My Yorkie has a hole in her head - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Harbinger · 02-26-2005, 12:14 PM

Hopefully someone here can let me know how much I should worry. I took Sheila in for her 12 week vacinations and exam this morning. It all went well exept when the vet examened her he found a small hole at the top of her skull. He seemed concerned but not overly so saying that she is still so young that there is a chance it may fill in? Has anyone here had any experience with this? I can feel it now, it's like a tiny indent in her skull. I've had her for a month now and I've grown too attached to give her back to the breeder

. Any advice is most welcome.

Jane · 02-26-2005, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harbinger

Hopefully someone here can let me know how much I should worry. I took Sheila in for her 12 week vacinations and exam this morning. It all went well exept when the vet examened her he found a small hole at the top of her skull. He seemed concerned but not overly so saying that she is still so young that there is a chance it may fill in? Has anyone here had any experience with this? I can feel it now, it's like a tiny indent in her skull. I've had her for a month now and I've grown too attached to give her back to the breeder

. Any advice is most welcome.

Hi

We hope sheila is going to be ok

I will make some phone calls and get back to you.

schatzie · 02-26-2005, 12:33 PM

Are you refering to Molera, the soft spot on top of the skull? It usually disappears by 6 months of age. Sometimes it may remain for life.

Normally while they have the soft spot you just need to make sure nothing hits the top of their head, kinda like with a human baby. Furniture, corners, etc. Yorkie's can live hardy lives normally w/ moleras.

Harbinger · 02-26-2005, 01:41 PM

Well the paper from the vet says "open skull" so I'm not sure if it's the same thing. He did say some medical term when he found it and it could easily have been "molera" so you may be right. The advice he gave was the same as yours, make sure she doesn't hit her head. Thank you for the replies.

TinkerToy · 02-26-2005, 05:07 PM

I think it has someting to do with what schatzie said. When I took Tinker to the vet for the first time I remember the vet looking at the top of the head and said," Oh good it is closed." At the time I had no idea what in the world she was talking about, but now it makes sense. Tinker has a little brown circle on the top of the head, so I don't think it is anything to worry about. If the vet didn't seem to worry about it too much then I think you are good. Don't worry if I was you I be paranoid too. But like Schatzie suggested I would just watch her head, and make sure she doesn't hit it too hard. Good Luck!!!

debi_s · 02-27-2005, 06:34 AM

How much does Sheila weigh????? I think this is more common in the little bitty yorkies.

My Lil Bit has the same thing....it is called a Molera and, like Schatzie said, it is common in puppies. Just like a soft spot on the skull of an infant, it should close by a certain age. When I took Lil Bit to the vet he too was concerned because her molera was a bit larger than normal and may not close completely.

The molera is a normal finding in chihuahuas and is actually desirable by some chihuahua owners.

Sometimes a really large molera can indicate hydocephalus...(excess fluid on the brain)...but the vet said if this was the case the puppy would have had SIGNIFICANT symptoms before now...(Lil Bit is nearly 4 months old). Symptoms of hydrocephalus are very poor growth, very poor feeding, little energy, protruding eyes, and almost always seizures....frequent seizures!

I remain concerned about her, but every day, as I watch her eat and play..play...play...I feel much better. I feel like this molera may never close completely and I will have to be very careful about her head and any falls or injuries!!!

Just watch her and see what else the vet says.

Harbinger · 02-27-2005, 06:42 AM

Sheila is 12 weeks and 1.9 pounds. She's a happy healthy puppy in all other aspects. Hopefully it closes, but like you said I'll just have to be carefull with her head and falls.

debi_s · 02-27-2005, 06:46 AM

Lil Bit will be 4 months on 3-2-05....she weighed 1 pound 11 oz 3 days ago...
like I said, I think this is more common is the little ones!!!

Jane · 03-01-2005, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harbinger

Well the paper from the vet says "open skull" so I'm not sure if it's the same thing. He did say some medical term when he found it and it could easily have been "molera" so you may be right. The advice he gave was the same as yours, make sure she doesn't hit her head. Thank you for the replies.

