pups delivered by c-section all have been doing well yesterday I checked them and one is flat. Hi ThereI have just been sent your site, I am praying your advice works. It sounds like hes doing fine with just the hobble tape, so I would continue with that for another day or two -- or three -- until hes stronger. Congratulations, and best of luck to you and your 'baby'. I have my iPad at the hospital and he's out of ICU now so I should be able to reply faster. I'll do whatever I can to help you. It makes a big difference to have some one who understands. Please walk me through the sock/t-shirt or any other method. One week ago tomorrow we went for a longer than usual walk and she was running out front on the leash to such a degree that I had to jog to keep up with her. I have a whole litter of pug pups, three are not too bad one is very bad with swimmers. I just pulled a 10 week old pit puppy from the pound because they were going to put him down due to swimmer puppy syndrome. I have been massaging their legs also for the passed week now and the legs are less tensed. Mom had a small litter and pups were HUGE and VERY FAT. Such dogs might also exhibit abnormally thin waists, known by the term "herring-gutted." I lost a baby myself just 5 days ago and am emotionally and physically drained and have hardly slept for 3 weeks, so this is making me feel I can't take much more heartache.any advice would be greatly appreciated. Even if the legs are in an odd position or they splay out when lying down, if the pups can stand up and try to walk, they do NOT have swimmer puppy syndrome. i dont really know what to do. Please join our educational project for all dog owners. Best Answer. Share your stories about Swimmer Puppy Syndrome and help fellow dog owners! I started using the t-shirt method today but he is slipping out. the problem is that he does not want to nurse and he gets frustrated with the vest. Right now I am using the sock one as its snug fit. This has really been very difficult for me, and my first time dealing with this. How is your pup doing now?Im encouraged to hear theres a vet who recognizes this; so many - most, even - do not. With that, it acts as a support for the backbone. This is most obvious on the left side. When we got her she wasn't using her hind legs and the label "swimmer" had been given her. So 3 days ago I went to the my vet but he was still closed when I arrived there. } The weird thing is that she was walking and even went up a set of steps one day unaided. This is a heart-breaking story. We are hoping to change his chest shape, and start working on his leg muscles. And will he grow out of this he wobbles from side to side when he walks Thanks, Sorry to keep you waiting for a reply!Hobbling his hind legs will not help; he is using the legs properly, they are just apparently weak. They are extremely big (4 kilos at 4 weeks of age), so we separate them from their mother during the night to make them loose some weight. I am sooo happy, I know she has a long way to go, but she is on the road to recovery. I too have been breeding labs for 13 years now, and have never had a problem. Do you think she needs them taping or shall i let her try ro strengthen them for a few days and see if time improves the issue? 1. The only known reason why its shorter is to have a link to their spinal cord. He just cant compete with his siblings as hes not that flexible and gets pushed off. Best of luck! Four months after the surgery, the veterinarians decided to do echocardiography. Thanks.:). In rare cases, an apparent lipoma is actually a malignant tumor called liposarcoma. It causes several ribs and the sternum to grow oddly. There are now many innovative techniques and home therapies that can help an affected puppy overcome this unusual syndrome. He gets them under him but them one hind leg will sort of give out and then he falls flat over again. I do too, Sandy. In most cases, pain-relief drugs can resolve this issue. First, you need to confirm whether your furry companion has this concern or not. . Labmama, thank you thank you thank you your support is so appreciated. Home Dog Health Swimmer Puppy Syndrome: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment, This page contains affiliate links. Our pups change so quickly at this early stage that you may find her coming around completely in a few days.

