hopes and prayers that Princess heals Gail in Ontario |
I'm so sorry to hear about your Baby:cry: I Pray for you and Princess .. |
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My Yorkie is Unable to Move Have her checked for Atlatoaxial Instability or Subluxation of the neck (same thimg) This can only be diagnosed by digital X Ray. Do this immediately. My dog had the condition, and was diagnosed at 5 months. If she has it, she will not make it without treatment for AAI Tucker's Mom |
My Yorkie is unable to move Please let us know how Princess is doing. My prayers are with both of you. I hope my first message didn't sound too abrupt. I didn't mean it to be. It's just that lots of regular vets don't recognize the AAI problem, and can't test for it. My little one "went down" a couple of times before he was diagnosed. He wasn't moving at all. He recovered, and it happened again. Even if she recovers, you might have this checked out Tucker's Mom ( mother of an AAI surviver) |
Thank You All dear friends, thank you for all the prayers & concern / advices towards princess' condition. she seems to be showing slight improvement upon the medication by the vet. she is now able to stay in prone position longer, wag her tail, lift her head. unlike the 1st night when i sent her to the vet, where she only collapse to 1 side. actually the vet suggested for me to take her for a mri scan but i withdrew from the scan because i didn't want princess to take the risk of undergoing general anaesthetic. princess is still in the hospital now. she is eating well but still losing weight quite a fair bit so she's on feeding tube as well. anyway, to answer a few queries posted by some friends, princess hates to be outdoor so i doubt it'll be some bug bites or eaten something wrongly in the house. or even when we take her out, she'll be in the comfort zone of my arms. yes! i hope she'll recover real soon... medical expenses is kind of draining me financially but i'm still trying to hang on as i do not want to deprive her on any chance of recovery... |
i am so sorry to hear about your baby. i dont know much about AAI but i am learning alot since my puppy has it. My baby can move her legs but maybe other pups cant when they have it. my thoughts and prayers go out to you. its awful to know that your baby is sick. |
My Yorkie is unable to move She may not need a MRI right now. A digital XRay will tell you whether or not it's AAI. She will have to be sedated, but not put under general anesthesia. Tucker's Mom |
It looks like you are in Singapore and perhaps your Vet is not familiar with AAI / AAS = Atlantoxial Instability Please read this info and discuss with your Vet. Your baby SHOULD have a Digital X Ray done to see if AAI / AAS is present. If she has it and you let it go untreated, she could break her neck just by a simple head gesture, which she would either die on the spot or become paralyzed. Atlantoaxial Instability (Luxation) Atlantoaxial instability is a condition in which the first two cervical (neck) vertebrae are not firmly attached. Normally, the atlas (the first cervical vertebra) and the axis (the second cervical vertebra) are attached by a group of ligaments. They are further stabilized by a prominence on the axis called the dens that protrudes into a hole in the atlas. Dogs with congenital atlantoaxial instability are born without ligament support to their atlantoaxial joint, and may also be born without a dens. Trauma to the neck can also cause tearing of the ligaments or fracture of the dens, resulting in atlantoaxial instability. Atlantoaxial instability can lead to cervical spinal cord injury, the symptoms of which include: neck pain; a drunken, staggering gait; paralysis of all four legs; or sudden death. Causes Breeds at risk for congenital atlantoaxial instability include all toy breeds, especially Chihuahuas, Pomeranians, Pekingese, toy poodles, and Yorkshire terriers. These dogs usually show signs at less than one year of age, and symptoms can occur after very mild trauma, such as jumping off furniture, which would be considered normal activity. Any dog, young or old and of any breed, is at risk for atlantoaxial instability after a traumatic event, such as being hit by a car or being an unrestrained passenger in a car accident. Diagnosis Your veterinarian will ask you many questions to develop a complete history of the progression of the problem. These questions will include: what is your pet's age, was there any traumatic event, what symptoms have you noticed, how long have they been going on, what treatments have you tried and with what results? Your veterinarian will also examine your pet completely, including a neurological examination to determine the severity of the problem as well as localize the level of the spinal cord injury. Radiographs (X-rays) are usually taken to identify abnormal positioning of the atlantoaxial joint. Treatment Medical treatment. Conservative management consists of several weeks of cage rest to allow scar tissue to form, stabilizing the atlantoaxial joint. Steroids are also given for a short time to decrease inflammation of the spinal cord. A neck brace is often used