Open Fontanel - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Judyh0311 · 11-30-2006, 02:13 PM

I have a situation that I need some assistance with. On November 6, 2006 my Yorkie passed away after having a C-section at my Vet. She had 4 puppies which I have been bottle feeding since birth. Today they went to the Vet just for a checkup as I have been very paranoid needless to say. The Vet indicated that one of my puppies had a soft spot that was not closing properly or closing as quickly as the other 3. I'm assuming from what I have been reading that this is considered an open fontanel. As they are only 4 weeks old should I be totally alarmed? Is there anything I should be doing? I have never heard of this and am quite concerned. Is this a normal situation where one is slower than the others? Any advice or info would be greatly appreciated.

Judy

chachi · 11-30-2006, 02:22 PM

Is the pup that has the soft spot smaller than the others? Ususally it is a small pup that has that. You just dont want it hitting its head on anything but other than that there is nothing you can do. Sometimes they dont close up and the dog has it at adulthood but I have heard they can llive healthy lives as adults with a soft spot. Before I got Jewels I was going to adopt a pup with a soft spot. She had other health issues though and died while I was waiting on her.

Judyh0311 · 11-30-2006, 02:28 PM

Thank you so much for responding. She is a very small puppy but oddly enough, she is not the runt. I am just so very worried. They were doing so well and when I had them at the Vet a week ago this wasn't mentioned and then today I guess because the other 3 are closing as is expected and hers isn't the Vet brought to our attention. I read somewhere that bottle fed babies develop slower than nursing babies. Do you know if there is any truth to this and could that possibly be part of this?

chachi · 11-30-2006, 02:34 PM

I dont know i had not heard of that. The girl I was going to get that had it nursed from the mother

kitty · 11-30-2006, 03:17 PM

I've never heard of bottle fed babies developing slower than nursing ones either. I too was going to adopt a pup with a soft spot too. I paid over 1000.00 for him and took him to the vet right away per the heath cert. When I left the vet I was really upset because this pup had bad knees on all 4 legs. I couldn't afford to have surgery done on 4 legs so I took him back to the breeder and was kicked off her property and told to never call or come back. That there was nothing wrong with her dogs and that my vet was incompetent. That is the only one that I've ever seen with a soft spot.

ehunney · 11-30-2006, 03:22 PM

My chi puppy Bella has a soft spot. It's just now closing up and hardening and she is 14 weeks old. We've had no problems with it at all, she's very active and very healthy. We were told that most close up as hers is doing. I Hope everything works out your little ones.

YorkieRose · 11-30-2006, 03:34 PM

Relax..it is quite normal in a toy puppy...if at 12 weeks it is larger then the diameter of a yellow pencil, I would keep the puppy until I was sure it was okay...but a small spot is not a big deal as many vets say...my KC had one for 14 yrs...one vet told me that if anything heavy fell on her head it would kill her..well, at 3 pounds if any fell on her, it would be a serious injury...KC cracked her head many times in her life and never had a problem.

YorkieMom55 · 11-30-2006, 04:33 PM

Judy, I've not had experience with an open fontanel. My vet checks the babies and it always been ok. I just wanted to say that the babies are blessed to have you taking care of them. Their momma angel is resting easy because of your love and kindness. Take care, Jeanie

Marcellacml · 11-30-2006, 04:41 PM

I have chihuahua(cosmo) and he still has the hole in his head..it makes no difference in attitue or anything and you can't even notice it unless you put your hand there.

Danielle_82 · 11-30-2006, 06:32 PM

My yorkie also has and open fontanel, he is two years old and it has never been an issue for us. He plays rough just like any other dog and has bumped his head from time to time and has never been hurt.

Judyh0311 · 12-01-2006, 07:26 AM

Thank you so much everyone for posting replies. I feel much better about the whole situation now. I am watching her closely and hoping it closes normally soon. They are all such sweet little things -- I will however be glad to sleep through the night again.

Lou · 12-01-2006, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danielle_82

My yorkie also has and open fontanel, he is two years old and it has never been an issue for us. He plays rough just like any other dog and has bumped his head from time to time and has never been hurt.

