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Old 06-27-2005, 07:49 PM   #1
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Hello-

I have been breeding Yorkies for 7 years. I personally own 6. All of my babies are very healthy with no known problems. I just received a phone call regarding one of the pups from a litter born about 1.5 years ago. Her Yorkie is having some sort of neurological episodes. Her head bobs and she can barely walk. Really off balance and just falls over. This will last for about 12 hours and then goes away. First time it happened the vet said it was a reaction to the heart guard chewable. Another episode occured on Saturday. She took the Yorkie to the vet on Saturday evening. They gave her charcoal and fluids. Yorkie was back to normal on Sunday morning. She called me to let me know what had happened. I came to the conclusion that it must have been something that her dog ingested. Once my Yorkies attached and ate part of a frog. They all were sick with similar symptoms. Head bobbing and their balance was off. My vet suggested to induce vomiting and very shortly after they were fine. Perfectly fine. So we both assumed that she must have eaten a spider, bug, weed, flower etc. that didn't agree with her. HOWEVER... today (Monday) the symptoms were back. She took her back to the vet and he has since ruled out a liver shunt and has referred her to a neurologist (who wants to do several thousand dollars worth of tests). The neurologist did some sort of pressure point test that indicated some abnormal functionality but also found some normal functionality as well. I have called the breeder who I purchased the mom and dad from and their is no health problems there either. She has been breeding yorkies for over 40 years and said that it sounded like a pinched nerve or spinal issue. She suggested having a chiropractor or back specialist take an xray. Has anyone ever experience anything like this with their Yorkie? Any advise or suggestion would be greatly appreciated. Her baby is really ill.

Last edited by WhalenYorkies; 06-27-2005 at 07:52 PM.
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Old 06-27-2005, 08:14 PM   #2
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Are these anything like seizures at all? I'm so sorry to hear about that issue, it sounds very serious. Would an x-ray really show any neurological problems on it? Hope she gets better soon and that someone here has heard if this particular issue...
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Old 06-27-2005, 08:18 PM   #3
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I'm not sure how much help I can be on this one.....but my former yorkie, Oscar (RIP) had some similar neurological symptoms in the later years of his life.

Since being on Yorkie talk I have spoke with a few others that seemed to have similar episodes....and I'm not really sure if we ever decided the actual causes.

Oscar had what seemed like a 'seizure'.....he would get very unsteady, often falling over if he did try to move about. He would walk backwards for a while, often drool a bit, get a very glazed look to his eyes.......

Of course, I mentioned it to the vet and he thought it might be some type of seizure, but if it did not happen more often than once a month he did not want to start meds.

Eventually I started really watching each episode and keeping some notes about things in each episode that were similar.
"Not like a siezure"......
1) Oscar was never really totally "OUT" like a seizure...he could always respond in some way..(turn his eyes / head to calling his name)

2)He never had incontinence of urine / stool.....(typical seizure activity)

I also began to notice his stomach ALWAYS felt very hard and firm to the touch......and following these episodes he ALWAYS threw up!!!! Then he would get very sleepy and sleep for hours (which is very similar to a seizure).

Like I said, I may not be of much help...but Oscar's problems turned out to related to his digestive problems.......usually eating something that had made him a bit more than "just a little sick".

As he got older things that normally did not make him ill were now making him very sick....it turned out he had a tumor on his pancreas and developed diabetes........
Oscar lived to age 12, but these episodes started when he was about 5-6 years old.

I would say pay special attention to any digestive symptoms during these episodes....

And....Oscar's episodes only lasted something like 30 minutes to 1 hour or so....never 12 hours!!

Good luck.......
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Old 06-27-2005, 08:19 PM   #4
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Oh my, that really sounds scarey! I applaud you for doing the investigating that you have done and for taking a personal interest in the problem. I really wish that I knew what the problem was and could help you, but I am clueless. Your first diagnosis sounded right on to me till it came back today. That is strange. I hope someone here has a simple answer to get this baby back in good health. Please keep posting and let us know what happens.
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Old 06-27-2005, 08:37 PM   #5
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Thanks for all your concern. To answer a few of your questions...No they are not like seizures. It is like the dog is spaced out and lathargic. She is very off-balance (however she doesn't walk about much during an episode, she just kind of sits/lays there and her head bobs like she has parkinsons disease. After a while she falls a sleep and goes into a very sound sleep. Her owner says that she keeps checking to see if she is still breathing, because she is sleeping so sound and not moving at all. Pretty scary stuff. Any other information would be appreciated.
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Old 06-27-2005, 11:01 PM   #6
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I am sorry to bring this up but being that I have worked as an animal control officer in the past and dealt with many dogs throughout my life I have to ask. Is there a chance that some thing happened to the dog. I mean, are there smaller children that have access to the dog?? Could some one have accidently kicked the dog?? Wacked it for doing some thing naughty??

