I need help!

[dwerten]

join yahoogroups.com and do search congenital dogs and join that group the owner had a hydrocephalus pup she knows alot

[dwerten]

well you kept saying something is wrong with eye sounds like this is it

What to Watch For


Altered mental status

Crying out

Hyperexcitability

Extreme dullness

Coma

Seizures

Visual or auditory impairment

Spastic or clumsy walking

Circling

Head pressing
Head tilt

Abnormal eye movements

[ladyjane]

Prayers for little Bella and for you.

Since you do not yet have a diagnosis, please do not worry and let your fears take over.

First thing to do is to get a diagnosis so that you know exactly what you are dealing with.

Do not let ANY diagnosis frighten you without the full evaluation and prognosis coming from a vet. Just in case it does end up being hydrocephalus I want to share this with you. YHR had a hydrocephalus pup last year. He was surrenderd to us by his owner because she could not afford an mri for him. He ended up just fine and has a wonderful home. Below is a link to videos of Samson....I am also going to find his bio and post it here. You do not know yet that Bella has this, but I want you to know that it is not always a horrible outcome:

www.yorkiehavenrescue.com/samson.html

[ladyjane]

Here is Samson's bio. Start from the bottom and read up....each update has a date on it. I would normally not post this before someone had a diagnosis, but since often many people think this is always a horrible diagnosis....I want to share it.

I'VE BEEN ADOPTED!!
Samson's new mom and dad would like to thank everyone that donated to Samson's medical treatment so that he would be able to join his new home.
5/14/09 - I went to see my vet the other day and had my teeth cleaned. Wanna kiss? Well, you will have to fill out an application first. I don’t just give these fresh breath, clean teeth kisses away for nothing.

4/29/09 - Samson visited his vet yesterday to be neutered and have his heartworm test. The results were negative. He took it all like a champ and was ready to eat as soon as he got home. After a good night’s sleep, he was feeling great (and lighter) this morning. He will go in next week for his dental and microchip. Then he will be ready to win the heart(s) of the members at his new home as he has done at his foster home.
4/10/09 - Well, Sampson had his MRI today and the results were "mild Hydrocephalus". They attribute the head tilt to the busted eardrum when he was a pup. So, he will always have the head tilt and walk a little "clumsy", (there is a link on the home page to videos of Samson walking) but the good news is that since he is already 2 years of age, he has leveled off, will not get any worse, and he will lead a normal life. He is a sweet loving little man who loves life, loves to eat, loves for you to talk to him (he gets all excited and raises up towards you) uses puppy pads inside (he could teach mine a thing or two), goes outside each time you bring him will follow you around the house continuously.
Before getting Sampson as a foster, knowing that he had mild Hydrocephalus and a head tilt, would have concerned me, but after meeting Sampson, I think he is one of the most loveable, sweetest pups and would make a great addition to a calm home with a mom and dad that want to spoil him rotten. He thinks he is bigger than life and just as normal as any other pup. His foster dad has even taught him to shake (I think Samson is just reaching out his paw ahead of him and it lands in foster dad's hand). Samson and I promised not to tell foster dad because he is so proud of the little man.
If you have a place in your home and your heart to invite this precious boy, I promise you would never regret adding him to your family. He is just that easy to fall in love with and loves being carried around or going out in a pet tote. You can't think of him as special needs, because he doesn't act of think of himself that way.

--------

Yes, my head tilts to the left and it isn’t because foster mom is making a squeaky noise. This head tilt is permanent and so is the way I walk - which is best described as “my equilibrium is a little off”. You know that old question “Were you dropped on your head as a child?” Well, my answer is yes. I was dropped when I was 6 months of age and also had a busted eardrum. I was pretty bad off at first, I walked around in circles and could not focus very well, but as time passed, my eardrum healed up on its own and my circling straightened out to the point that I now walk as if I’m a little hungover. None of this hinders my ability to eat, do my business outside or on a puppy pad, and be the cutest little “tote around pup” you’ll ever find.
I’ve just recently entered my foster home (3/21/09) and foster mom and dad have an appointment for me with their vet to have blood work drawn to make sure everything is alright and then I can go have my MRI done. They hope this will let them know the extent of my damage and if there is anything that can be done. Foster mom says it really doesn’t matter if they can straighten out my walk or my tilt, because I have such a great personality and zest for life that I am comical and lovable just the way I am. When I hear foster mom calling, I come running (or prancing) as she calls it. I high step it when I’m excited.
When I first got here, my ears were really dirty and infected with yeast. So I’m currently getting some gook put in my ears in the a.m. and having them cleaned out in the p.m. They are almost prestine now. After my MRI, we’ll be moving right along on taking care of the other business at hand. Let’s see, I need to be neutered, brought up to date on vaccines, tested for heartworms, have a dental and repair a small little hernia in my belly. All of this could be a very tall order for a lesser pup, but seeing what I’ve endured and conquered so far, with my foster mom and dad at my side, I’m going to take it all in stride. And speaking of stride, we’ll let you know how that MRI comes out and if there’s anything that can be done. If not, I’m content just the way I am and foster mom said that there would be someone out there to accept me as such.