Adie is 6.5 months old now and her soft spot doesn't seem to be closing. I have heard that it could take up to two years. My point, owever, is that I have stopped worrying and watching her every move. She is normal little dog that does everything any other puppy would do. That includes bumping her head from time to time.

Your puppy is still too young to tell but if its softspot doesn't close it won't matter that much. Common sense will help you deal with it when and if you ever need to!

I'm so sorry you lost your dog. Good luck and God bless you for being so wonderful with those puppies.

Judyh0311 · 12-04-2006, 07:48 PM

I just wanted to drop everyone that helped me a note and let you know the puppies went back to the Vet today to be checked. No change but they are doing really well. I am starting to introduce them to puppy food a little bit but of course they are still being bottle fed. Two of them went right for the puppy food and had a grand old time playing in it but they were just too cute. The other two just sort of looked at like I was crazy for thinking about it.

The Vet said our little runt will probably be a lot slower going for the idea and I'll have to bottle feed her a little longer than the others but that's okay too as long as they continue to thrive and be healthy. I have managed to get their feedings to every 6 hours now instead of 4 which helps a little with the sleeping situation around here. They all really eat so good and I'm so thankful for that. If I could figure out how to upload them I would post a picture of them.

Thanks again for all of your help and I will keep you updated. They have to go back to the Vet on Thursday because she wanted to double check on our little runt.

Kodak · 12-04-2006, 08:42 PM

Sorry to hear about the mom, I wish you well with the puppies.

Judyh0311 · 12-08-2006, 10:23 AM

Just wanted to let everyone know the puppies went back to the Vet yesterday and she said they are all almost closed now and the pups got a clean bill of health!!!! She said she was so impressed at how well they were doing and I'm and thriled to death

11-30-2006, 02:13 PM	#1
Judyh0311 YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: GA Posts: 5	Open Fontanel I have a situation that I need some assistance with. On November 6, 2006 my Yorkie passed away after having a C-section at my Vet. She had 4 puppies which I have been bottle feeding since birth. Today they went to the Vet just for a checkup as I have been very paranoid needless to say. The Vet indicated that one of my puppies had a soft spot that was not closing properly or closing as quickly as the other 3. I'm assuming from what I have been reading that this is considered an open fontanel. As they are only 4 weeks old should I be totally alarmed? Is there anything I should be doing? I have never heard of this and am quite concerned. Is this a normal situation where one is slower than the others? Any advice or info would be greatly appreciated. Judy

11-30-2006, 02:22 PM	#2
chachi I Love My Yorkies Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana Posts: 37,147	Is the pup that has the soft spot smaller than the others? Ususally it is a small pup that has that. You just dont want it hitting its head on anything but other than that there is nothing you can do. Sometimes they dont close up and the dog has it at adulthood but I have heard they can llive healthy lives as adults with a soft spot. Before I got Jewels I was going to adopt a pup with a soft spot. She had other health issues though and died while I was waiting on her. __________________ Chachi's & Jewels Mom Jewels http://www.dogster.com/?132431 Chachi http://www.dogster.com/?132427

11-30-2006, 02:28 PM	#3
Judyh0311 YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: GA Posts: 5	Open Fontanel Thank you so much for responding. She is a very small puppy but oddly enough, she is not the runt. I am just so very worried. They were doing so well and when I had them at the Vet a week ago this wasn't mentioned and then today I guess because the other 3 are closing as is expected and hers isn't the Vet brought to our attention. I read somewhere that bottle fed babies develop slower than nursing babies. Do you know if there is any truth to this and could that possibly be part of this?

11-30-2006, 02:34 PM	#4
chachi I Love My Yorkies Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana Posts: 37,147	I dont know i had not heard of that. The girl I was going to get that had it nursed from the mother __________________ Chachi's & Jewels Mom Jewels http://www.dogster.com/?132431 Chachi http://www.dogster.com/?132427

11-30-2006, 03:17 PM	#5
kitty My Best Friend Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: oklahoma Posts: 2,258	I've never heard of bottle fed babies developing slower than nursing ones either. I too was going to adopt a pup with a soft spot too. I paid over 1000.00 for him and took him to the vet right away per the heath cert. When I left the vet I was really upset because this pup had bad knees on all 4 legs. I couldn't afford to have surgery done on 4 legs so I took him back to the breeder and was kicked off her property and told to never call or come back. That there was nothing wrong with her dogs and that my vet was incompetent. That is the only one that I've ever seen with a soft spot. __________________ Support our Troops :

