Waggy Posted April 11, 2013 Share Posted April 11, 2013 I have a three week out singleton pup (short legged breed) that cannot walk only crawl and he is using his front legs mainly. The back legs are not out wide like a typical swimmer but curved inwards instead. We have tried massaging back legs, getting him more on to his side and making the whelping box bumpy. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted April 11, 2013 Share Posted April 11, 2013 What did the vet say ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
becks Posted April 11, 2013 Share Posted April 11, 2013 is he perhaps a bit fat and going to take a little longer to get the strength to use his back legs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waggy Posted April 11, 2013 Author Share Posted April 11, 2013 (edited) He took an x ray and said all the bones are straight and no deformities could be muscular. He is going to talk to a specialist. And yes he is heavier than normal which is probably not helping also. Edited April 11, 2013 by Toto Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puglvr Posted April 11, 2013 Share Posted April 11, 2013 I have 2 "swimmers" at the moment 3 weeks as well. One has the flat chest but he is beginning to get up on his back legs. The other one only has issue with his back legs. Very weak on one side more than the other. When he is laying on his back his leg turns out ward. I took both into see the vet today. She is vet but also practices acupuncture and Chinese medicine. She released some of the tension from the first little boy and his chest was not quite as flat. I have to hold him around the torso and just let him "dangle" this will help the tension along his spine. I also have to make him lay on both sides, and also tickle his left ear. He doesn't seem to have the same body awareness on that side. The second boy has to do the same "dangle" exercise. I also have to gently stretch his leg and at the same time gently rotate it inward. Sounds hard but he is a pug pup so his whole leg fits nicely in my palm. I have two others in the litter who are bigger and they are fine. Up on all fours and tottering about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waggy Posted April 11, 2013 Author Share Posted April 11, 2013 I have 2 "swimmers" at the moment 3 weeks as well. One has the flat chest but he is beginning to get up on his back legs. The other one only has issue with his back legs. Very weak on one side more than the other. When he is laying on his back his leg turns out ward. I took both into see the vet today. She is vet but also practices acupuncture and Chinese medicine. She released some of the tension from the first little boy and his chest was not quite as flat. I have to hold him around the torso and just let him "dangle" this will help the tension along his spine. I also have to make him lay on both sides, and also tickle his left ear. He doesn't seem to have the same body awareness on that side. The second boy has to do the same "dangle" exercise. I also have to gently stretch his leg and at the same time gently rotate it inward. Sounds hard but he is a pug pup so his whole leg fits nicely in my palm. I have two others in the litter who are bigger and they are fine. Up on all fours and tottering about. Thanks for your reply. We have been doing similar things ourselves today. Hopefully we both have success! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shazzapug Posted April 13, 2013 Share Posted April 13, 2013 Please read the sticky about Swimmers....the Pillow case method is the best and most effective way of fixing a swimmer puppy, and they are doing it themselves :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puglvr Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 Tried the pillow case method Sharon. Didn't work with th flat chest boy. He just screamed....... Takes after Mum me thinks. He is up and walking now. But yes I do believe the majority of the time it works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shazzapug Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 Glad he is walking now Jane. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerojath Posted April 14, 2013 Share Posted April 14, 2013 Toto I just sent you a link to our recent experiences with a pup with very severe Swimmer Syndrome. It might help, or at least give you some ideas. We had 100% success from a pup that seemed like a lost cause.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shazzapug Posted April 15, 2013 Share Posted April 15, 2013 Would you like to share Jerojath? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silvawilow Posted April 16, 2013 Share Posted April 16, 2013 Our singleton turned into a swimmer before one week old. Used the egg carton method and he's almost normal now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waggy Posted April 16, 2013 Author Share Posted April 16, 2013 Thanks all for your great ideas. Our boy has really improved over the last two days and is up on his feet in a bit of a stumble action. We have massaged him and exercised his legs every couple of hours during the day and made sure he was on his side when sleeping. Can now see he is on his way. Thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puglvr Posted April 16, 2013 Share Posted April 16, 2013 http://vetdergi.kafkas.edu.tr/extdocs/2009_4/637_640.pdf Interesting article Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdoubleJ Posted April 16, 2013 Share Posted April 16, 2013 If you see what I wrote under 'Swimmer Pups' you will see that we made a 'channnel' for our swimmer - had him up walking properly within 3 days. It really helped to strengthen the right muscles. We have also lent it to another breeder friend of ours very successfully. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puglvr Posted April 24, 2013 Share Posted April 24, 2013 Hi toto, How is your swimmer? Pleased to say both my swimmers are now "runners". They had their final visit to the Accupuncturist/vet today. All good. The first little man was up and walking a few days after his first visit. The second boy was up and walking at about 10 days which was excellent as he was quite bad an I actually thought he might have had deformed bones. Now we have 4 monsters tearing around the place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waggy Posted April 25, 2013 Author Share Posted April 25, 2013 (edited) Hi puglvr Yes my little boy is fine too. Running around as well. We did put a lot of work into him and it really.made a difference. :). Glad your guys are getting around so well too. Edited April 25, 2013 by Toto Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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