{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,23]],"date-time":"2026-10-23T19:19:29Z","timestamp":1792783169671,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":18,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,24]],"date-time":"2026-07-24T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1784851200000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,24]],"date-time":"2026-07-24T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1784851200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"funder":[{"name":"Universidad de Murcia","id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/03p3aeb86","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"crossref"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Vet Res Commun"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,10]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>\n                    Swimmer puppy syndrome (SPS), also known as splay leg, splay weak, or myofibrillar hypoplasia, is an uncommon condition with poorly understood pathogenesis. It affects neonates and is characterized by sternal flattening, limb abduction, and an inability to stand or ambulate properly. This report describes two American Akita littermates diagnosed with SPS. The condition was associated with\n                    <jats:italic>pectus excavatum<\/jats:italic>\n                    and cardiac dextroposition, identified through clinical examination and thoracic imaging. Both puppies presented with persistent sternal recumbency, respiratory distress, and restricted mobility during the first weeks of life. Radiographic evaluation revealed thoracic flattening, rightward cardiac displacement, and mild\n                    <jats:italic>pectus excavatum<\/jats:italic>\n                    . A therapeutic protocol including intensive physiotherapy, active positioning, and a custom-made external thoracic splint was implemented. Marked improvement in locomotion and thoracic conformation was observed within 30 days. Long-term follow-up (two years in one case) demonstrated a successful functional outcome despite persistent, mild, rightward cardiac displacement. These observations highlight the importance of early recognition and conservative management of SPS and associated thoracic deformities.\n                  <\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1007\/s11259-026-11426-7","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,24]],"date-time":"2026-07-24T03:40:32Z","timestamp":1784864432000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Swimmer puppy syndrome, pectus excavatum, and cardiac dextroposition in two American Akitas: management and successful long-term outcome"],"prefix":"10.1007","volume":"50","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9771-2458","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jes\u00fas","family":"Talavera-L\u00f3pez","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Elena","family":"Hern\u00e1ndez-Rubio","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Marta","family":"Soler","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,24]]},"reference":[{"key":"11426_CR1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Anatolitou AA, Krystalli AA, Epaminondas D, Papaefthymiou SK, Adamama Moraitou KK, Prassinos NN (2024) A successful outcome in four puppies with swimmer puppy syndrome. Vet Res Commun 48:4029\u20134036. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s11259-024-10565-z","DOI":"10.1007\/s11259-024-10565-z"},{"key":"11426_CR2","unstructured":"Hoskins JD (2001) Swimmer puppies and kittens. In: Hoskins JD, Veterinary pediatrics: dogs and cats from birth to six months, 3rd edn. WB Saunders, Philadelphia, pp 419\u2013420"},{"key":"11426_CR3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Karcher DE, Costa RCM, Prada TC et al (2018) A modified technique for treating swimmer puppy syndrome. Vet Med-Czech 63:161\u2013167. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.17221\/140\/2017-VETMED","DOI":"10.17221\/140\/2017-VETMED"},{"key":"11426_CR4","unstructured":"Kim SA, Na KJ, Cho JK, Shin NS (2013) Home-care treatment of swimmer syndrome in a miniature Schnauzer dog. Can Vet J 54:869\u2013872"},{"key":"11426_CR5","unstructured":"Mahesh V (2014) Swimmer puppy syndrome in a Neapolitan Mastiff: a case report. Indian J Canine Pract 6:170\u2013171"},{"key":"11426_CR6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Mann N, MacLean J, Simone-Freilicher E et al (2019) Pectus excavatum and swimmer puppy syndrome with concurrent congenital cardiac anomalies in two domestic rabbits. J Exot Pet Med 29:212\u2013216. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1053\/j.jepm.2018.09.017","DOI":"10.1053\/j.jepm.2018.09.017"},{"key":"11426_CR7","unstructured":"Moon Larson M (2024) Diseases of the mediastinum, chest wall, and diaphragm. In: Ettinger SJ, Feldman EC, C\u00f4t\u00e9 E (eds) Ettinger\u2019s textbook of veterinary internal medicine, 9th edn. Elsevier, St. Louis, pp 2792\u20132810"},{"key":"11426_CR8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Nganvongpanit K, Yao T (2013) Prevalence of swimming puppy syndrome in 2,443 puppies during 2006\u20132012 in Thailand. Vet Med Int 2013:617803. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1155\/2013\/617803","DOI":"10.1155\/2013\/617803"},{"key":"11426_CR9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Pereira KHNP, Fuchs KM, Ter\u00e7ariol LAA, Silva RC, Camargo GA, Mendon\u00e7a JC, Paulino NT, Zone MA, Oba E, Louren\u00e7o MLG (2023) Two Types of Management for the Non-invasive treatment of pectus excavatum in neonatal puppies: case reports. Animals 13:906. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ani13050906","DOI":"10.3390\/ani13050906"},{"key":"11426_CR10","unstructured":"Rahal SC, Filho MMM, Hatschbach E, Machado VMV, Aptekmann KP, Corr\u00eaa TP (2008) Pectus excavatum in two littermate dogs. Can Vet J 49:880\u2013884"},{"key":"11426_CR11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Rumpel L, K\u00f6lle P, Mille MA et al (2023) A questionnaire-based investigation of the swimming puppy syndrome: 115 dogs. Front Vet Sci 10:1233277. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fvets.2023.1233277","DOI":"10.3389\/fvets.2023.1233277"},{"key":"11426_CR12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Rychel JK (2010) Diagnosis and treatment of osteoarthritis. Top Companion Anim Med 25:20\u201325. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1053\/j.tcam.2009.10.005","DOI":"10.1053\/j.tcam.2009.10.005"},{"key":"11426_CR13","unstructured":"Singh M, Parrah JUD, Moulvi BA, Athar H, Kalim MO, Dedmari FH (2013) A review on pectus excavatum in canines: a congenital anomaly. Iran J Vet Surg 8:59\u201364"},{"key":"11426_CR14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Tomihari M, Nobutoki Y, Nakajima N et al (2022) Factors contributing to swimmer puppy syndrome found in Labrador Retrievers. BMC Vet Res 18:120\u2013127. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s12917-022-03226-3","DOI":"10.1186\/s12917-022-03226-3"},{"key":"11426_CR15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Venkatesh A, Sumathi D, Kathirvel S, Mohanambal K, Yogeshpriya S, Ravi R (2024) Swimmer puppy syndrome diagnosis and clinical management. Int J Vet Sci Anim Husb 9:284\u2013286","DOI":"10.22271\/veterinary.2024.v9.i4e.1558"},{"key":"11426_CR16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Verhoeven G, Scheire L, Wiemer P et al (2006) Swimmer syndrome in a Devon Rex kitten and an English Bulldog puppy. J Small Anim Pract 47:615\u2013619. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/j.1748-5827.2006.00069.x","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1748-5827.2006.00069.x"},{"key":"11426_CR17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Yardimci C, \u00d6zak A, Nisbet \u00d6H, \u015eirin YS (2009) Swimming syndrome in two Labrador puppies. Kafkas Univ Vet Fak Derg 15:637\u2013640. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.9775\/kvfd.2009.110","DOI":"10.9775\/kvfd.2009.110"},{"key":"11426_CR18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Yayging\u00fcl R, Tuna GE (2021) Swimmer syndrome in two kittens. Anim Health Prod Hyg 10:74\u201377. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.53913\/aduveterinary.977031","DOI":"10.53913\/aduveterinary.977031"}],"container-title":["Veterinary Research Communications"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1007\/s11259-026-11426-7.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/s11259-026-11426-7","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1007\/s11259-026-11426-7.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,19]],"date-time":"2026-09-19T03:54:37Z","timestamp":1789790077000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/10.1007\/s11259-026-11426-7"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,24]]},"references-count":18,"journal-issue":{"issue":"5","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,10]]}},"alternative-id":["11426"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s11259-026-11426-7","relation":{},"ISSN":["0165-7380","1573-7446"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0165-7380","type":"print"},{"value":"1573-7446","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,24]]},"assertion":[{"value":"4 May 2026","order":1,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"20 July 2026","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"24 July 2026","order":3,"name":"first_online","label":"First Online","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"Owner consent was obtained for clinical management and publication of these cases. Ethical approval was not required due to the retrospective nature of the report.","order":1,"name":"Ethics","label":"Ethical statement","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}},{"value":"The authors declare no competing interests.","order":2,"name":"Ethics","label":"Competing interests","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}}],"article-number":"481"}}