Olek

Present from birth, not contagious, not caught. It has been documented in several species including dogs. How much it affects the animal varies a lot: some have mobility trouble or pain, others adapt remarkably well and live fairly ordinary lives. He appears to be in the second group.

It has been looked at, and the view from the people qualified to have one is that he is likely healthy for his species with no apparent mobility or pain problems. The state wildlife department said much the same: he appears healthy without any human intervention.

The shape is almost certainly short spine syndrome, where the vertebrae are compressed or fused so the back is much shorter than normal. Hence the squashed look, the absent neck and the body sitting straight on the legs.