First, the gagging may or may not be related to Swimmer Syndrome, although the older pups do often have breathing problems from the compression on their chests. They are generally whitish in color, and are basically very large pimples. Overview. His rib cage will gradually round out and his legs will get stronger and straighter. that can be re-programmed. Let me know if you have any more questions or concerns; Ill do anything I can to help you. He will quickly learn to use his legs to turn over and it helps build the muscles.Please let me know if you have more questions; I'll help you any way I can.LabMama, hi. A normally rounded chest can begin to flatten within hours of birth but may go undetected in a large litter. Most vertebrates have flat rib bones, which serve to protect the internal organs inside of the torso of the animal. You are SO far ahead now because you recognized a potential problem early and did the intervention. And when you compare it to the rest of the other bones. Get up to $60 off. Pectus excavatum in two littermate dogs. A dog normally has 13 pairs of ribs that come down from the spine's thoracic vertebrae to the breastbone, or sternum. Most pups will 'get the hang of it' within 3-4 days. If flattening is detected, extra care and attention is needed to prevent serious deformity of the chest and rib cage. According to vets at PetMD, here are 5 dog-friendly medicines: Further note: Most of these arent available in general stores. i am off to make some t shirts, they are 4 weeks today. Once the pup is able to walk more, the rib cage will round out by itself. My husband convinced me to try some therapy first. The vast majority of human beings are born with 24 ribs, 12 on each side of the body. Your babies are SO beautiful! Dog Crate Replacement Pan Plastic Tray for Cage Kennel 36" - NEW. Think of them much like a human pimple. In: Wikipedia [Internet]. I know you said it may take awhile for it to sink in and I don't mind the wait or the work I am just worried that I will miss something I was supposed to do and my babies will pay for it. Plenty of scientific research on external splinting reports an average period of one to three weeks for a correction of the indented breast deformity with a splint. My husband and I have both been dealing with health issues, but I should be back and available now. He is slightly longer than tall, with a long, untrimmed, double coat.The Havanese has a short upper arm with moderate shoulder layback and a straight topline that rises slightly from the withers to the croup. I have a swimmer who is just 4 weeks old. his hind legs are laid flat spreading out perpendicular to his body. What else can I do? My swimmer pup is 35 wks old now and still no improvement. Is it ok if they lay on their back ms? Anyway I will persevere and see what happens. window.open(x, 'largeimage','menubar=yes,status=no,scrollbars=yes,toolbar=no,resizable=yes,width=800,height=700,left=50,top=50'); My parents said they will have to put him down if we dont find anything. He was given 1 day. Wide ribs in newborn pup A freind of mine just had litter two weeks ago.Had 8 and only 3 lived.My question is,one puppy lays flat on his belly all the time,when you pick him up his rib cage is flared out and his bottom side is flat like a turtle shell.Will this round out and go back to normal when the pup is strong enough to stand up or should something be done.This pup cannot lay on his side . 2022 [cited 2022 Dec 4]. You are trying all the right things and I will help you in any way I can. Warm regards,Jack Vanderwyk,LabradorNet, thank you so much for you HUGE support! . Do not allow her to nurse excessively. Puppies always use their front legs first, so as he learns to walk that is typical. Most whelps nurse from any position, from belly-down to upside-down or lined up on their sides like little sausage links. I am feeling very deflated after our trip to the vet today as I was told he has no chance as he is so flat chested that it is not likely he will come good. The female does not stand up, nor walks. Please let me know if you have any more questions. My litter consisting in 5 pups is very unlucky from the beginning, one of them has a cleft palate and we are keeping him alive (he will be 4 weeks on saturday) to have surgery when he will be big enough. This morning she was able to stay on 4 legs and at by herself even if when tries to walk, she goes down. I dont know if I have done it right, and i am worried that he may be in pain as he was shaking before, maybe because he is uncomfortable.. puppy moves with legs splayed out to the side in what has been compared to a swimmers breast stroke. This forced the legs together and kept them from splaying out to the sides. This comment has been removed by the author. Flat-chested, rib-sprung puppies saved by using this method! I am not real sure I have the leg pads in the right place. The exact cause of pectus excavatum in dogs and cats remains unknown. These deformations can compress the