Atlantoaxial subluxation
 

My yorkie, Pete, was just diagnosed with this condition. The neurologist told me that it is more prevalent in small breeds. Does anyone have a yorkie with this condition? Pete is 4 years old and I am really afraid that the prognosis is not good.

Sorry to hear. I haven't any information for you so I will just bump!

YES ~ There are a handful of pups here that have this condition. Most have had successful surgery to secure the neck and are doing very well.

PLEASE treat him like a China Doll. He is so fragile right now, that the slightest wrong movement can break his neck and leave him paralyzed.

I am going to search for some people and threads for you.

I forwarded this post to Val (mybabe4me). She is a goldmine of info on this disease

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sic...old-puppy.html

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/gen...alk-again.html

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/gen...-4-9-09-a.html

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/gen...-4-2-09-a.html

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/gen...i-sure-do.html

Bleu Boy also

and a few others....

Please join this group ~ there are a handful of ppl going thru AAI/AAS
congenitaldogs : Hereditary /congenital diseases in dogs

Are you near Univ of Tenn ????

They have an AMAZING Vet School :thumbup:

Thank you Sonja,
I am Val and I am a AAI mom. I have a yorkie that has had Atlantoaxial Instability for three years. And yes treat him like a china doll because with this condition he can become injured very easily.
What is Pete showing for signs. IE: paralyzed, walking funny,breathing funny.
Pete can have surgery to correct this. You should look into that.
I have just started a group on Yahoo to support parents that are going through the struggle with AAI pups. If you would like to email me or join my AAI group Please either Email me or just join Atlantoaxial_Instability_AAI_pups : Atlantoaxial_Instability_AAI_pups
my email is Mybabe4me@aol.com
I have so many files on AAI that I thought starting a group so parents could get the information in one spot would be good and can get the support they need.
This is a congenital defect but can also be a aquired injury also. The playing rough could cause this injury also being hit by a car can also cause this injury in big dogs.
I am here for support for you and please email me or join in on the AAI group. There are many people here that will help out with support also. But I am definately here for you if you need me.

Thank you for all of your responses. We are seeing a specialist in Atlanta and he doesn't think Pete will be a good candidate for the surgery. Apparently he has had it too long (although I didn't know it)....so, what now?

I would go to U of Tenn if you can :(

Don't give up, get another opinion at the Univ. of Tenn. Pete can live a long and happy life...give him that opportunity. What are his symptoms, is he paralyzed?

pete is not paralyzed-he has uncoordination somewhat and his legs tangle if he moves too fast- he is a very docile and quiet yorkie-unlike any i've met-such a sweet little guy-his front legs prance, and i thought it was so cute, until the nerologist said it was not normal-i got pete at 1 1/2 years of age and he has always been this way until he got worse easter-i thought his bad knees were the cause and i needed to consider the fluxating patella surgery on his left side-boy was it ever so much more-the neurosurgeon said yesterday the stabalizatiob surgery was there as an option, but because of his age it might not change his problem getting around and could in fact worsen them-but, about a 50% chance they would be the same-i am truely confused-thanks

Im no expert on this but can offer you lots of prayer, You are not that far from U of T and they seem to be more resonable in price than any other....Good Luck to you guys

Oh no sorry to hear that, if I'm no mistaken BleuBoyBarber have lots of experience on this condition.

didn't you tell me you heard of a 6 year old chiwawa(spelling?) with aai

Hello I am Vicki BLEU BOY BARBERS mom and my boy was diagnosed just over a year ago and we were in critical shape and got surgery immediately. To answer your most recent question any breed can get AAI/ AAS. It can also happen at any age or size. It is more common in the 5-6 month age because that is when the dens are developing and they either connect or they do not making it heriditary congenital defect. In other cases it can be caused by injury .. sitting on, dropping, a number of things.

What is the very latest. Can you post pictures and or videos Do you have any specific questions?

How is your baby?

