Puppy with Molera?????

[debi_s]

Hi again,
I finally got to pick up my new little girl yesterday evening. This puppy is now 3 months old and I was concerned about her small size and the breeder felt she was not eating enough. For whatever reason this breeder does not like her local vet and our agreement was for me to take her ot MY vet first thing this morning..... Of course she is doing fine and eating GREAT!!!!! within 20 hours her stool changed from "loose" to normal formed and she is very energetic and playing full time (between naps) with my chihuahua. The vet said everything checks-out fine...(awaiting labs) ...BUT...she does have a rather noticable molera. Now my question is this...Is a molera normal in a Yorkie....? I know Chi's may or may not have one but I have never heard a reference to a yorkie with one. I have NO intentions in showing this puppy...just loving and playing....but should I be concerned??? Or....I have even considered she is 'part chihuahua'???

Any thoughts????????

[camillek]

What is molera?

[bettyeanne]

Originally Posted by camillek

What is molera?

THAT'S what I wondered too! This is the definition which I found on "Google". There are other links but I didn't have time to check them. Thought it was interesting ... but never heard of it in reference to a Yorkie.

Definition from Google search:
molera
A molera is a "hole" in a Chihuahua's head; it is the same as a fontanelle in human babies. Historically, the Chihuahua as developed in Mexico and the United States has displayed a "hole in the head". In times past, this has been accepted as a mark of purity for this dog breed, and it is still mentioned in most Chihuahua breed standards the world over. The bones of the head in all foetuses are not firmly knitted together, but in most mammals, the different bones of the skull join with cartilaginous sutures as the animal matures. The Chihuahuas' moleras vary in size and shape, occurring on the top of the head where the parietal and frontal bones come together.

The simple fact that a Chihuahua has a domed head with an open molera does not predispose it to hydrocephalus as found by a study done by Greene and Braund in 1989, which concluded that "Many clinically normal toy breeds and brachycephalic (short faced) breeds also may have open fontanelles without associated hydrocephalus." Also, "There did not appear to be any relationship between the presence or size of the fontanelle and the concomitant presence of hydrocephalus." When the dog seems normal but displays enlarged ventricles of the brain (under ultrasound), its hydrocephalus is termed "occult" (having no clinical signs).

debi_s .. perhaps your baby is just young and the hole hasn't knitted together yet ... don't know what age they are supposed to. I have forgotten lots that I learned about Toto when she was that age! However, your vet should be able to answer that question. I find it curious that a breeder doesn't have a "trusted vet" of her own? That would have made me uncomfortable. Good luck with your new baby ... please post pics and tell us all about her! We, like you, just wanted a pet so we didn't care really what color or size Toto ultimately turned out to be ... we would love her is she turned purple and weighed 50 lbs. ... just so long as she is healthy!!!

[luvdorkyyorkies]

I didnt know what a molera was either...
I have heard of little yorkies having a soft spot.....like a baby, and in time they do close.
Now I can use a fancy term for a soft spot..........LOL

[schatzie]

When we had our first Yorkie, Half-Pint, she too was very tiny. Our vet said that Half-Pint has the "soft spot" on her head and not to be concerned it will close.

Schatzie was bigger and didn't have one, but it sounds very common.

Congrat's on your new baby, hope to see pictures real soon.

[debi_s]

Yes, the molera is the "soft spot" in the head.....the vet said he found it to be more noticable than normal. But the puppy is acting fine. He thinks it will close up in time but likely will never completely close. The obvious concern would be hydrocephalus..... he said it could be perfectly normal but he did think it was a bit larger than normal.
This puppy is the one I was concerned about because I thought she was soooooo small and I could feel her ribs 2 1/2 weeks ago. When I first saw her she was "10-11" week old (actually she was 12 weeks) and I posted a note because she was 13 ounces and those ribs!!!!!! I spoke with the breeder several times and she said she was acting normal but just would not eat well. I went to get her Friday evening with the agreement with the breeder (in writing.....thanks for making me more assertive)... She now weighted 1 pound 2 ounces (on my infant scales) at age 14 weeks. I took her to my vet Saturday am and after a very long discussion we decided she is sooooo small because she is "malnourished"!!!!! He did an excellent assessment and some labwork.
This breeder told me to mix the 'generic' puppy chow with "a lot of water" and let it soak to mash it to "mashed potato" consistancy!!!!! The vet and I both think this poor puppy has been living on essentially water and "fillers" for the past 8 weeks!!! After getting her home we changed her to a premium meat based puppy food (Purina Pro Plan) very lightly soaked and she has done GREAT!!!! Loves to eat!!!! Within 24 hours her stools changed from "loose formed" and pooping every other step...to solid formed and 2 poops in 12 hours. She is soooooooo lively and playful and gives my Chihuahua a real run for her size. I weighed her again Saturday night and she has gained a FULL OUNCE!!!!!
I remain concerned about her small size.....As much as many people would love a 2 pound dog I truly do not want her to be that small. I know the long term health concerns with a small dog and that is just too little! Judging by her frame and feet I think she is going to grow like a weed and do fine (hope--hope--hope).
I have alot of work now learning how to post photos....never done that!!!!! She is adorable and sooooooo loving...a perfect puppy to me!!!!
I can never thank you all enough for all the input and encouragement.
I'll keep everyone posted!

