Nano - YorkieTalk.com Forums

linanator · 11-18-2010, 02:09 PM

Can't find where I 'talked' before, old threads. My subject in the past was "Very lethargic puppy" but can't find it.
I got some bad news yesterday on Nano. My main vet looked at him and is really worried about the open font. It doesn't seem to have closed any at all in 3 weeks. I'm devestated. I was so shocked at him telling me what could happen that I couldn't even think of what to ask.
Do any of you have experience with this? He's very, very tiny (undersized), but he's pretty much thriving---eating and drinking on his own, playing, running around, etc.---not as much as the rest of the litter, but for his size and considering all the tube feeding, bottle feeding, etc., he's doing great. He was 9 weeks old this past Monday. (born 9/13/10).
Need you guys to tell me what the prognosis is. Thank you!

Teresamag · 11-18-2010, 02:49 PM

My mom bottle raised a tiny little Yorkie many years ago whose Fontanel never closed. Kelsey is about 10-12 years old now and has never had any health problems. She only weighs about 2 1/2-3 lbs now, has every one of her teeth, and enjoys life without any problems. I don't know if she is the norm or an exception but I do know my mom saved her life by bottle raising her when her mom rejected her and Kelsey has always done great and never had any issues with her open fontanel. I hope your little guy does as well as she has all these years.

Teresa

YorkieRose · 11-18-2010, 03:16 PM

What size would you say it is...penny, dime, pencil...I would not be too worried at this point if it is no bigger then a pencil...but larger can mean problems..all you can do it take it day by day.

linanator · 11-18-2010, 08:35 PM

Teresamag, That is the GREATEST news I've heard since I left the vet's office. He didn't say he would die, I think he was just preparing me just in case of the worse scenario. I can't even tell you how thrilled I am with this news about Kelsey.
The area is about the size of my little fingernail which doesn't sound large, but his head is SO tiny, it's a pretty big area in comparison. His head is kind of apple shaped, which actually makes him the cutest little thing I've ever seen!

His mother never rejected him and protects him from the rest of the litter. So sweet! But we had to tube feed for 2 weeks, bottle feed for another 2 weeks and he just recently started eating puppy food w/a little of his formula mixed in on his own and drinking water. My precious little man!
Thanks again! I'm in heaven again!

YorkieRose · 11-19-2010, 09:10 AM

I have had tinies with a small opening...my KC lived to be 14 and never had a problem. I fretted over her because she was my first Yorkie whose fontanel did not close by 12 yrs...I remember saying to my vet.."what if something falls on her head..it will kill her." ..he said if she had a solid skull and "something" fell on her, it would do damage..she was barely 3 pounds...she cracked her head a number of times under the coffee table and was ok...

BUT..there is a different problem that can arise if there is more going on beside a small opening...I am sure the vet told you about water on the brain..hydrocephalic in nature.

linanator · 11-19-2010, 12:26 PM

That is great news, too!!! that you had one with an open fontanel that lived to be 14. I SO hope this little guy makes it without any problems. Yes, my vet told me a dreadfully horrible story about a client that bought a Chihuahua that had one. It only lived 3 years and it's head grew so large,it became totally deformed---eyes in different places!---that it couldn't lift it's head. Right now he doesn't think Nano is Hydrocephalic, but he is concerned. His head is a little large for his body and it's apple shaped, more like a Chihuahua. So I'm guessing it's just a wait and see thing. Did you ever look into any kind of helmet for your baby's head? I know that probably sounds crazy, but I would really like him to have something. That opening is rather round in shape and pretty big compared to the total size of his little head. He's so cute and I just love him to death. I'm totally obsessed.

My husband is, too.
Are there canine neurologists? I didn't think to ask my vet....although he's a toy dog expert, so he should know how to handle this.

YorkieRose · 11-19-2010, 06:29 PM

Yes, there are canine neurologists..at this point..IMO it is a pricy way to go at this age..and tests are stressful for the tiny ones. Here, in our area an MRI is $1200...and the vet said brain damage is not curable..so she did not do it...Yorkie is 3 and happy and well...but sometimes when he is excited his tremor is noticable.

lmperez · 11-19-2010, 07:02 PM

They do make bike helments for small dogs but my guess is he is still too small for them.

linanator · 11-19-2010, 08:22 PM

I kind of figured there's not anything you can do, but didn't know for sure. I mean, they don't put plates in their heads or anything, do they? I was wondering about some type of tiny helmet. Those little bike helmets they make for even kitties would probably be way too big.
All I can do is be careful and pray he's going to live a long, long time. We keep a really close eye on him. Weigh him several times a day. His weight can vary, but for the most part, he's going in the right direction. My daughter dropped off her 2 yorkies today while she goes out of town for the weekend and commented on how much he's grown. He weighs 1 lb. 4 oz......and he's 'grown'? lol Actually, from 3.4 oz. in 9 weeks, he has grown.

