THE SPLOOT IS CUTE, BUT IS IT OKAY?

By Virginia Kilmer, CEO/Founder, Perpetual Care

What is it?

Dogs do it, cats do it, even horses do it…well sort of; it’s the Sploot!  It is so cute when they do it, we all love to take photos and videos of them when caught in the act of a sploot!

So, what is it, why do they do it and are they okay to when they do it? 

A "sploot" is a popular term for when a pet lies flat on its stomach with its front paws outstretched and its hind legs stretched straight backward (like a frog, which is why it is also sometimes called “frogging”). It looks funny, but it is totally normal behavior, usually. 

There are also variations on the sploot:

• The full sploot: With the classic sploot, both hind legs are stretched out behind their body. Cats and short-legged dog breeds like corgis and Chihuahuas like the full sploot.

• The half sploot: One hind leg is stretched straight back while the other is tucked under their abdomen. Larger breed dogs often do the half sploot.

• The side sploot: One hind leg is stuck out to the side while the other remains nestled near their body.

• The horse sploot:  Horses cannot "sploot" like dogs or cats because their heavy anatomy and leg structures would cause severe damage. However, foals and relaxed horses frequently adopt a "sploot-like" pose, where they stretch out their front legs or splay a single hind leg far out to the side.

Dog Breeds That Most Commonly Sploot

Some dog breeds are notorious splooters thanks to their anatomy, but any dog can sploot, and many bigger breeds do it, too. A few popular dog breeds that sploot often include:

·       French Bulldogs

·       Golden Retrievers

·       Corgis

·       Dachshunds

·       Chihuahuas

·       Basset Hounds

·       Pugs

·       Bernese Mountain Dogs

·       Huskies

Why they Sploot

·       Deep Relaxation: Because it leaves them completely vulnerable and unable to spring up quickly, splooting is a sign that your pet feels perfectly safe and comfortable in their environment.

·       Temperature Control: When their belly is flat against the floor, walkway or grass, they can regulate their body temperature more easily. They might love to sploot on a cool tile floor or hardwood and not carpet.

·       A Good Stretch: Splooting allows your pet to stretch their hips and legs and keep their flexible joints loose. They might do it after running or walking long distances. Splooting can help relieve tension in a dog’s lower back and hind legs, similar to how humans release their lower backs.

Is it healthy for them?

The act of splooting itself is not bad for their hips. It’s a natural and harmless position that they might find to be more comfortable, and it could mean that they have healthy, flexible hip joints if they can get into that position.

When to seek Veterinary Care

If your pet is splooting and has other symptoms, there might be something else going on.

If your pet is not eating, is crying or howling in pain, is limping, has stiffness, or is having difficulty getting up from a sploot, call your vet. It could be a paw pad injury or something bigger, like arthritis or hip dysplasia – conditions that happen as our pets age.

If your horse is splooting or adopting unusual lying positions, additional questions are:

·       How old is the horse? 

·       Is this a new behavior? 

·       Are there other symptoms like colic, limping, or labored breathing?

Conclusion

A sploot is usually a sign your pet is relaxed and comfortable. If associated with other symptoms such as vomiting, pain or limping, take them to the vet.  So long as your pet is splooting and able to move around comfortably, there’s no reason to worry.  Keep taking those cute pics and vids!