Swimmer pup syndrome

Abstract

Swimmer Pup Syndrome is a congenital disease of obscure etiology. It will most likely be encountered by anyone involved in a substantial small animal practice. Virually no investigation into the cause and the pathological nature of the disease has been undertaken, therefore descripitons in the literature of "typical cases" are unreliable. This paper concerns a six week old, female, black and tan German Shepherd puppy, clinic #68-5094, post mortem #37592. The puppy and a similarly affected pup from the same liter were referred to the Small Animal Clinic by another veterinarian in October, 1968. The pup was one of a litter of five puppies born in August, 1968. Of the five puppies, four exhibited deformed posture. The parents of the litter were full brother and sister. The puppy was subjected to a complete examination during the next few weeks. The pup was in a poor nutritional state upon entry into the clinic. She was obviously small for a six week old German Shepherd. When placed on a table, she rested only on her sternum and abdomen. Her legs furnished no support. The thorax was noticeably compressed dorsoventrally. All four limbs were greatly abducted, and as a result, the dog appeared "splayed out". The scapulohumeral joints were rigid, and the forelimbs were pronated. The hindlimbs extended directly caudad, and the left hind limb was curved. The puppy was capable of vigorous paddling movements, hence the name "Swimmer Pup Syndrome".