Hi, I made a call to the breeder and it can happen. Yes, in about six month it should close. And be careful that Sheila dose not get bumped on the head. It is like a baby with a soft spot. She should be ok

KristiC · 03-01-2005, 03:15 PM

Dont mess with it! That is her soft spot just like a babie has it will fill up pretty soon but make sure you leave it alone and that she does not play to hard.This is because the Breeder let her go to soon. I say that the Breeder had a small litter and all of her litter mates was like that but just give it time it will grow up in know time just be Careful.This is what happens when Breeder doesnt check this kind of stuff!

kys24 · 03-01-2005, 03:24 PM

yea hershey has that too.. but I had this accident in which i was moving the metal fence that forms hershey's playpen to my room, and i left it against the wall for a sec, and next thing i know hershey comes running up and the fence falls on him! of course fence is much bigger and heavier so he was yelping but i calmed him down by petting him.. i never felt that worried and scared in my life. Is there any chance that he might be less smart? he seems fine and is back to normal right now but that thing was sure heavy...

KristiC · 03-01-2005, 03:31 PM

I dont think but I would take him to the vet and let them check him out before you just try to calm him down because he could be hurt.And I hate to imagine what would happen if something happened to that soft spot and you didnt know about it.It is just like a babies on their heads do you know what happens if something hits it to hard?

Harbinger · 03-01-2005, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KristiC

Dont mess with it! That is her soft spot just like a babie has it will fill up pretty soon but make sure you leave it alone and that she does not play to hard.This is because the Breeder let her go to soon. I say that the Breeder had a small litter and all of her litter mates was like that but just give it time it will grow up in know time just be Careful.This is what happens when Breeder doesnt check this kind of stuff!

Strange because she does come from a good breeder and was checked out by their vet. My vet noticed t though. I'm sure she'll be ok and I am very carefull with her.

KristiC · 03-01-2005, 03:39 PM

Oh ya she will be fine just be very careful and watch her and as far as the Breeder thing goes.I am very picky about my Puppies and they will not go until I know that everything is fine it just scares me because if I know I had a puppy that has a soft spot I would not let it go until it harden up that is just me my Puppies are like my babies it is very hard for me to let them go

kys24 · 03-01-2005, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KristiC

I dont think but I would take him to the vet and let them check him out before you just try to calm him down because he could be hurt.And I hate to imagine what would happen if something happened to that soft spot and you didnt know about it.It is just like a babies on their heads do you know what happens if something hits it to hard?

yea i took him to the vet the next day because i was suppose to give him his irst shot anyways.. and he says he "seems" ok but i made a thread on the health forum asking about vets in general since mine seemed really vague about everything... and at times when he has accidents and pees on the carpet instead of pee pad, my bf jokes around about how he may be stupid cuz of that accident and that scares me. my bf keeps on saying there is probably nothing we cna do to find out if that accident in any way affected hershey unless we do a full MRI testing .. i dont know. i just hope HOPE that hershey is ok and will be ok in the future. im just grateful right now that he seems normal.

02-26-2005, 12:14 PM	#1
Harbinger Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 371	My Yorkie has a hole in her head Hopefully someone here can let me know how much I should worry. I took Sheila in for her 12 week vacinations and exam this morning. It all went well exept when the vet examened her he found a small hole at the top of her skull. He seemed concerned but not overly so saying that she is still so young that there is a chance it may fill in? Has anyone here had any experience with this? I can feel it now, it's like a tiny indent in her skull. I've had her for a month now and I've grown too attached to give her back to the breeder . Any advice is most welcome.

02-26-2005, 12:33 PM	#3
schatzie *Moderator Emeritus* Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Tontitown Arkansas Posts: 4,909	Are you refering to Molera, the soft spot on top of the skull? It usually disappears by 6 months of age. Sometimes it may remain for life. Normally while they have the soft spot you just need to make sure nothing hits the top of their head, kinda like with a human baby. Furniture, corners, etc. Yorkie's can live hardy lives normally w/ moleras. __________________ ~~~~ Schatzie and Ransom ~~~~

02-26-2005, 01:41 PM	#4
Harbinger Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 371	Well the paper from the vet says "open skull" so I'm not sure if it's the same thing. He did say some medical term when he found it and it could easily have been "molera" so you may be right. The advice he gave was the same as yours, make sure she doesn't hit her head. Thank you for the replies.