[Gracie'sMommy]

I'm guessing she may be a small dog when fully grown, perhaps 4 or 5 lbs. My Gracie just found her appetite this week, she turned 12 weeks on Monday and suddenly began inhaling food! The first three weeks I had her, it was often hard to get her to eat, and I supplemented her with Nutrical quite a bit and still she only gained 1 oz. the entire time. This week alone from Monday to Friday she's gained 2 oz.! She's up to 1 lb. 9 oz. from what I can tell on the postage scale!!!!! We go to the vet on Monday so I'll see what she weighs there. But I can tell you that I felt her ribs too, up until this week.

It sounds to me like your baby just wasn't getting enough to eat and she was putting on weight slowly. She sounds so happy and free now!!!! I'd say give the molera a chance to close, she may be a little behind in development because of the lack of nutrition.

Post pictures when you can!

[luvdorkyyorkies]

Im so happy yur little dog is doing well!!
I have found my puppies dont eat food soaked in water well at all, so when I am introducing them to food I add some milk to it, some might frown on that becuase they might think it would give the puppy runs, but with me so far it has never happened nice firm stools...........I dont keep them long on that regiment either, because I use alot of canned to start a puppy, they just seem to respond to that alot better...............Offer canned 3 times a day..........and dry hard eukanuba at all times........then its not long i see them rolling the hard food in their mouths. For some reason I just havent had alot of luck with mixing dry with canned, it works better if i just keep them separate. Im all for whatever works too! Trial and error.....its just all about keeping them well nourished for healthy babies!!

[orinskye]

this is a far out comment, but there are some sick breeders out there....... do you think that some of the more horrible breeders limit a puppies food so that it does stay small, so they can charge more for it?........

[mmyorkies]

If the open fontanelle does not close completely, you have to be very carful with your dog all its life. It can be seriously hurt if it is hit on its head. Dogs with open fontanelle's do survive, but it has to be a very carful life. It is like the soft spot on a babies head, if it were hit or poked very hard it could also kill them. Sorry if this is not what you want to hear, but you can verify it with your vet. If your baby is still very young, it will probably close before much longer.

[luvdorkyyorkies]

I would like to think breeders would not malnourish their puppies to keep them small but like with anything there is always "the bad seed" I think most breeders are honest people. I couldnt imagine how you would profit from doing such a thing.......How could you live with yourself? and besides if for no other reason in the long run it would ruin your reputation.........but I guess someone like that doesnt care, they would only be interested in a quick buck and not care what kind of grief and pain they would put the animal under, let alone the unsuspecting new family.

[bettyeanne]

Good job, debi_s!!! I believe your baby is going to thrive ... you are absolutely on the right track!! BTW ... what's her name? Looking forward to seeing pictures of her!

[debi_s]

To be honest...she doesn't have a name yet.....I have never had such a hard time finding a name that feels right.She is sooooooooo small we have tried "Lil Bit" and "Beannie"....I tried Cari .....My husband tried "Fancy" ...and "Honey Bear"...(she really does look like a little bear when she rolls on her back and plays)....I think "Lil Bit" is the one that will stick....Or maybe "Bunny" ...she hops JUST LIKE a rabbit sometimes......it is so funny!!!!! She is just the sweetest thing.....I would call her Sugar, but that is the name of the horse my husband bought and rode ONCE and got thrown and almost killed!!!! I'll keep working on it.

[bld2751]

The hopping like a bunny seems to be common, I've read other people commenting on that. My Hercules does that too, it's so adorable!

[bettyeanne]

The "bunny hop" is something most all of them do ... Toto also does things that my husband swears is "cat like"!! Don't worry about naming your baby ... you will find the one that's just right for her. We knew before we found Toto that would be her name [our breeder was calling her "Dixie"]! To this day I can't imagine calling her that!