I hope God's plan for him is to live and live well.

linanator · 11-20-2010, 08:10 PM

You know what worries me the most? He sleeps A lot. What do you guys think? I mean a lot more than the other puppies. Do you think it's because he's so small and just doesn't have the energy the other pups do? He really konks out after he eats, which I can kind of understand. But my goodness, he sleeps so much more than just that.

mkbartz · 11-22-2010, 08:01 AM

One of my rescue girls has an open fontanel. We grew her a "protective ponytail."

She is three years old now and is happy and healthy!

linanator · 11-22-2010, 11:03 AM

That's another thing. He doesn't have nearly as much 'fluffiness' in his coat as the other littermates. His hair is still really close to his body. As I've said, I think he's just way behind. One of those cases where he's 72 hours younger, preemie. I hope his gets enough top knot to make some protection for his head. That would be cool. I'm planning on keeping him in coat. He's still doing well with no problems, so far. His topline is not flat, to say the least! Might have been the way he was situated in the womb. That's okay. Don't care about that as long as it's not a health problem or painful. He doesn't act like it. Just doesn't take much for him to konk out, as I said before. Good tip, though, about the top knot protection. Thank you.

kjc · 11-22-2010, 11:12 AM

Here's your other thread:

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/bre...gic-puppy.html

Best of Luck with this little one....

11-18-2010, 02:09 PM	#1
linanator Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Cordova, TN, USA Posts: 72	Nano Can't find where I 'talked' before, old threads. My subject in the past was "Very lethargic puppy" but can't find it. I got some bad news yesterday on Nano. My main vet looked at him and is really worried about the open font. It doesn't seem to have closed any at all in 3 weeks. I'm devestated. I was so shocked at him telling me what could happen that I couldn't even think of what to ask. Do any of you have experience with this? He's very, very tiny (undersized), but he's pretty much thriving---eating and drinking on his own, playing, running around, etc.---not as much as the rest of the litter, but for his size and considering all the tube feeding, bottle feeding, etc., he's doing great. He was 9 weeks old this past Monday. (born 9/13/10). Need you guys to tell me what the prognosis is. Thank you!

11-18-2010, 08:35 PM	#4
linanator Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Cordova, TN, USA Posts: 72	Nano Teresamag, That is the GREATEST news I've heard since I left the vet's office. He didn't say he would die, I think he was just preparing me just in case of the worse scenario. I can't even tell you how thrilled I am with this news about Kelsey. The area is about the size of my little fingernail which doesn't sound large, but his head is SO tiny, it's a pretty big area in comparison. His head is kind of apple shaped, which actually makes him the cutest little thing I've ever seen! His mother never rejected him and protects him from the rest of the litter. So sweet! But we had to tube feed for 2 weeks, bottle feed for another 2 weeks and he just recently started eating puppy food w/a little of his formula mixed in on his own and drinking water. My precious little man! Thanks again! I'm in heaven again!

11-19-2010, 12:26 PM	#6
linanator Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Cordova, TN, USA Posts: 72	Nano That is great news, too!!! that you had one with an open fontanel that lived to be 14. I SO hope this little guy makes it without any problems. Yes, my vet told me a dreadfully horrible story about a client that bought a Chihuahua that had one. It only lived 3 years and it's head grew so large,it became totally deformed---eyes in different places!---that it couldn't lift it's head. Right now he doesn't think Nano is Hydrocephalic, but he is concerned. His head is a little large for his body and it's apple shaped, more like a Chihuahua. So I'm guessing it's just a wait and see thing. Did you ever look into any kind of helmet for your baby's head? I know that probably sounds crazy, but I would really like him to have something. That opening is rather round in shape and pretty big compared to the total size of his little head. He's so cute and I just love him to death. I'm totally obsessed. My husband is, too. Are there canine neurologists? I didn't think to ask my vet....although he's a toy dog expert, so he should know how to handle this.

