Swimmer Puppy - Page 1

Anyone have experience with a swimmer pup? 

What you mean by swimmer pup?  New one one me?

Do you mean a water head babY? 

Puppy was born w/a flat chest.  He is an unusally large pup and sleeps on his belly instead of his side causing the ribs to flatten out.  Anyone with knowledge and therapy tips will be greatly appriciated!

contact a corgi breeder.

I have seen people cut cans or toilet paper rolls and they put the puppy in them, like a life vest.  keep the puppy laying on its side, and not on its belly or chest.  is he getting too much to eat?

Nope , this is a new one for me too.

He was the only puppy born so he has no competition to feed on moms milk. I have tried the vest stuffed with cotton balls but im still concerned about the flatness of the ribs.  I want to try and give this pup a chance to live - I dont care what it costs!

Try to keep the pup from sleeping on its stomach, thus increasing the flattening its chest. You can help by rolling two towels and placing them parallel to each other with the pup propped up between. The pup should be on its side or slightly on its back. This is easiest with very young pups and to adjust them once they fall asleep.

There are several links if you do a google search and here's one written by Fred Lanting.

www.siriusdog.com/swimmers-puppy-chondrodystrophic.htm

I've not had a swimmer but the towel method was used by a friend and was successful.

Good luck and hope things work out OK.

Just read your replies and weight could very likely be playing into this.

http://lowchensaustralia.com/breeding/swimmers.htm

only puppy, you may need to restrict mom's access to him.  she is feeding him way to well.

I would put mom in with him every 4 hours to feed and then take her away.  At least until he is moving around much better.  Also if he is under heat lamps or you are using a heating pad, move it to one small space. Move him away from the heat source and make him move back to it.  If they are warm all the time, they will just lay there.

Make sure you have something other than just newspapers under him.  Sheepskin pads or some type of carpeting so that he has something to push against.

Good luck!