08/08/2023
SWIMMER SYNDROM
Swimmer syndrome is an uncommon developmental disorder of the motor function, still poorly characterized,
seen in dogs and less frequently in cats, at an average age of 15 to 21 days after birth.
Delayed physical movement capacity, mainly affects the pelvic limbs, but occasionally also the thoracic limbs
🔴 The patients exhibit constant abduction due to bilateral hyperflexion of coxofemoral articulations, hyperextension of tibial-patellofemoral and tibiotarsal joints
🔴 When the thoracic limbs are affected, the newborns present inability to support the appendicular skeleton
🔴 leading to dorsoventral compression of the thorax, abdomen and pelvis, lateral cycling behavior, and caudolateral limb deflection, witch characterize a swimming-like movement
Treatment
🦴 Swimmer syndrome treatment should include dietary modifications, relocation to rough surface for motor stimulation,
🦴 anatomical immobilization of the affected limbs, physical therapy, thermo and hydrotherapy, and massage for muscle strengthening
🦴 The patients received thermotherapy, physical therapy with massage on the quadriceps, biceps femoris muscles,
🦴 and slight flexion and extension of the pelvic limbs,
🦴 tape shackle bandages to fix the lateral displacement and keep the pelvic limbs bent toward the body, providing constant stimulation.
🦴 Kittens showed faster recovery than puppies, possibly due to weight differences and the growing potential during a small period of time.
🦴 Therefore, bandages can compromise the growth and expansion of underlying soft tissues in young animals
🦴 Considering these factors, the use of the bandages for only seven days was chosen.
🦴 No specific treatment was applied for the slight thoracic flattening,
🦴 since the cause was pressure against sternum secondary to continuousness of the sternal recumbency position,
🦴 and growth associated with removal of the cause allowed full sternum recovery in two months
