Paralyzed Puppy Mick Beats Swimmer Puppy Syndrome

Meet Mick--a puppy born with a birth defect that left him unable to stand, sit or walk. But thanks to the Mia Foundation in Rochester, N.Y., a non-profit that's dedicated to helping animals born with birth defects, he's back on his feet (literally) and running around quite well.

Mick had the condition known as Swimmer Puppy Syndrome (Pectus Excavatum). Most dogs with this never recover and are often euthanized.

According to various organizations, this condition is also so called flat chested puppies, and without treatment, many of these dogs will die anywhere from two days to four weeks after birth.

The way to notice if you have a swimmer puppy is to see if the puppy is always laying on his or her stomach. If you lay them on their side,they will immediately return to laying on their belly again. This is known as the righting reflex, and can be observed by disturbing a very young litter of sleeping puppies and watching them 'right' themselves by immediately crawling upright to their stomachs and beginning to search for their mother's nipple. After taking a drink, it's when some puppies do not want to return to a relaxed state on their side that the puppy swimmer syndrome can occur and may lead to possible death without intervention.

Cures for swimmer's syndrome must be taken sought as soon as possible if you notice your pup is exhibiting symptoms. Fortunately, they are really quite simple. Following birth, owners should check all of their puppies every hour or so for the next couple of days. If one of the puppies is always on its belly or beginning to show signs of a flat chest, this could be a warning sign. Make sure to take the pup and hold it on its side, despite resistance. It's recommended to do this several times a day until the puppy returns to normal.

For Mick's case, more intensive therapy was required, but in the end, he is still walking like a pro on his journey to a full recovery..

Want to see some of Mick's story? Check out of this video, courtesy of YouTube.