The purpose of this study was to report on the prevalence of swimming puppy syndrome (SPS) and investigate predisposing factors. Data were recorded from 2,443 puppies (1,183 males and 1,260 females) in Thailand, October 2006–September 2012, including breed, sex, number of puppies per litter, type of nest floor, number of affected limbs, and occurrence of pectus excavatum. Fifty-two puppies (2.13%) were diagnosed with SPS. The breed most frequently affected was English Bulldog (8.33%). There was no significant difference between presence and absence of disease based on sex, breed, and nest floor type. The number of puppies per litter was associated with SPS; puppies from smaller litters (1.92？±？1.12) had a higher prevalence of the disease than puppies from larger litters (3.64？±？2.24). Moreover, 15.38% of puppies with affected limbs showed signs of pectus excavatum (8/52); this clinical sign was more prevalent in puppies with all four limbs affected with SPS. 1. Introduction Swimming puppy syndrome—also known as swimmer syndrome, flat pup syndrome, splay leg (paraparesis), splay weak (tetraparesis), and myofibrillar hypoplasia—is one of the musculoskeletal disorders in puppies [1]. In the initial weeks of life, newborn puppies seem normal: they gain weight quickly, suck well, and appear to be completely healthy. Signs begin to appear when the puppy learns to walk (2nd-3rd week), with spreadout legs like a swimmer [1]. In some cases, there are additional complications, because such puppies tend to lie on their bellies most of the time. The center of gravity is shifted to the chest, while the soft ribs cannot maintain their correct shape; thus the chest, under the pressure of body weight, splays on both sides, and the thorax becomes flat (funnel chest) [2–4]. Some puppies show snake-like or walrus-swimming movements, crawling on their bellies with limbs extended and exorotated. Sterna concave, dorsoventral flattening of the chest, or pectus excavatum will present when forelimbs are affected [2, 3]. In cases of pectus excavatum, puppies show respiratory insufficiency, with dyspnoea, mouth continuously open, and bluish mucous membranes [3, 4]. The differential diagnosis of this disease includes encephalomeningitis, canine distemper, toxoplasmosis, neosporosis, myopathies, and spina bifida [4, 5]. The treatment success rate is dependent on the time of diagnosis and treatment [4, 5]. Usually puppies with this disease recover well after early diagnosis and treatment such as limb realignment, bandages, and physical rehabilitation [4, 5]. However, little is known
References
[1]
J. E. Harkness and L. F. McCormick, “Swimming-puppy syndrome in a litter of German Shepherd pups,” Veterinary Medicine Small Animal Clinician, vol. 76, no. 6, pp. 817–821, 1981.
[2]
T. W. Fossum, R. J. Boudrieau, and H. P. Hobson, “Pectus excavatum in eight dogs and six cats,” Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, vol. 25, pp. 595–605, 1989.
[3]
S. C. Rahal, M. M. Morishin Filho, E. Hatschbach, V. M. V. Machado, K. P. Aptekmann, and T. P. Corrêa, “Pectus excavatum in two littermate dogs,” Canadian Veterinary Journal, vol. 49, no. 9, pp. 880–884, 2008.
[4]
G. Verhoeven, H. de Rooster, M. Risselada, P. Wiemer, L. Scheire, and H. van Bree, “Swimmer syndrome in a Devon rex kitten and an English bulldog puppy,” Journal of Small Animal Practice, vol. 47, no. 10, pp. 615–619, 2006.
[5]
C. Yardimci, A. ？zak, H. O. Nisbet, and Y. S. ？irin, “Swimming syndrome in two Labrador puppies,” Kafkas Universitesi Veteriner Fakultesi Dergisi, vol. 15, no. 4, pp. 637–640, 2009.
[6]
V. M. Stein, M. Kohlbach, M. Fehr, and A. Tipold, “Swimmer syndrome in puppies—no indication for euthanasia!,” Kleintierpraxis, vol. 52, no. 4, pp. 225–230, 2007.
[7]
G. Hosgood and J. D. Hoskins, “Swimmer puppy syndrome,” in Small Animal Paediatric MedicIne and Surgery, G. Hosgood and J. D. Hoskins, Eds., p. 271, Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford, UK, 1998.
[8]
J. D. Hoskins, “Swimmer puppies and kittens,” in VeterInary Pediatrics, J. D. Hoskins, Ed., pp. 419–420, W.B. Saunders, Philadelphia, Pa, USA, 2001.
[9]
P. F. Suter, “Swimmers flat pup syndrome,” in Thoracic Radiography: A Text Atlas of Thoracic Diseases of the Dog and Cat, P. F. Suter, Ed., pp. 164–165, Wettswil, Zürich, Switzerland, 1984.
[10]
D. Boettcher, R. Schmidt, C. Rehfeldt, G. Thaller, H. H. Swalve, and S. Maak, “Evaluation of MAFbx expression as a marker for congenital splay leg in piglets,” Developments in Biologicals, vol. 132, pp. 301–306, 2008.
[11]
S. Maak, D. Boettcher, J. Tetens et al., “Identification of candidate genes for congenital splay leg in piglets by alternative analysis of DNA microarray data,” International Journal of Biological Sciences, vol. 5, no. 4, pp. 331–337, 2009.
[12]
M. D. Lorenz, “The “swimming puppy” syndrome,” in Current VeterInary Therapy VI: Small Animal Practice, R. W. Kirk, Ed., pp. 905–906, W. B. Saunders, Philadelphia, Pa, USA, 6th edition, 1977.
[13]
S. Kongsawasdi, B. Chuatrakoon, and K. Nganvongpanit, “Physical rehabilitation treated swimming puppy syndrome,” Chiang Mai Veterinary Journal, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 105–112, 2011.
[14]
R. J. Boudrieau, T. Fossum, S. M. Hartsfield, H. P. Hobso, and R. L. Rudy, “Pectus excavatum in dogs and cats,” Compendium on Continuing Education for the Practicing Veterinarian, vol. 12, pp. 341–355, 1990.
[15]
T. M. Charlesworth and C. P. Sturgess, “Increased incidence of thoracic wall deformities in related Bengal kittens,” Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, vol. 14, no. 6, pp. 365–368, 2012.
[16]
F. L. Westphal, L. C. de Lima, J. C. Lima Neto, A. R. Chaves, V. L. dos Santos Júnior, and B. L. C. Ferreira, “Prevalence of pectus carinatum and pectus excavatum in students in the city of Manaus, Brazil,” Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia, vol. 35, no. 3, pp. 221–226, 2009.
[17]
A. M. Williams and D. C. G. Crabbe, “Pectus deformities of the anterior chest wall,” Paediatric Respiratory Reviews, vol. 4, no. 3, pp. 237–242, 2003.