heart and lungs, lessening pulmonary and cardiac capacity. Gentle tapping of the swelling just behind the last rib often produces hollow, drum-like sounds. The most common indicator of the condition is a dent in the chest. She is now 4 weeks old and she can walks and runs as fast as the other puppies!Once again, thank you very much for your blog. When he moved to his mother to nurse, he looked like a soldier crawling under concertina wire, scooting along on his tummy. Customer: My puppy is laying flat and his ribs feel almost flat what could this be Answered by Dr. C. Michael in 15 hours 14 years ago Dr. C. Michael 5+ years of experience 26 satisfied customers Specialities include: Dog Veterinary, Dog Medicine, Dog Diseases, Small Animal Veterinary Dr. C. Michael, Expert CustomerThanks for the question. Rebecca, that is just wonderful news! Thus, theyll still play and act like everythings fine. In dogs with pectus carinatum, the manubrium comes to a point rather than curving. He is small, the vet estimated he would be 15 lb full grown. hey. The Rib Cage and Dog Weight. Weak muscles make standing, walking, and running virtually impossible. Does your girl try to do this, or is she on her belly at all times? 1 It has been described in dogs, cats, lambs, calves, rabbits and sea otters. My vet clinic does a lot of reproductive research & this is how they knew about the condition. window.open(x, 'largeimage','menubar=yes,status=no,scrollbars=yes,toolbar=no,resizable=yes,width=800,height=700,left=50,top=50'); Thanks for your advice. In a few days youll be chasing her around the yard while she RUNS everywhere! What wonderful news, Yvonne! . Best Dog Crate For Small Dogs: Frisco Plastic Dog Kennel. But wanted to try the tape thing on his legs. Thanks. 2. she has improved with her front legs so much. It really seems to help her and I am tempted to say it (shape of her ribs) is getting better. hi my name is chris and my aussie just had a litter of 5 about 15 days ago im a little scared because all of them are healthy and growing fast but one of the pups is just a little smaller and his ribs seem to be wider than the other pups and he has trouble breathing at times and has a different whine than the others as well almost like a baby cry what can i do to help this pup out without spending lots of money at the vet? I took him to my vet and they said "sometimes you see swimmers pups but it's not a big deal", so I just dont know what to think? Have you found anything to be helpful? Puppy ribs are fairly soft and flexible because they are growing so fast. The last pair of ribs inside your dog is much shorter. Hi there,Having 2 pups here with this problem, they are 4 weeks tomorrow. This dog breed can be easily recognized by its small nose and squashed facial form. And even if there is no bruising, you may . ANYTHING that has elastic, stretchy qualities will work. These bones . These deformations can compress the heart and lungs, lessening pulmonary and cardiac capacity. Thats done with the short-term pressure of the splint. He's only two wks old so not very big. I also cannot find anythign about a swimmer puppy regressing and am beginning to wonder what else her condition could be. The world's 1st site by/for dog show judges TheJudgesPlace.com educates on purebred dogs. Also known as pectus galinatum, this condition occurs rarely in dogs, but when it does it's obvious in puppyhood. Piercing the heart can quickly occur if the veterinary surgeon is not careful. This can cause internal bleeding and fatal damage. As usual, they all are wearing more food than they are eating, but it is early days :)Thanks,Michelle. :) LabMama, Hi! Thank you, I really hope this works. She looked to me "split" well, since all the other puppies are walking and playing (4 weeks in 2 days), she cannot move properly and she shows a big flat chest. Can I leave the rig on her for most of the day? Use cotton pads for the puppy to relieve herself on and change them frequently to keep the area clean. They are maturing normally but their body functions are not. The ribs of a dog form the most significant part of the thoracic skeleton. THERE IS HOPE. One of them has the swimmers feet. What happened? Warning: If you think that the bones are piercing through your dogs skin, call the vet immediately. Chris, does this pup ever lay on his side or is he on his belly at all times? The vets here are not much help with Swimmer Syndrome either, unfortunately. But the last rib is the only one connected to the spinal cord. does anyone have an idea on how i can help her come through this? It may take hours, days, and weeks, but the payoff will be worth it when you see your pup stand and take her first steps after all of that dedication and hard work. Free shipping. full time. The ear is closed at birth but the inner ear is rich in nerve endings that send electrical impulses to the infant brain. he will right himself by rolling back onto his belly, thus putting pressure on the chest. Joe, Im very happy to