The reason that i ask is because i have dealt with these same symtoms with dogs that have had something happen to them.
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Old 06-27-2005, 11:14 PM   #7
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Im so sorry to hear what is happening to this pup. I cant really give you any advise on this but I will have the pup in my prayers. Please keep us posted.
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Old 06-28-2005, 01:34 AM   #8
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Does the dog have any rythmic eye motions ? If he has, has idiopathic vestibular syndrome been ruled out ?
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Old 06-28-2005, 01:57 AM   #9
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Wow Im worried now. My baby seems perfectly well running and playing well but if she gets scared or nervous she bobs her head is that normal? dianne
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Old 06-28-2005, 03:28 AM   #10
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If it happens when she is scared or nervous and only then. And can be stopped by getting her out of the situation/calming her down it probably is normal for her. I used to have a dog who ran in circles when scared nothing to worry about just a little habit.
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Old 06-28-2005, 08:15 PM   #11
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I have heard of something like this before. I looked it up and this is what I found:

SHAKER DOG SYNDROME (related terms: "little white shakers" syndrome, idiopathic tremor syndrome, acquired tremor in young adult dogs) .
Dogs that have this disease are subject to tremors that affect their entire body. Stress, handling, and excitement seem to worsen the condition. Occasionally, other neurological abnormalities are seen in association with this condition such as head tilts, limb weakness and seizures.
.
What is shaker dog syndrome?
This disorder develops suddenly in young adult, primarily small white dogs, causing a diffuse tremor of the entire body. The cause is unknown although there is speculation that there may be a generalized neurotransmitter deficiency due to an
autoimmune reaction.
.
What breeds are affected by shaker dog syndrome?
For many breeds and many disorders, the studies to determine the mode of inheritance or the frequency in the breed have not been carried out, or are inconclusive. We have listed breeds for which there is a consensus among those investigating in this field and among veterinary practitioners, that the condition is significant in this breed.

This syndrome is seen in small breed, mostly white dogs especially the Maltese, and West Highland white terrier White Shaker Dog Syndrome most commonly is seen in such breeds as West Highland White Terriers, Maltese, Yorkshire Terriers,
Australian Silky Terriers, Poodle, Beagle and Miniature Pinschers. This disorder usually develops suddenly in young adult dogs (6 months to 3 years of age). The signs become progressively worse over 1 to 3 days and then remain the same until treatment is begun. There is an all-over tremor that can range from mild to so severe that the dog may have difficulty walking. This is called an intention tremor, meaning that it is worse when the animal is excited or tries to perform a specific action (such as
eat, walk towards an object, etc). The tremor decreases or disappears when the dog is relaxed or at rest. Commonly there are rapid, random eye movements as well.
.
The condition is not painful and your dog's personality is unaffected. Treatment is generally effective; some dogs require medication for life to control the tremors.
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How is shaker dog syndrome diagnosed?
Your veterinarian will diagnose this condition based on the clinical signs and the fact that tests for other possible causes of these signs show no abnormalities. Intention tremors may be mild to severe, affecting all 4 limbs and the head.

How is shaker dog syndrome treated? Most dogs recover completely with early treatment with corticosteroids and/or benzodiazepines. Your veterinarian
will start your dog at a relatively high dose which is gradually decreased over several weeks. Clinical signs usually begin to improve within a few days of starting treatment, but If treatment is stopped too early the signs usually return. Some dogs may have to remain on a low dosage on alternate days for life, so as to remain free of signs of the disorder. Inheritance mode: unknown

I hope this helps! If you need anymore help finding information, let me know. Also, keep us posted on the condition of the yorkie.
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Old 06-28-2005, 08:19 PM   #12
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Oh no! This sounds very serious! Keep us updated on what you find out.
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Old 06-29-2005, 05:01 PM   #13
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There is a gal on another yorkie forum (yorkie fun) that has a dog named Pepper who has similar episodes. You might check in there and do a search on Pepper.
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Old 06-29-2005, 05:18 PM   #14
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Seizures are not always falling over and jerking motions. They can be mild..a spaced out stare and head movement. I would have her checked for a brain leison. It happens in very healthy lines. These things can skip generations and then pop up. Pups can suffer brain damage from birthing and not show signs for many months.
Also..Infammatory Brain disease is not uncommon in toys, especially Yorks..

Last edited by YorkieRose; 06-29-2005 at 05:23 PM.
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