11-30-2006, 03:22 PM	#6
ehunney Princess Bella Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: virginia Posts: 2,186	My chi puppy Bella has a soft spot. It's just now closing up and hardening and she is 14 weeks old. We've had no problems with it at all, she's very active and very healthy. We were told that most close up as hers is doing. I Hope everything works out your little ones. __________________ I miss you two more then words can express, but I still have hope that I'll find you and hold you again! Tucker and Teddy always say: "If I want it, it's mine and if I put it in my mouth, it's food."

11-30-2006, 03:34 PM	#7
YorkieRose No Longer a Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 8,577	Relax Relax..it is quite normal in a toy puppy...if at 12 weeks it is larger then the diameter of a yellow pencil, I would keep the puppy until I was sure it was okay...but a small spot is not a big deal as many vets say...my KC had one for 14 yrs...one vet told me that if anything heavy fell on her head it would kill her..well, at 3 pounds if any fell on her, it would be a serious injury...KC cracked her head many times in her life and never had a problem.

11-30-2006, 04:33 PM	#8
YorkieMom55 All Dogs Go To Heaven Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: By The Lake Posts: 2,727	Judy, I've not had experience with an open fontanel. My vet checks the babies and it always been ok. I just wanted to say that the babies are blessed to have you taking care of them. Their momma angel is resting easy because of your love and kindness. Take care, Jeanie __________________ Jeanie I am @ the Lake Jackson, Maggie, Sunshine, Bailey, Rocky, Emmie & Jack

11-30-2006, 04:41 PM	#9
Marcellacml Cosmo, Minnie, and Lillian Donating Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New York Posts: 3,107	I have chihuahua(cosmo) and he still has the hole in his head..it makes no difference in attitue or anything and you can't even notice it unless you put your hand there.

11-30-2006, 06:32 PM	#10
Danielle_82 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 120	My yorkie also has and open fontanel, he is two years old and it has never been an issue for us. He plays rough just like any other dog and has bumped his head from time to time and has never been hurt. __________________ Pete and Tilly

12-01-2006, 07:26 AM	#11
Judyh0311 YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: GA Posts: 5	Thank you Thank you so much everyone for posting replies. I feel much better about the whole situation now. I am watching her closely and hoping it closes normally soon. They are all such sweet little things -- I will however be glad to sleep through the night again.

12-04-2006, 07:48 PM	#13
Judyh0311 YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: GA Posts: 5	Touching Base I just wanted to drop everyone that helped me a note and let you know the puppies went back to the Vet today to be checked. No change but they are doing really well. I am starting to introduce them to puppy food a little bit but of course they are still being bottle fed. Two of them went right for the puppy food and had a grand old time playing in it but they were just too cute. The other two just sort of looked at like I was crazy for thinking about it. The Vet said our little runt will probably be a lot slower going for the idea and I'll have to bottle feed her a little longer than the others but that's okay too as long as they continue to thrive and be healthy. I have managed to get their feedings to every 6 hours now instead of 4 which helps a little with the sleeping situation around here. They all really eat so good and I'm so thankful for that. If I could figure out how to upload them I would post a picture of them. Thanks again for all of your help and I will keep you updated. They have to go back to the Vet on Thursday because she wanted to double check on our little runt.

12-04-2006, 08:42 PM	#14
Kodak And Lil Sister Kamari Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Illinois Posts: 2,438	Good luck Sorry to hear about the mom, I wish you well with the puppies. __________________ I'm In Love With 2 Yorkies! http://www.myspace.com/studkodak http://www.dogster.com/dogs/548996

12-08-2006, 10:23 AM	#15
Judyh0311 YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: GA Posts: 5	Quick Update Just wanted to let everyone know the puppies went back to the Vet yesterday and she said they are all almost closed now and the pups got a clean bill of health!!!! She said she was so impressed at how well they were doing and I'm and thriled to death