Curious about early pup pics? - Page 1

I stumbled across these old pics of my pup received from his breeder at 6wks and 7wks.  Was curious to know if anyone else would think his positionings odd?  Particular the photo of him laying down...

There is a condition known as "Swimmer Puppy Syndrome" Don't be alarmed!  According to the University of Florida,  it is NOT genetic and temporary, possible cause-  a low grade infection in utero which is also harmless.  However, breeders should be on the lookout early on, exercising the pups is the cure because the puppies want to lay flat like a turtle.  the name "Swimmer" is because they look like they are trying to swim like a turtle.  exercising with something simple like a soft towel back scrubber with handles, holding puppy's  midsection up encourages the puppy to get up and walk and is very important, there is no long lasting problems according to UF.
http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/281955838/Scrubber_Towel_Bath_Belt.html

How old is your puppy now?

Nope.  He's just doing the "frog dog" thing in the second pic - lots of dogs lie with their back legs stretched behind them sometimes  (though I don't actually remember ever seeing one SO young do it ...)  Even younger puppies (like, up to 3 weeks or so) tend to drag their back legs around a lot until they can stand up properly
(think human babies crawling before they walk).

Are you worried about something your dog is doing currently ? 

No. He' s fine...now, but was diagnosed with severe crippling displaysia at only 20 wks. And I started noticing things pretty early on, just didn't know what I seeing. When I stumbled across these pics, it made me wonder just how early an experienced eye would have noticed theses things...

Can you post the x-rays of the diagnosis of HD?  Would love to evaluate those for you also.  Laying like a frog does NOT designate HD;  in fact quite the opposite.  So am really sorry to hear about your dogs hip dysplasia;  however you CAN make some life style changes for him and he can live a somewhat normal life.  Best of luck  Nan


PS:  YOU cannot correctly diagnosis HD without hip x-rays;  just guessing is not a fair evaluation so if that is the case, get a new vet.  Nan

Yea, he was correctly diagnosed. I had him x-rayed and examined by an orthopedic vet. He had the first FHO at 6 months and we just did the second in February. He's doing very well now, but the first year was very tough for him and I even had people suggest putting him down. I will post the x-rays. It just bothered me a lot because the breeder implied that I caused it from the very beginning. I first contacted her at 14wks.

P.S. I also sent the x-rays to Fred Lanting who also agreed with my vet.

He looks over angulated in the picture of him laying down,
although sometimes dogs/pups that look over-angulated can have perfectly
fine hip readings.

Does he have a pedigree you can look at and see his relatives hip ratings,
and also I can say the same thing goes for having all the relatives with good
hip ratings, there can most always be the exception, the so called luck of the draw.

Just wondering if it was noticeable in his pedigree also.

First pic FHO post op pic,  after he'd dislocated his hip at 5.5 months.  Second is less than 6 months later right before we did the 2nd.

Not good positioning, but this was taken right after hip dislocated.  Vet did not want to cause him anymore pain by trying to straighten the legs out.