Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/puppy-swimmer-syndrome-transformation/
Life started out as quite the uphill battle for a little Boston Terrier named Mick. He was born with Swimmer Puppy Syndrome, a condition that is also called flat-pup syndrome. The occurrence isn’t common, but it can occur in some dogs, as well as cats. It is usually noticeable in animals just a few weeks after being born.
SPS is a developmental deformity that will lead to the suffering animal’s limbs becoming twisted outward as they grow, meaning that they are unable to walk or even stand up. Instead, they’re in a sort of permanent swimming position – hence the name.
In addition, the animal who has SPS will often have a flattened chest or thorax, which can lead to other problems such as breathing issues, as well as trouble eating, and they’ll also experience joint problems, constipation, aspiration pneumonia, Patellar Luxation, and even early death.
While many animals who are born with this syndrome are often euthanized, the syndrome itself isn’t untreatable.
It definitely poses its challenges, but with lots of patience and early detection, it can actually be managed through physical therapy. So, when Mick was born, the Mia Foundation in Rochester, New York was called in to see if there could be something done to help the little six-week-old pooch.
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The foundation was not ready to give up on Mick, and so they put him into therapy every day – four times a day for fifteen-minute sessions each time. Eventually, all that hard work began to show itself when Mick was able to sit up on his own. And then eventually, he began to stand on his own.
But that wasn’t the end of the amazing changes that were happening. A few short weeks afterward, something incredible happened.
Watch the video below:
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That was back in 2013 when he was a puppy, but now that Mick is grown, he’s able to enjoy a full life. He can walk, run, play, and be “normal”. His owners started him a Facebook page so everyone can follow along his incredible journey.
Check out some recent footage of him:
What do you think of Mick and his story? Isn’t he inspirational?
Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog
