My little Laylah.. - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Meichelle · 09-27-2019, 06:05 AM

Im new here so I hope Im posting in the right place

I have a year and a half old Yorkie that is only 4 pounds of love and cuddles.. Shes perfect in every way tho but I do have some concerns.. I bought her off of a lady who didnt have time for her and the family seemed to be fine, nothing out of the ordinary and Laylah as a pup grew up with cats and another larger dog.. Ive had her since this past July.. What I am wondering about is that A) she doesnt bark hardly at all.. She'll whine a great deal for her food or things like that, but I think since Ive had her shes only barked maybe 5 or 6 times.. Also.. Her gait is a bit odd to me.. She will sometimes walk funny and its like she doesnt want her back feet to touch the floor. Its a bit hard to explain in words but it looks odd to me.. And then she'll do this and she did this again last night.. She will walk in circles around my house over and over again.. Like shes taking herself for a walk lol.. We will sometimes call her Laylah Walks a Lot lol.. She will walk thro my kitchen, thro the dinning room, thro the living room, thro the foyer and back again and again and again. Its the strangest thing and Ive never seen a dog do this lol.. Shes only 4 pounds but this little one has NO FEAR of heights.. I have to watch her like a hawk not to jump off my bed or if say I put her on the grooming table, she'll try and jump off that also which scares the heck out of me.. Does anyone else have a yorkie that does this and if so does anyone know if this is all normal for a yorkie or if I should be concerned?? Im just curious and thought I'd ask.. Thanks so much

matese · 09-27-2019, 10:16 AM

Welcome to YT,

if her walking seems odd, strange, I would definitely check this out with your vet. I would video her walk to show your vet. It could be a torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament AKA (ACL) which is common in yorkies. It may / can cause hind leg lameness if left untreated.
Circling around the house... Yorkies are high energy dogs, they need a lot of exercise, do you walk her daily, if not, this circling around the house could be due to lack of exercise and she is taking herself for a walk or, her back legs may be bothering her. I am assuming this dog was not kept in a cage or crate like puppy mill dogs, if that were the case she would be walking in tight circles.
I would definitely video tape her walking to show to your vet and get her to the vet asap to also discuss this circling around the house. There can be some underlying issue going on. Dogs mask their pain, because they act happy does not mean they cannot be in pain.

Lovetodream88 · 09-27-2019, 10:48 AM

Welcome! My oldest is not a barker at all and its very rare she barks so yes that can be normal. Has she been checked out by a vet? I would have a vet check her knees because Luxating Patella is very common in yorkies. I would be worried about the pacing it could be a nervous thing or it could even mean she is in pain. You definitely might want to get her a routine check up by a vet and do a regular blood work up.

Lovetodream88 · 09-27-2019, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matese

Welcome to YT,

if her walking seems odd, strange, I would definitely check this out with your vet. I would video her walk to show your vet. It could be a torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament AKA (ACL) which is common in yorkies. It may / can cause hind leg lameness if left untreated.
Circling around the house... Yorkies are high energy dogs, they need a lot of exercise, do you walk her daily, if not, this circling around the house could be due to lack of exercise and she is taking herself for a walk or, her back legs may be bothering her. I am assuming this dog was not kept in a cage or crate like puppy mill dogs, if that were the case she would be walking in tight circles.
I would definitely video tape her walking to show to your vet and get her to the vet asap to also discuss this circling around the house. There can be some underlying issue going on. Dogs mask their pain, because they act happy does not mean they cannot be in pain.

Generally if the CCL is torn they aren't going to put any weight on the leg at all. Sadly I have been through this twice with Callie.

lilgidget · 09-30-2019, 06:57 AM

Sounds like some good advice from all. Definitely calls for a Vet visit.

matese · 10-01-2019, 04:42 AM

Any update on Laylah.

Meichelle · 10-03-2019, 02:42 AM

Thanks all of you that wrote in with your suggestions.. All of them were wonderful and I was able to YouTube quite a few to see what might be going on..

What I did then is record her doing her little walk and made an appt with my vet... I told him what was going on and showed him the video of Laylah walking like she does and after giving her a full exam and having her walk for him up and down his hall, he deemed this as a nervous tick.. He said that theres nothing wrong with her legs, no sign of injury and her hips are as they should be and he didnt feel it was ACL at all or Luxating Patella. She doesnt favor one leg over the next, she just walks gingerly once in awhile. He said she was a healthy little fur baby tho she did lose one pound, which makes me nervous some because she was only 4 pounds to begin with. He suggested beefing up more on her food and encouraging her to eat but I shared with him that this little gal will steal my cats food when I feed him in the morning. He said not to let Laylah do that because it can be hard on their liver.. So no more kitty food for little Laylah

I wanted to write you all back sooner and I do apologize for that but Im a single Mom and am the only one bringing in money (tho my kids are grown) so sometimes my time is limited.. Since I had a few this morning I wanted to get you updated.. I also havea couple of pictures of Laylah I wanted to post so I'll try to figure that out next haha..

Thanks again to everyone, you're amazing

matese · 10-03-2019, 03:57 AM

Thank you for the up-date.

Yes cat food is dangerous for dogs to eat. For some reason dogs love cat food, and cat poop.You need to keep the cat food and litter box in a area where Laylah cannot get at it.

You should be free feeding Laylah meaning there should be food accessible for her at all times. You can measure out a 1/2 cup of food for starters when you feed her in the mornings, leave it down when you go to work. Keep in mind 2 things, 1-these wee lil babies have tiny stomachs and cannot hold a lot of food at one time, they like to graze, eat when they are hungry, if she is a picky eater you can sprinkle some grated Parmesan cheese over her food, the pungent smell of the cheese can get her taste buds flowing. 2-also dogs sleep a lot when left alone so Laylah may not eat much while you are at work. When you get home measure the food that is still in her bowl to see how much she ate while you were gone, leave food in her bowl all night if she is crated when you go to bed or if you confine her to one area.

Be happy that Laylah does not bark lol, you only have her a few months, she is just about use to her surroundings, smells, noises and gaining confidence in you, she may find her voice and when she does you may be sorry you were concerned about her not barking lol.

I am happy that you videoed her walk for the vet, I am not sure what he vet means by a nervous tick, did he say this was something she may grow out of. Glad to know knees and hips seems to be fine.
Did he say why she walks in circles throughout your house.

Meichelle · 10-03-2019, 05:46 AM

Thanks for your reply, truly appreciate it

The vet said the way she walks is just the way she walks, and her going around the house in circles is the nervous tick.. In other words, shes taking herself for a walk haha...

As for the collar.. We only use this indoors and its only purpose is so that I know where she is indoors.. When we go for walks in the evening when its cooler, its always, always the harness but she hates it so I dont leave it on her and its only purpose is for walking.. Im 52yrs young and have had not only Yorkies but other pets too in the past. I have a chow chow as well as Laylah and shes 12yrs old and extremely docile also. The two get along wonderfully as they both have been trained. Im also a dog trainer and have been for years as well so I wanted to introduce the two gradually and this worked like a charm

I already do leave both dogs foods out (they each have their own type and will sometimes share with one another) but Ive always let my dogs and cats graze rather than make them wait for their food. Ive always thought it cruel for a pet parent not to, especially if they work. I know I wouldnt want to wait for my food so I feel the same for my furbabies.. I also keep Laylah's food in one room, Sashee's (the chow chow) in another only because Sashee will gobble up Laylah's if I let her..

Thanks so much and Im off to work now so if theres anymore replies I'll need to catch them a bit later

matese · 10-03-2019, 06:00 AM

Sounds like Laylah is in good hands

nanajoy · 10-03-2019, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matese

Sounds like Laylah is in good hands

Lovetodream88 · 10-03-2019, 12:10 PM

Callie had/has a nervous tick thing she does so I just distract her when she does it and she really rarely does it anymore.

09-27-2019, 06:05 AM	#1
Meichelle Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Noneofyourbusiness Posts: 13	My little Laylah.. Im new here so I hope Im posting in the right place I have a year and a half old Yorkie that is only 4 pounds of love and cuddles.. Shes perfect in every way tho but I do have some concerns.. I bought her off of a lady who didnt have time for her and the family seemed to be fine, nothing out of the ordinary and Laylah as a pup grew up with cats and another larger dog.. Ive had her since this past July.. What I am wondering about is that A) she doesnt bark hardly at all.. She'll whine a great deal for her food or things like that, but I think since Ive had her shes only barked maybe 5 or 6 times.. Also.. Her gait is a bit odd to me.. She will sometimes walk funny and its like she doesnt want her back feet to touch the floor. Its a bit hard to explain in words but it looks odd to me.. And then she'll do this and she did this again last night.. She will walk in circles around my house over and over again.. Like shes taking herself for a walk lol.. We will sometimes call her Laylah Walks a Lot lol.. She will walk thro my kitchen, thro the dinning room, thro the living room, thro the foyer and back again and again and again. Its the strangest thing and Ive never seen a dog do this lol.. Shes only 4 pounds but this little one has NO FEAR of heights.. I have to watch her like a hawk not to jump off my bed or if say I put her on the grooming table, she'll try and jump off that also which scares the heck out of me.. Does anyone else have a yorkie that does this and if so does anyone know if this is all normal for a yorkie or if I should be concerned?? Im just curious and thought I'd ask.. Thanks so much

09-27-2019, 10:16 AM	#2
matese Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: E.Stroudsburg, Pa. Posts: 67,956	Welcome to YT, if her walking seems odd, strange, I would definitely check this out with your vet. I would video her walk to show your vet. It could be a torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament AKA (ACL) which is common in yorkies. It may / can cause hind leg lameness if left untreated. Circling around the house... Yorkies are high energy dogs, they need a lot of exercise, do you walk her daily, if not, this circling around the house could be due to lack of exercise and she is taking herself for a walk or, her back legs may be bothering her. I am assuming this dog was not kept in a cage or crate like puppy mill dogs, if that were the case she would be walking in tight circles. I would definitely video tape her walking to show to your vet and get her to the vet asap to also discuss this circling around the house. There can be some underlying issue going on. Dogs mask their pain, because they act happy does not mean they cannot be in pain. __________________ Joan, mom to Cody RIP Matese Schnae Kajon Kia forever in my A House Is Not A Home Without A Dog

09-27-2019, 10:48 AM	#3
Lovetodream88 Yorkie mom of 4 Donating YT Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: LaPlata, Md Posts: 23,247	Welcome! My oldest is not a barker at all and its very rare she barks so yes that can be normal. Has she been checked out by a vet? I would have a vet check her knees because Luxating Patella is very common in yorkies. I would be worried about the pacing it could be a nervous thing or it could even mean she is in pain. You definitely might want to get her a routine check up by a vet and do a regular blood work up. __________________ Taylor My babies Joey, Penny ,Ollie & Dixie Callie Mae, you will forever be in my heart!

10-01-2019, 04:42 AM	#6
matese Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: E.Stroudsburg, Pa. Posts: 67,956	Any update on Laylah. __________________ Joan, mom to Cody RIP Matese Schnae Kajon Kia forever in my A House Is Not A Home Without A Dog

10-03-2019, 02:42 AM	#7
Meichelle Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Noneofyourbusiness Posts: 13	Update :) Thanks all of you that wrote in with your suggestions.. All of them were wonderful and I was able to YouTube quite a few to see what might be going on.. What I did then is record her doing her little walk and made an appt with my vet... I told him what was going on and showed him the video of Laylah walking like she does and after giving her a full exam and having her walk for him up and down his hall, he deemed this as a nervous tick.. He said that theres nothing wrong with her legs, no sign of injury and her hips are as they should be and he didnt feel it was ACL at all or Luxating Patella. She doesnt favor one leg over the next, she just walks gingerly once in awhile. He said she was a healthy little fur baby tho she did lose one pound, which makes me nervous some because she was only 4 pounds to begin with. He suggested beefing up more on her food and encouraging her to eat but I shared with him that this little gal will steal my cats food when I feed him in the morning. He said not to let Laylah do that because it can be hard on their liver.. So no more kitty food for little Laylah I wanted to write you all back sooner and I do apologize for that but Im a single Mom and am the only one bringing in money (tho my kids are grown) so sometimes my time is limited.. Since I had a few this morning I wanted to get you updated.. I also havea couple of pictures of Laylah I wanted to post so I'll try to figure that out next haha.. Thanks again to everyone, you're amazing