to minimize movement of the neck. Surgical treatment. There is a high rate of recurrence of symptoms with conservative management, so surgery is often recommended. Surgery is done either to stabilize the joint with pins, cement, wire, or suture, or to fuse the joint. The type of surgery performed depends on the preference of the surgeon. After surgery, the care is similar to conservative management. The prognosis depends on the severity of the neurologic signs before surgery. Home Care After surgery, the pet should be cage-rested and restricted from activity for about 4 to 6 weeks. Frequent re-check examinations by your surgeon are necessary to identify potential problems and correct them as soon as possible. Dogs with this condition should not be bred, since there may be a genetic component to this condition. Section: Information In-depth The neck is made of seven vertebral bones, or cervical vertebrae, which are connected by ligaments. Each vertebra fits precisely with its neighbor to form a joint. The spinal cord is located in a tunnel within the vertebrae, where it is protected from injury. The first cervical vertebra is called the atlas; it holds up the head like Atlas held up the world. The second cervical vertebra is called the axis. The atlantoaxial joint is held in place by several ligaments and by a bony prominence of the axis called the dens, which fits in a hole in the atlas. If the ligaments or the dens do not develop correctly or are injured, the atlantoaxial joint becomes unstable. This places the delicate spinal cord at risk for injury. Symptoms of spinal cord injury vary with the severity of the injury. Dogs with mild cases may only show neck pain. Those with more severe cases can have an unstable, wobbly, drunken gait. And those with very severe cases can be completely paralyzed in all four legs, or suddenly die. Death is often due to injury to the respiratory center in the spinal cord, making the animal stop breathing. Congenital atlantoaxial instability is usually seen in toy breeds less than one year of age. Breeds most often seen for this problem include the Chihuahua, Pomeranian, Pekingese, toy poodle, and Yorkshire terrier. Dogs with congenital atlantoaxial instability are born without proper ligament support of their atlantoaxial joint, or are born without a dens, or both. The instability that is present can predispose the dog to a major spinal cord injury with only a minor incident, such as jumping off a piece of furniture. Atlantoaxial instability can also develop in any dog after a major traumatic event, such as getting hit by a car or being an unrestrained passenger in a car accident. Diagnosis History. Your veterinarian will ask you many questions regarding the development and progression of the problem. Your pet's age is important to know, as well as any history of trauma to the pet. If other veterinarians have done any X-rays, then you should bring these results to your veterinarian's attention. If you have tried any treatments for this problem, it's helpful to tell your veterinarian about them and whether they have had any effect or not. Physical exam. Your veterinarian will perform a complete physical exam. He/she will watch your pet as he walks (if he can walk) to identify any abnormalities in his gait. Then the veterinarian will perform a complete neurological examination to determine the severity of the injury and to localize the level of the spinal cord that is affected. He/she will also listen to your pet's heart and lungs, take his temperature, and palpate your pet's abdomen to be sure there are no other problems. Blood and urine tests. If your pet will be undergoing anesthesia and surgery, blood and urine tests are run to be sure that he is not anemic and that he doesn't have any underlying liver or kidney problems that might make anesthesia risky. Radiographs (X-rays). X-rays are taken of the neck to identify the abnormal positioning of the atlantoaxial joint, and possibly to identify the absence of a dens or any fractures of the bones. These X-rays are often taken under general anesthesia to obtain the best position of the neck to identify the structures of interest. The doctors and technicians must be very careful when moving the neck of these patients, since further damage can be done to the spinal cord if sudden, extreme movements are made. Conservative Treatment The goal of conservative management is to allow scar tissue to form around the atlantoaxial joint to stabilize it. Motion of the joint prevents scar tissue from forming, so motion is prevented by placing a neck brace on the dog and by confining it to a cage for several weeks. The injury to the spinal cord results in inflammation. This can be reduced by the short-term use of steroids. Most cases managed in this way have a recurrence of symptoms, since the scar tissue is not strong enough to hold the joint stable. Surgical Treatment Surgery is usually recommended for this problem due to the high recurrence rate with conservative management. The goal of surgery is to stabilize the joint using internal devices. These can include wires, pins combined with an epoxy-like cement, or heavy-duty suture