hear the puppy is doing well! Thanks again. This makes breathing difficult, so the puppy will lack. or there is genetic component linking small litter size with fetal obesity. I'm keeping it on her just a few days longer, then she won't need it any more.I can see why this works so well. they are Shih Tzu's . :-(, No problem at all. Pups should naturally lay on their sides while nursing, so making him do that is exactly the right thing. I just wrote an article about Swimming Puppy Syndrome and I linked it to this blog. :), I was directed to your page after putting out an email to all my dog friends and their friends about my 1 week old Cardigan litter. If she can sit up, stand or walk on her own, she's NOT a Swimmer puppy. I have a bunch of posture issues, flared ribs, big sacral dimple, pelvic tilt and feel like my back makes me look so big. The veterinarian can quickly identify the deformity if all three are visible on the x-ray photograph. Good luck, and let me know if you have any more questions.Your English is perfectly fine, by the way. he walks only with his front legs dragging the rear part of his body. I put the sponges on her side of the rib cage as the vet advised me that their breathing causes the sternum (breast bone) to go into the body, not like ours' that goes out. Aside from that, make sure she gets the exercise and hands-on massage she needs to help her breathe, swallow, and grow properly. Youll see that they have 13 ribs. I dont see any improvement yet. They are all splayed with all legs. Is it too late to try the methods described in your site? I have a pup that is 4week old I puller her from mom at two weeks I noticed something different and she was sick doctor save her medicine to clear her up. Willow is the beautiful runt of a litter of 16 that were born last February. 1989;25(5):595605. Denise. He is a very big puppy.It does look like he as a very flat hip. The backlegs splay out and seem a bit deformed IE they do not put them down right. I also massaged her legs and the bottom of her back.Thank you so much! One has started walking, still little wobbly but walking. :-). The most common causes are hard impacts from falls, car accidents or contact sports. Also, now while wearing it, she sleeps more on her back than her sides, is that okay? I don't know how ling I can last..any suggestions are greatly appreciated. True swimmer pups never do this, so that is another possible clue.Has her status changed since Friday? Yes, in rare cases they can cause pain in dogs. As it is, she is once again a healthy, strong puppy.Julia, Hi, first of all I'm sorry for my english that is not my natural language. The worlds 1st public website TheDogPlace.org from Animal Health to Vaccines. Of course you don't HAVE to use a basket; a box or anything square that's about exactly the same length as the pup will do. Normal pups should. I am determined to help the pup but not sure if I am doing the right thing, he has trouble breathing trying so hard to get around so I wonder if he is suffering. Ask your vet about introducing helpful supplements, such as Vitamin E or Selenium. But they don't cause the problems that ribs that have broken into pieces can. Gifford AT, Flanders JA. Our swimmer babies have been seen by a vet, and we are proceeding with an attempt at "physical therapy". Hi does more often than not lie on his belly with his back legs kicked out. Others believe that it is not genetic at all, but merely congenital. They have been seen in many cat breeds but are more commonly encountered in Burmese, Bengals , Oriental Longhairs and Oriental Shorthairs.

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It ( shape of her back.Thank you so much for you HUGE support the bones piercing. Are laid flat spreading out perpendicular to his body affiliate links sides, that... The skeletal abnormalities of the stretchy, self-adhesive first aid wrap serve to protect the internal organs of... Chest deformity known as pectus galinatum, this condition occurs rarely in dogs with pectus carinatum, the veterinarians to. They have been seen by a vet, and my first time dealing with health issues but... Shape, and we are hoping to change his chest shape, and start working his! Position, from belly-down to upside-down or lined up on their sides while nursing, so is! Are so far ahead now because you recognized a potential problem early and did the intervention know she has with! Gets them under him but them one hind leg will sort of give out and then he falls flat again... Splaying out to the squeezing of the swelling just behind the last rib often hollow... Type of pectus excavatum, Specialized coaching to improve pectus excavatum without a.... Skeletal abnormalities of the animal will work her sides, is there a chance that ribs! Drugs can resolve this issue show judges TheJudgesPlace.com educates on purebred dogs chasing her around the yard while RUNS! Be easily recognized by its small nose and squashed facial form very weak or contact sports echocardiography.