(1) Svømmer / Swimmer

In english: see below

Her beskrives to tilfælde af “svømmere” hos golden retriver hvalpe. “Svømmere” er et kendt fænomen hos hvalpe. Det viser sig i 3-5 ugers alderen, hvor hvalpen normalt begynder at løfte kroppen op fra underlaget for at kravle, og senere gå rundt. Disse hvalpe har vanskeligt ved at løfte deres kroppe; med svømmende bevægelser med forben – og bagben, hvis disse også er medinddraget – bevæger hvalpen sig svømmende rundt. Bortset fra evnen til at stå på benene, så er hvalpen i god trivsel, måske endda med tendens til overvægt, og der er ingen smerteytringer. Brystkassen bliver efterhånden mere flad  og mister dermed den mere oprette ovale form. Mange avlere har i tidens løb aflivet sådane hvalpe, da man vurderede, at hvalpen aldrig ville komme til at gå normalt.

Med ca et års mellemrum har jeg behandlet to sådanne hvalpe hos samme avler. Behandlingen består i akupunktur. Der vælges punkter, der styrker de muskler, som holder benene ind mod kroppen. På forbenene er det Hjertesæk-meridianen, der forløber ud ad benet fra brystmuskulaturen. Punktet Pc 9 blev valgt. På bagbenet er det Milt-meridianen, som går på indersiden af låret. Punktet Sp 1 blev valgt. Desuden blev punktet Bai Hui valgt.

Begge hvalpe blev kort efter behandlingen meget trætte, men allerede om aftenen var begge hvalpe i stand til at gå normalt! Brystkassens form ændrede sig i løbet af nogle uger til normal form. Den første hvalp er i skrivende stund  år gammel og har ved HD  optagelser fået A-hofter.

Afliv ikke uden videre sådanne hvalpe, men søg kvalificeret dyrlæge akupunktur.

Kim Samuelsen, dyrlæge, http://hestehospitalet-himmerland.dk/DK.aspx

swimmer_1swimmer_2

Below is two cases of “swimmers” in golden retriver puppies. “Swimmers” are a well known syndrome in puppies. It appears in the age of 3-5 weeks, where usually the puppies start to elevate the trunk from the surface, creeping and walking around. These puppies are in great difficulty elevating the trunk from the surface. With swimming movements of the front legs – and hind legs, if involved – the puppies move around. Apart from the disability to stand on their feet, these puppies do very well, sometimes too well: a tendency to overweight is seen. Usually no pain is observed. The ribcage becomes more and more flat losing the usual upright elipsoid shape. Many breeders euthanize these puppies realizing they will never be able to walk normally.

Within about one year I have treated two such cases at the same breeder. Acupuncture was carried out. Points to strenghten adducting muscles were chosen. On the front legs the Pericardium meridian runs from the pectoral muscles along the medial surface down the leg. Pc 9 was chosen. On the hind legs the Spleen meridian runs along the medial surface of the leg. Sp 1 was used. The point Bai Hui in the lumbo-sacral space was added.

Shortly after the treatment both puppies got very tired and sleept for a couple of hours. During the same evening both puppies were able to  use all of their legs in a normal way. The shape of the ribcage normalized within a few weeks. The oldest puppy is at this moment two years old and has oficially got “A-hips”.

Don’t kill in these cases but find a qualified veterinary acupuncturist.

Kim Samuelsen, DVM, Denmark, http://hestehospitalet-himmerland.dk/DK.aspx