material. The joint can also be fused, using screws and bone grafts collected from the dog's shoulder. Surgery is very difficult due to the small size of the patient and delicate nature of the bones. After surgery, cage rest, neck braces, and steroids are often used as you would for conservative management. There is less of a recurrence rate when surgery is performed, but recurrences can still happen due to failure of the implants placed in the bones or failure to follow post-operative instructions. The type of surgery depends on the surgeon's preference and the specific injury. The prognosis depends on the severity of the neurological signs present before surgery. The more severe the signs, the more guarded the prognosis. The spinal cord is an unpredictable organ. Accurate predictions are difficult to make as to how much function will recover as well as how long it will take to recover. Follow-up Atlantoaxial instability is a serious problem that requires dedicated and observant owners. Optimal treatment for your pet requires a combination of home and professional veterinary care. Follow-up can be critical, especially if your pet does not rapidly improve. Administer all prescribed medications as directed. Alert your veterinarian if you are experiencing problems treating your pet. Follow your veterinarian's instructions for exercise restriction. The tissues must heal strongly to allow the joint to become stable. Excessive activity can lead to tearing of healing tissues and cause a major setback. |
Attention To TLC hi tlc, thank you so much for taking the efforts in providing me with all the information pertaining to aai. princess has done her xray already but the results of all her bone structure appear to be all normal. she is showing slight improvement such as trying to crawl a little, lift her head, wag her tail though still unable to walk. i've decided to take her home soon & am now in the midst of preparations as most likely i've to take her to work with me everyday as well. i would appreciate if someone could teach me as to how to care properly for princess at home. |
i am caring for my AAI baby at home.. she has cage rest and i hand feed her and when she drinks i hold the bowl up to her so she doesnt have to bend her neck to drink or eat. she gets her meds 2x daily though a syringe.. i put her in a soft cage and she has a neck collar on her to keep her neck stable... i made the collar myself from a elbow brace that i cut off the hard part and i wrap it around her neck and use the velcro to close it.. i put a ace bandage underneath to keep it from rubbing on her.. i can stick my finger down inside to make sure it is not to tight. she is getting better and wanting to play but i have to make sure she doesnt get to rough.. cant have her moving around to much.. lots of love and i hold her in my arms when i am at home... i never leave her in the playpen when i am not at home.. she has soft bed cage that she stays in when i am at work. she is much much better but will not be well until i can get her surgery. if your puppy has the AAI and you can afford the surgery then make sure the doctor that does it has done it before. it is not a regular operation and needs a specailist to do it. when i am at home and need to do stuff around the house i put her in the playpen so that she isnt cooped up but still protected. the playpen is also soft and i am getting baby bumpers to put inside tomorrow. (mom has them in the attic and its thanksgiving so i will be over there). lots of love and dedication to her care is the way roriee has gotten better.. YT has helped soooo much with information, support and everything.. i would not have made it without YT community.. i hope that helps some.. this is just what i am doing for home care. it might not fit your situation but if it helps at all then thats good :) everyone here is much more experienced then i am but this is what i am doing.. good luck with your baby and my prayers are with you! |
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I see you had a xray done but was it a digital xray? IF not they will not find anything and if they are not looking for AAI they can over look it.. As my Babybear was misdiagnosed the day he broke his neck with Livershunts.. There is a mom on here that her Yorkie also broke his neck do to AAI just by making the Yes jesture.. Both her pup and mine stopped breathing because of this.. Please find out if it is a Digital xray they took. And to look for AAI.. When a pup is xrayed for AAI 75 percent of the time they sedate them because they have to move the neck in different directions and they want to pup to be still... If you have any questions please ask.. There are a few AAI mom's on this site that can and most likely will help you in answering your questions.. We are here for you.. Sending prayers your way.. |
I have come to check on your baby.. How is she doing?? I worry about these pups so much.. Please update if you can. |
Keeping your little one in my prayers. Any updates? |
did they test for Lyme disease that is a symptom known to happen with it hope she gets better |
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