09-30-2019, 06:57 AM	#5
lilgidget YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: stanley nc Posts: 1,152	Sounds like some good advice from all. Definitely calls for a Vet visit.

10-03-2019, 03:57 AM	#8
matese Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: E.Stroudsburg, Pa. Posts: 67,956	Thank you for the up-date. Yes cat food is dangerous for dogs to eat. For some reason dogs love cat food, and cat poop.You need to keep the cat food and litter box in a area where Laylah cannot get at it. You should be free feeding Laylah meaning there should be food accessible for her at all times. You can measure out a 1/2 cup of food for starters when you feed her in the mornings, leave it down when you go to work. Keep in mind 2 things, 1-these wee lil babies have tiny stomachs and cannot hold a lot of food at one time, they like to graze, eat when they are hungry, if she is a picky eater you can sprinkle some grated Parmesan cheese over her food, the pungent smell of the cheese can get her taste buds flowing. 2-also dogs sleep a lot when left alone so Laylah may not eat much while you are at work. When you get home measure the food that is still in her bowl to see how much she ate while you were gone, leave food in her bowl all night if she is crated when you go to bed or if you confine her to one area. Be happy that Laylah does not bark lol, you only have her a few months, she is just about use to her surroundings, smells, noises and gaining confidence in you, she may find her voice and when she does you may be sorry you were concerned about her not barking lol. I am happy that you videoed her walk for the vet, I am not sure what he vet means by a nervous tick, did he say this was something she may grow out of. Glad to know knees and hips seems to be fine. Did he say why she walks in circles throughout your house. __________________ Joan, mom to Cody RIP Matese Schnae Kajon Kia forever in my A House Is Not A Home Without A Dog

10-03-2019, 05:46 AM	#9
Meichelle Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Noneofyourbusiness Posts: 13	Thanks for your reply, truly appreciate it The vet said the way she walks is just the way she walks, and her going around the house in circles is the nervous tick.. In other words, shes taking herself for a walk haha... As for the collar.. We only use this indoors and its only purpose is so that I know where she is indoors.. When we go for walks in the evening when its cooler, its always, always the harness but she hates it so I dont leave it on her and its only purpose is for walking.. Im 52yrs young and have had not only Yorkies but other pets too in the past. I have a chow chow as well as Laylah and shes 12yrs old and extremely docile also. The two get along wonderfully as they both have been trained. Im also a dog trainer and have been for years as well so I wanted to introduce the two gradually and this worked like a charm I already do leave both dogs foods out (they each have their own type and will sometimes share with one another) but Ive always let my dogs and cats graze rather than make them wait for their food. Ive always thought it cruel for a pet parent not to, especially if they work. I know I wouldnt want to wait for my food so I feel the same for my furbabies.. I also keep Laylah's food in one room, Sashee's (the chow chow) in another only because Sashee will gobble up Laylah's if I let her.. Thanks so much and Im off to work now so if theres anymore replies I'll need to catch them a bit later

10-03-2019, 06:00 AM	#10
matese Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: E.Stroudsburg, Pa. Posts: 67,956	Sounds like Laylah is in good hands __________________ Joan, mom to Cody RIP Matese Schnae Kajon Kia forever in my A House Is Not A Home Without A Dog

10-03-2019, 12:10 PM	#12
Lovetodream88 Yorkie mom of 4 Donating YT Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: LaPlata, Md Posts: 23,247	Callie had/has a nervous tick thing she does so I just distract her when she does it and she really rarely does it anymore. __________________ Taylor My babies Joey, Penny ,Ollie & Dixie Callie Mae, you will forever be in my heart!