'Swimmer Puppy'

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Please watch this short video.  We all need a FEEL GOOD story every now and then

I tried to embed the video here on DK but the embed code seems to have a FB link only.

If you have Facebook and want to view, here is the link

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=1406318229591382&set=vb.31...

[Becka]

Such a great face on that pup. Go Mick go! Thanks for posting this.

[Miss Ellie]

Oh my goodness...I have tears running down my cheeks...what a beautiful, inspiring story...thanks for sharing Joanne!

[Adina P]

Do any of you know if this is typical for a swimmer pup?  Is it this 'easy' to rehab them?   Also does anyone know what causes the condition in the first place...what the physical thing going on is?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Pectus Excavatum in Dogs

 Here's some info:

In pectus excavatum, the sternum and costal cartilages are deformed, resulting in a horizontal narrowing of the chest, primarily on the posterior side. The sternum, or chest bone, is a long flat bone located in the center of the thorax, and the costal cartilages are the cartilages that connect the chest bone with the ends of the ribs. In appearance, the middle of the chest appear to be flat or concave, rather than slightly convex. 

Brachycephalic (short-nose) breed dogs are predisposed to this condition and in most cases are born with (congenital) this disability.

Causes 

There is a genetic predisposition in some dog breeds, particularly brachycephalicbreeds, but pectus excavatum can occur spontaneously in any breed. The condition may not be obvious until several weeks after birth unless it is a severe form.

 Raising puppies on surfaces causing poor footing may also predispose these animals to developing such a condition.

Treatment

 

Surgery remains the only treatment option for repairing this deformity. However, if the disease is mild and your dog only has a flat chest, then it may be improved without surgery. In such cases, your veterinarian will instruct you in manually compressing the chest in such a way that will encourage the sternum and costal cartilages to take on a more convex shape.

 In some dogs, a splint application will work to reduce the mild defects. However, in cases of moderate or severe inward sinking of the sternum, surgery is indicated for correction of the defects. The technique used by your veterinary surgeon will depend on your dog's age and the extent of the problem. Dogs with respiratory problems that are directly related to this condition, meanwhile, generally improve substantially after surgery and will start breathing more comfortably.

Living and Management

 

Prognosis is very poor for severely affected patients, but a timely intervention and reparation at an early age may help improve the prognosis. Follow your doctor's guidelines for physical therapy at home if your dog has a mild form of the condition. 

After surgery, your dog may feel sore and will need proper rest in a quiet place, away from other pets, active children, and busy entryways. You might consider cage rest for a short time, until your dog can safely move about again without overexertion. Trips outdoors for bladder and bowel relief should be kept short and easy for your dog to handle during the recovery period.

 

[Adina P]

So this video seems like a mild atypical case based on this info...agree?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

To me, yes. 

[Pat and Traveler]

Wonderful story!

[F, Calla & Luca]

This MIA foundation is amazing. Inspiring story.