02-26-2005, 05:07 PM	#5
TinkerToy Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Austin,TX Posts: 76	I think it has someting to do with what schatzie said. When I took Tinker to the vet for the first time I remember the vet looking at the top of the head and said," Oh good it is closed." At the time I had no idea what in the world she was talking about, but now it makes sense. Tinker has a little brown circle on the top of the head, so I don't think it is anything to worry about. If the vet didn't seem to worry about it too much then I think you are good. Don't worry if I was you I be paranoid too. But like Schatzie suggested I would just watch her head, and make sure she doesn't hit it too hard. Good Luck!!!

02-27-2005, 06:34 AM	#6
debi_s YT Addict Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Upstate S.C. Posts: 309	How much does Sheila weigh????? I think this is more common in the little bitty yorkies. My Lil Bit has the same thing....it is called a Molera and, like Schatzie said, it is common in puppies. Just like a soft spot on the skull of an infant, it should close by a certain age. When I took Lil Bit to the vet he too was concerned because her molera was a bit larger than normal and may not close completely. The molera is a normal finding in chihuahuas and is actually desirable by some chihuahua owners. Sometimes a really large molera can indicate hydocephalus...(excess fluid on the brain)...but the vet said if this was the case the puppy would have had SIGNIFICANT symptoms before now...(Lil Bit is nearly 4 months old). Symptoms of hydrocephalus are very poor growth, very poor feeding, little energy, protruding eyes, and almost always seizures....frequent seizures! I remain concerned about her, but every day, as I watch her eat and play..play...play...I feel much better. I feel like this molera may never close completely and I will have to be very careful about her head and any falls or injuries!!! Just watch her and see what else the vet says.

02-27-2005, 06:42 AM	#7
Harbinger Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 371	Sheila is 12 weeks and 1.9 pounds. She's a happy healthy puppy in all other aspects. Hopefully it closes, but like you said I'll just have to be carefull with her head and falls.

02-27-2005, 06:46 AM	#8
debi_s YT Addict Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Upstate S.C. Posts: 309	Lil Bit will be 4 months on 3-2-05....she weighed 1 pound 11 oz 3 days ago... like I said, I think this is more common is the little ones!!!

03-01-2005, 03:15 PM	#10
KristiC Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Tennessee Posts: 669	Dont mess with it! That is her soft spot just like a babie has it will fill up pretty soon but make sure you leave it alone and that she does not play to hard.This is because the Breeder let her go to soon. I say that the Breeder had a small litter and all of her litter mates was like that but just give it time it will grow up in know time just be Careful.This is what happens when Breeder doesnt check this kind of stuff!

03-01-2005, 03:24 PM	#11
kys24 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 52	yea hershey has that too.. but I had this accident in which i was moving the metal fence that forms hershey's playpen to my room, and i left it against the wall for a sec, and next thing i know hershey comes running up and the fence falls on him! of course fence is much bigger and heavier so he was yelping but i calmed him down by petting him.. i never felt that worried and scared in my life. Is there any chance that he might be less smart? he seems fine and is back to normal right now but that thing was sure heavy...

03-01-2005, 03:31 PM	#12
KristiC Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Tennessee Posts: 669	I dont think but I would take him to the vet and let them check him out before you just try to calm him down because he could be hurt.And I hate to imagine what would happen if something happened to that soft spot and you didnt know about it.It is just like a babies on their heads do you know what happens if something hits it to hard?

03-01-2005, 03:39 PM	#14
KristiC Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Tennessee Posts: 669	Oh ya she will be fine just be very careful and watch her and as far as the Breeder thing goes.I am very picky about my Puppies and they will not go until I know that everything is fine it just scares me because if I know I had a puppy that has a soft spot I would not let it go until it harden up that is just me my Puppies are like my babies it is very hard for me to let them go