Yes I did say I know of someone that has a pup with a 6 year old Chihauhua but She is so busy I have had a hard time to get ahold of her. I will try to get ahold of her again.
How is Pete doing.

unchanged-i just need to figure out what's best for him and i am so confused-thanks

i wrote you so much and i lost it have to start over-hah-it will be brief now-pete is not parayzed, but is uncordinated-he has luxating patellas and i thought it was due to worsening knees -i got him at 1 1/2 years old and he always walked funny-it was normal for him- the neurosurgeon said it was all signs of a neurological problem-he suspected a cerebellum problem and found aas with an mri-having had this for so long makes pete a poorer candidate have a call in to ask more questions- i'm happy your little one has already gone through it- can you tell me some about the surgery-like pain and recovery-thanks

Prayers for you and Pete....

Bleu Boys pain was unbearable. He would cry and yelp and would only be comfortable in one position. I caught BLEU BOYS real early so I was able to get him treatment right away. BLEU BOYS recovery was being in a full body cast after they put 4 pins/sqrews in his neck. I had no hope they told me he basically would not make it but they would do everything they could and I had the best surgeon in the world. BLEU BOY came to me within 4 hours of surgery.

His cast was changed once a week for several weeks and on the last week we took it off and he was normal . BLEU BOY was barely 6 months old and not even 3 pounds..He is only 3 pounds now :D

LOTS OF PRAYERs is what got us through.

oh my-thats's why i'm having such a hard time deciding whether to put pete through it-he is almost 5 and i know it will be harder on him-sometime i just feel like leaving him in god's hands and take as good care of him as i can and let him be in peace-then my heart says try to fix him-i need advice-what would you do , if you were me

I believe Vicki is saying before Bleu Boy had his surgery he was in a lot of pain but not much after the surgery. Babybear did not cry after surgery but before he was crying out here and there. Babybear was older when he got injured he was 22 months old and he had showed signs for I would say close to a year.
Also some dogs can aquire this through a injury and have surgery later on in life. I just don't understand why the doctor is saying he would not recommend Pete having surgery. He is in pain with this condition. Personally If I was a doctor I would want him out of pain(JMO). Where are you located again?? Did you ask this Neuro if he has ever done this surgery before?? ANd if so how many surgeries he had? And what was the success rate.. These are questions that should be asked when seeing these guys. Only because some have never seen this condition except in the text books. You really want someone that has done this before and has had a great success rate.
I will wait to see where you are from and then I will see about looking up some Vet schools near you. Those most of the time are some of the best places to go.

I would really seek a consult at U of Tenn :thumbup:

Bleu Boy has not had any issues what so ever that was a direct result of his AAI surgery. It was the best decision we have ever made.:)

I would say this ..

How long do you want Pete with you .. 10-15 more years relatively speaking? It is not too late I would personally have the surgery and get him out of the pain and let him start a joyful life with you . A friend of mine her Bailey had the surgery and was not casted like BLEU BOY and she did fine. If you are worried about the recovery do not be because that is easy. Once you are through the surgery it is easy street from there. MY ONLY COMPLAINT WAS it took a year for BLEU BOYS HAIR TO GROW BACK. :rolleyes:Financially speaking there are tons of options and we all can help you with that as well.;)

The main thing I was scared about was BLEU BOY was so small. You have a great advantage with PETES size and weight. Pete would do fine because his bones are formed and sound. BLEU BOY was a 6 month old pup 2.5 pounds and his bones were so soft. This is a advantage for you that PETE will do just fine.

I understand how you say he has had this for quite sometime but...................regardless in my opinion I know a lady with a SHIH TZU same weight and year as PETE and her SHIH T ZU is now enjoying a wonderful life because she went through and got the surgery

BLEU BOY has not cried or yelped since surgery I hope you did not misunderstand me. He has been 100% since his AAI surgery. It was the best decision I have ever made for him.

thanks-i understand what you are saying- i need the surgery- i will figure it out

i am in north georgia- i feel i have a good neurosurgeon

This is awesome news I truly believe you are doing the very best you can with what you "KNOW" and what you have to deal with.

I am extending you my email for if you need me any further
vickicorinne@msn.com

I wish you the very best and I am subscribed to this thread so I will be looking for updates.

Upon request I will extend you my home and cell number all you have to do is ask

Blessings
Vicki

you are more than kind-i will probably have lots more questions-thanks

pete is having surgery wed. june 17-pray for him please