Continued from last week
So far, we have discussed some of the common problems that incapacitate puppies within the first few weeks of their lives. From time to time veterinarians encounter ailments, which are few and far between, but which nevertheless affect puppies negatively, even to the point of death. Today, we’ll look at one of these.
The ‘swimmer’ syndrome
Under normal conditions puppies begin to stand and wobble around (unsurely at first) when they are about two weeks of age. With each passing day, 
as they become stronger and more active, the gait becomes steadier. On some occasions, this sequence of events does not take place. The pup does not stand. The puppy’s hind legs remain sprawled (‘flat puppy’) and it drags itself forward using the front legs. Sometimes, all the legs (front and hind) are sprawled away from the animal’s body, and as the pup moves forward, he does so with a swimming breast stroke action.
When I am confronted with such an abnormality, the first question I ask is whether the parents of the puppy are related. The reason for this question is simple. The ‘flat puppy’ can be the result of hereditary problems. If both the mother and the father are carrying the genes (without themselves exhibiting the condition) that could eventually result in the pup’s sprawled legs (both hind legs and, to a lesser degree, front legs can be affected), then it is highly likely that these genetic deficiencies, inherent in the parents, will combine and be passed on to the offspring.
Other factors can influence the development of the ‘swimmer’ syndrome. Overweight puppies, whose legs cannot take the strain of the obesity, will have difficulty walking. The legs sprawl away from the body as they waddle forward (‘swimmer’).
Slippery floors (tiled, highly polished), that do not allow a firm grip of the paws, will assist in the deformity and otherwise predispose to the pup injury. It is for this reason that I always advocate that as puppies learn to walk, they must be placed on surfaces that are non-slippery and which provide good traction. Walking on lawns or on outdoor carpeting would help.
Treatment
Well, once one has established that we are dealing with a genetic problem, the decision should be to euthanize the puppy. We should not allow this genetic deficiency to perpetuate itself from litter to litter, generation to generation. Besides, the animal hardly ever recovers fully and it is quite agonizing to see a puppy crawling around on its belly. If several pups in the same litter are suffering from this ailment, it might be necessary to euthanise them all, harsh as such a decision is. Of course, this is a difficult call to make. No owner wants to carry out such an act. However, you also do not wish to be the perpetuator of a condition that could and should be eradicated.
Sometimes, mostly with veterinary help, a few dogs recover in a way that does not ensure a natural gait, but one with which the owner can live. On such occasions, irrespective of how cute the pup is and how much you as the owner would like a litter, these animals should not be allowed to reproduce. This means that as soon as they have reached the age of maturity (at 8 months), they should be neutered.
In terms of a real attempt to rectify the situation and rehabilitate the pups, one can assist them to stand and walk. This you must do several times daily (five times daily and more). If the pups are sleeping on their bellies, one should gently roll them over on their sides. In other words you are trying to get them in the habit of sleeping on their sides.
Some vets, myself included, have had some limited success in strapping the legs. A hobble is made from tape placed elbow-to-elbow (front legs) and thigh-to-thigh (hind legs). If the ‘swimmer’ syndrome originated from a slip on a smooth floor (in other words a non-genetic development), then the taping of the legs could lead to a complete recovery. You should allow your vet to assist you with advice on how to proceed with the handling of this ailment. One thing is for sure: as mentioned above, if the pups recover slightly and have this stiff-legged gait (it really looks funny), then those animals should be castrated/spayed (making them incapable of reproduction), so that they cannot pass on the genetically anchored ailment to their offspring.
During the following two weeks, we will take a break from science and try to write something relevant to the Festive Season; then next year, we will return to the theme of puppy ailments, namely skin lesions and eye infections in young canines.
Please implement disease preventative measures (vaccinations, routine dewormings, monthly anti-heartworm medication, etc) and adopt-a-pet from the GSPCA’s Animal Clinic and Shelter at Robb Street and Orange Walk, if you have the wherewithal to care well for the animals. Do not stray your unwanted pets, take them to the GSPCA’s Clinic and Shelter instead. If you do not wish your pet to have puppies or kittens, you may exploit the GSPCA’s free spay and neutering programme. If you see anyone being cruel to an animal, or if you need any technical information, please get in touch with the Clinic and Shelter by calling 226-4237.