[Vwitscher]

what a heart warming story with a happy ending! You have a talent for writing and I appreciate the info. If I ever have to deal with a situation like this I will be less frightened since reading about Sampson. Thank-you for sharing it.

[livingdustmops]

Good posts LadyJane and I agree wait until the test results come back and you know what you have to deal with. I think YT is wonderful for many things but only a good vet can determine what is really going on with the proper tests.

[ladyjane]

Oh...and I meant to add something about the cost of testing. Yes, an MRI is very expensive.

If you don't know about it already, look into Care Credit. Many of the specialists accept it and sometimes at no interest for a period of time. Each vet makes their own arrangements, but Care Credit manages it.
www.carecredit.com

[mly]

I'm sitting here waiting for DH and Bella to return from the vet. I was watching Samson's videos and it makes me sad because Bella's so similar to that except I think her walking is a little bit better.

I was researching hydrocephalus last night also and it stated that she should have shown signs when she was pup. Bella's condition just stated less than a week ago and she doesn't cry (no head pressing or anything)...it's just her head tilt, walking and her eye. Also, vet says her right side of her body is a little weak. It's so frustrating.

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by mly

I'm sitting here waiting for DH and Bella to return from the vet. I was watching Samson's videos and it makes me sad because Bella's so similar to that except I think her walking is a little bit better.

I was researching hydrocephalus last night also and it stated that she should have shown signs when she was pup. Bella's condition just stated less than a week ago and she doesn't cry (no head pressing or anything)...it's just her head tilt, walking and her eye. Also, vet says her right side of her body is a little weak. It's so frustrating.

i thought you stated in op that she was head pressing? confused

also dogs may have one symptom and have something they do not necessarily have to have all symptoms of a disease

[mly]

Originally Posted by dwerten

i thought you stated in op that she was head pressing? confused

also dogs may have one symptom and have something they do not necessarily have to have all symptoms of a disease

I did state that in an earlier post but it's more like rubbing her face to the carpet like after a bath or something and someone mentioned it's normal for dogs to do that.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by mly

I'm sitting here waiting for DH and Bella to return from the vet. I was watching Samson's videos and it makes me sad because Bella's so similar to that except I think her walking is a little bit better.

I was researching hydrocephalus last night also and it stated that she should have shown signs when she was pup. Bella's condition just stated less than a week ago and she doesn't cry (no head pressing or anything)...it's just her head tilt, walking and her eye. Also, vet says her right side of her body is a little weak. It's so frustrating.

I would have thought that she would have had symptoms earlier myself. The only reason I posted what I did was to show it is not always a death sentence.

I just think that you need to try to relax and not diagnose this before the vet does! It is stressful enough to have a sick pup.....and to start guessing what is is makes it worse some times. I know that because I have done it....and often it is not what I most feared.

Prayers for little Bella.

[dwerten]

we helped a maltese named matilda and on the thread these were somethings a vet tech stated can be neurlogical in toy breeds

hydrocephalus
chiari malformation
AA subluxation
GME

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by mly

I did state that in an earlier post but it's more like rubbing her face to the carpet like after a bath or something and someone mentioned it's normal for dogs to do that.

oh ok yeah they do that after eating and after bath so that is good it is not head pressing

[dwerten]

here is some info on mri

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

[dwerten]

here is some information that was posted on that thread as well

Vestibular Disease in Dogs and Cats

Since you are doing blood work anyway you may want to do the 6 panel thyroid along with cbc and pre and post bile acids - this way you have a full blood work up to cover just about everything in this breed blood wise