poodlemum Posted June 9, 2008 Share Posted June 9, 2008 (edited) Hi all - you may remember my post about my "swimmer" puppy. Well Thporpy is now 8 weeks old & walking perfectly. I spen a lot of time massaging & manipulating his fron legs. When I had the pups vaccinated at 6 weeks I asked my vet if he could pick the swimmer - he couldn't. A couple of pictures - he's a bit of a blob in one, but at least you can see that he's running! Edited June 9, 2008 by poodlemum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~*Shell*~ Posted June 9, 2008 Share Posted June 9, 2008 Wow! You've done fantastically with him! I thought that most swimmer pups didn't make it but he certainly looks like one very happy pup! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puggy_puggy Posted June 9, 2008 Share Posted June 9, 2008 Great news. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~*Shell*~ Posted June 10, 2008 Share Posted June 10, 2008 Is he a keeper Poodlemum? Or have you found him a fantastic home? He certainly deserves one after what you both have been through! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlemum Posted June 10, 2008 Author Share Posted June 10, 2008 Is he a keeper Poodlemum? Or have you found him a fantastic home? He certainly deserves one after what you both have been through! I would love to keep him, but with 2 of my own and almost permanent care of ex's 2, haven't got the room - he's a real sweetie though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
valby Posted June 11, 2008 Share Posted June 11, 2008 What exactly is a "swimmer" pup? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~*Shell*~ Posted June 11, 2008 Share Posted June 11, 2008 A swimmer pup is a flat chested pup that doesn't start walking, and just kind of lies there with it's legs splayed so when it moves it looks like it's swimming (hence the name) - it looks a bit like a walrus really. Unfortunately, a lot of the time, these puppies die or are PTS and it requires a lot of physical therapy to put them right because you have to lengthen the muscles and tendons between their shoulder blades to get their front legs to get into the right position and so they can move their neck and head (or they arch their back instead of lift their head when they feed) and therefore, make their chest take the right shape. I've never seen one in person but i've seen quite a few photos and had my breeder explain it to me when Poodlemum first posted about Thorpy - my breeder has only ever had one and unfortunately the little boy died at about 3 weeks old, even with her doing PT with him everyday! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlemum Posted June 12, 2008 Author Share Posted June 12, 2008 That's right Shell - I think Thorpy wasn't too bad a case, & I caught it in time. I have been breeding Standard Poodles for 16 years, and this was the first swimmer I ever had. Of course, the extra time & attention has caused a special bond between us and I will be very sad to see him go - I do have someone living nearby who is looking for a puppy, so maybe I will be able to keep in touch with him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavNrott Posted June 12, 2008 Share Posted June 12, 2008 Well done Poodlemum. Your extra care and attention to this little fella paid off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~*Shell*~ Posted June 13, 2008 Share Posted June 13, 2008 I'm sure you'll find him a family who will love him as much as you do! Good luck with him - I hope his new family keep in touch and send photos... so you can post them lol! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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