YorkieTalk.com Forums - Yorkshire Terrier Community - View Single Post - Sprite diagnosed with hydrocephalus and needs shunt

kmarla · 04-06-2014, 11:39 AM

I posted in Sick and injured forum also but I'm hoping for advice from others who may have gone through this experience. Our little Sprite is 3 1/2 years old and began having seizures almost 4 months ago. All her blood work was inconclusive and so she was referred to a neurologist. She had an MRI on Friday and was diagnosed with hydrocephalus with COM (caudal occipital malformation) syndrome. Her left ventricle is almost 3x the size of the right. She was prescribed prednisone and omeprazole and is to continue with the Kepra, which helps to control the seizures. These meds will only help for a short time. To extend her life and quality of life she needs a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. We have to make a decision within a few days. We are devastated by this news. Our regular vet has no experience with this in his practice and so cannot help us with advice about the right thing to do. Has anyone been through this with their Yorkie? What can we expect after surgery in terms of continuing care requirements? Any and all help would be appreciated, including good thoughts for our little angel. She is in a bad way right now and we need guidance in coming to the right decision for her.

04-06-2014, 11:39 AM	#1
kmarla Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 105	Sprite diagnosed with hydrocephalus and needs shunt I posted in Sick and injured forum also but I'm hoping for advice from others who may have gone through this experience. Our little Sprite is 3 1/2 years old and began having seizures almost 4 months ago. All her blood work was inconclusive and so she was referred to a neurologist. She had an MRI on Friday and was diagnosed with hydrocephalus with COM (caudal occipital malformation) syndrome. Her left ventricle is almost 3x the size of the right. She was prescribed prednisone and omeprazole and is to continue with the Kepra, which helps to control the seizures. These meds will only help for a short time. To extend her life and quality of life she needs a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. We have to make a decision within a few days. We are devastated by this news. Our regular vet has no experience with this in his practice and so cannot help us with advice about the right thing to do. Has anyone been through this with their Yorkie? What can we expect after surgery in terms of continuing care requirements? Any and all help would be appreciated, including good thoughts for our little angel. She is in a bad way right now and we need guidance in coming to the right decision for her.