11-19-2010, 08:22 PM	#9
linanator Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Cordova, TN, USA Posts: 72	Nano I kind of figured there's not anything you can do, but didn't know for sure. I mean, they don't put plates in their heads or anything, do they? I was wondering about some type of tiny helmet. Those little bike helmets they make for even kitties would probably be way too big. All I can do is be careful and pray he's going to live a long, long time. We keep a really close eye on him. Weigh him several times a day. His weight can vary, but for the most part, he's going in the right direction. My daughter dropped off her 2 yorkies today while she goes out of town for the weekend and commented on how much he's grown. He weighs 1 lb. 4 oz......and he's 'grown'? lol Actually, from 3.4 oz. in 9 weeks, he has grown. I hope God's plan for him is to live and live well.

11-20-2010, 08:10 PM	#10
linanator Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Cordova, TN, USA Posts: 72	Nano You know what worries me the most? He sleeps A lot. What do you guys think? I mean a lot more than the other puppies. Do you think it's because he's so small and just doesn't have the energy the other pups do? He really konks out after he eats, which I can kind of understand. But my goodness, he sleeps so much more than just that.

11-18-2010, 02:49 PM	#2
Teresamag YT Addict Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Missouri Posts: 358	My mom bottle raised a tiny little Yorkie many years ago whose Fontanel never closed. Kelsey is about 10-12 years old now and has never had any health problems. She only weighs about 2 1/2-3 lbs now, has every one of her teeth, and enjoys life without any problems. I don't know if she is the norm or an exception but I do know my mom saved her life by bottle raising her when her mom rejected her and Kelsey has always done great and never had any issues with her open fontanel. I hope your little guy does as well as she has all these years. Teresa

11-18-2010, 03:16 PM	#3
YorkieRose No Longer a Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 8,577	What size would you say it is...penny, dime, pencil...I would not be too worried at this point if it is no bigger then a pencil...but larger can mean problems..all you can do it take it day by day.

11-19-2010, 09:10 AM	#5
YorkieRose No Longer a Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 8,577	I have had tinies with a small opening...my KC lived to be 14 and never had a problem. I fretted over her because she was my first Yorkie whose fontanel did not close by 12 yrs...I remember saying to my vet.."what if something falls on her head..it will kill her." ..he said if she had a solid skull and "something" fell on her, it would do damage..she was barely 3 pounds...she cracked her head a number of times under the coffee table and was ok... BUT..there is a different problem that can arise if there is more going on beside a small opening...I am sure the vet told you about water on the brain..hydrocephalic in nature.

11-19-2010, 06:29 PM	#7
YorkieRose No Longer a Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 8,577	Yes, there are canine neurologists..at this point..IMO it is a pricy way to go at this age..and tests are stressful for the tiny ones. Here, in our area an MRI is $1200...and the vet said brain damage is not curable..so she did not do it...Yorkie is 3 and happy and well...but sometimes when he is excited his tremor is noticable.

11-19-2010, 07:02 PM	#8
lmperez YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: USA Posts: 600	They do make bike helments for small dogs but my guess is he is still too small for them.

11-22-2010, 08:01 AM	#11
mkbartz YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: London, Ontario, canada Posts: 518	One of my rescue girls has an open fontanel. We grew her a "protective ponytail." She is three years old now and is happy and healthy!

11-22-2010, 11:03 AM	#12
linanator Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Cordova, TN, USA Posts: 72	Nano That's another thing. He doesn't have nearly as much 'fluffiness' in his coat as the other littermates. His hair is still really close to his body. As I've said, I think he's just way behind. One of those cases where he's 72 hours younger, preemie. I hope his gets enough top knot to make some protection for his head. That would be cool. I'm planning on keeping him in coat. He's still doing well with no problems, so far. His topline is not flat, to say the least! Might have been the way he was situated in the womb. That's okay. Don't care about that as long as it's not a health problem or painful. He doesn't act like it. Just doesn't take much for him to konk out, as I said before. Good tip, though, about the top knot protection. Thank you.

11-22-2010, 11:12 AM	#13
kjc I♥PeekTinkySaph&Finny Donating Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Posts: 18,866	Here's your other thread: http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/bre...gic-puppy.html Best of Luck with this little one.... __________________ Kat Chloe Lizzy PeekABooTinkerbell SapphireInfinity