The American Beagler Forum

Pups With Swimmers Legs...?

What can be done? If anything?

How many of these pups go on to be good hunting dogs?

Put them on non-slip surface such as indoor-outdoor carpet, or rubber matting. You can even lift them up and stand them on all fours a couple of times a day - as long as the surface is non-slip. Most of them strengthen and outgrow this problem in short order.

i had one, one time that i took to the vet a 4 1/2 weeks old. he had me take him off the bitch and mix 1/2 water and 1/2 evaporated milk with puppy chow. little messy at first but made all the difference in the world. took him in on monday, he was standing by friday and all over the house by the next monday. vet said bitch lacked calcium. be has grown to be 14 1/4 tall and a good rabbit dog. hope this helps. tim

The problem normally corrects itself with time and a little help. Bev's right about the non-skid surface helping. You CAN 'hobble" the legs - tie them together with a strip of cloth but that usually bugs them more than it helps. Most of my swimmers were from small litters and were real "pigs". Alll of them "outgrew" the condition when they lost lost weight after being weaned. Is your litter small and is it a hearty eater that you leave with mom 24-7? I would wean it as soon as possible and try to take a little weight off until it stands well. Good luck!

OK, I will ask the stupid question... What is Swimmer's Legs? I guess I kind of have an idea in reading the post, but can someone fill me in with some vet info???

Thanks,
Emery

Emery it is a good question, many folks may not know about this or what it is.

Here is some information for you maybe it can explain to you what it is.
http://showdogsupersite.com/kenlclub/br ... mmers.html

http://www.angelfire.com/ny/litter/SMday6.html

http://siriusdog.com/articles/swimmers- ... rophic.htm

http://www.partipoodleworld.com/CanineReproduction.htm

Lots of useful information on these sites

You can also take an old sock and cut legholes in it. Slip it over the pup like a shirt. Then take another sock and wad it up and slip it under the pup's stomach in order to lift it up off the floor. This will let the pup use it's legs more, and you don't have to be there with the pup. Had one this way turn out fine when it grew up. I was afraid that it might have leg problems later on in life but it didn't.

Bev's right, the non slip surface is the key to eliminating this problem. It's easier to install a non slip floor than correcting the problem after it happens.

Bev is right on the money...put them on a non slip surface. If they are not up and walking within a week. I was told you tape the legs. The best way to describe it it making a elongated figure eight.. See pic below... The 0 is where the feet go ...the ------ is the squeezed together tape. It will support the legs... keeping them from spliting plus allow the pup to walk.

example ...... 0-----0