"Swimmers" or flat-chested puppies

A swimmer puppy moves about with both front legs out to the side of the chest, in a paddling motion. They appear to be swimming when they move, hence the name "swimmer puppy". The hind legs trail out behind with little or no movement. The description of the puppy is flat chested, flat abdomen, the front legs become warped, moving outward and upward, the hind legs become splayed. When nursing, the puppy usually arches its back extremely in a backward movement. They do not flex at the neck anymore.

In most cases, this condition is hereditary. You should seriously consider if you want this puppy to keep on living. I know this sounds kind of cruel, but if you are a conscious breeder, you will definitely know that licking an animal live in these conditions can be rather troublesome for you and painful for the dog. Therefore, you must consider the ungrateful option of sacrifice. Nevertheless, in less serious situations you can try to correct the problem by tying the front legs together (with approximately 5 to 10 cm in between) and obligating the puppy to learn how to stand up by himself. Obviously, it would be wise to ask your veterinarian for advice.