Originally Posted by kjc (Post 3087768)

You have my most heartfelt sympathies for the loss of your sweet DaVinci.

I will attempt to explain:

Occipital dysplasia: Is basicly a hole in the skull, is very common in round-headed toy breeds. A small hole may go unnoticed, but a larger hole will be uncomfortable as the brain cannot shift without interference. One symptom is that the dog will lower it's front end, and walk backwards, possibly seeking some kind of relief.

hydrocephalus: This is a neurological disease in which there is excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid, the malfunction of drainage system of the brain responsible for evacuating the cerebrospinal fluid from the brain into the circulatory system. When this occurs with Occipital dysplasia, the brain cannot shift to accommodate the excess fluid build-up, causing, pressure, pain, and seizures.


C1/Atlas malpositioned: unlike other vertebrae, which interlock one to the next, the Atlas (also known as C-1) relies solely upon soft tissue (muscles and ligaments) to maintain alignment; therefore is uniquely vulnerable to displacement. Displacement of C-1 can occur without pain and thus, often goes undetected and untreated. It can be congenital or acquired.

From your description of events in both threads, I believe DaVinci was experiencing some kind of pressure from the excess fluid build-up and/or the Atlas malposition when your DH picked him up, hence his struggle to be put down. There can also be a congenital defect between the Atlas (last vertebra, top of the spine) and the Dens (place the two meet and fit together. If the dens was congenitally malformed, DaVinci would be predisposed to this disaster occuring at any point in his life, from any reason ie: turning his head to the side quickly could cause it, or shaking his head too.

I hope this helps. Also, I would like to add that getting an xray would more than likely have caused more damage. Many don't survive just the xray as positioning is critical and it doesn't take much of a slip to be catastrophic. Treatment involves emergency neuro surgery to shunt the cerebrospinal fluid away from the brain, to relieve the pressure, and ortho surgery to stabilize the C1 and the Dens.

I think the best way to determine 'why' would be a necropsy.

Again, I'm so very sorry for your loss. My thoughts, prayers, and my heart are with you and your family during this devastingly sad time...
Kathy

Originally Posted by yorkiepuppie (Post 3087684)

thank you for helping me look for the information. i haven't been able to find too much info. on this. i would like to know more and understand.

thank you for protecting me from unintentional things that were said that might be hurtful. i just can't handle that right now. i don't know how i can ever forgive myself if i could have done something to prevent this from happening.

i kept asking the vet if this was something that i've done to cause. he just keeps telling me that there was no way we could have known until this happened... (this meaning davinci's death)

perhaps i should have gotten the x-ray when we saw the vet on tuesday. but i had no idea at all how serious a neck pain was, and was concerned about putting his life in danger by sedating him since the vet told me he thinks it was a strained muscle, but the vet did tell me he didn't know what was wrong with davinci. i don't think the vet knew how serious it was either. he told me we can always wait till thursday to get an x-ray if davinci was not better by then.

it is very hard without davinci, i miss him very much and i wish i knew more than i did and made better choices for him. i had no idea, davinci was playing everyday since he first showed signs of problems on sunday up until wednesday morning when he passed away, and right now that is my only comfort, knowing that he wasn't suffering the whole time when i did nothing helpful to get him better.

the morning he passed away, he could not move, and i didn't want him to move at all, but he wagged his tail every time i was near. i wish i didn't have to crate him, i wish i had him in my arms that whole time.

Originally Posted by kjc (Post 3087768)

You have my most heartfelt sympathies for the loss of your sweet DaVinci.

I will attempt to explain:

Occipital dysplasia: Is basicly a hole in the skull, is very common in round-headed toy breeds. A small hole may go unnoticed, but a larger hole will be uncomfortable as the brain cannot shift without interference. One symptom is that the dog will lower it's front end, and walk backwards, possibly seeking some kind of relief.

hydrocephalus: This is a neurological disease in which there is excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid, the malfunction of drainage system of the brain responsible for evacuating the cerebrospinal fluid from the brain into the circulatory system. When this occurs with Occipital dysplasia, the brain cannot shift to accommodate the excess fluid build-up, causing, pressure, pain, and seizures.


C1/Atlas malpositioned: unlike other vertebrae, which interlock one to the next, the Atlas (also known as C-1) relies solely upon soft tissue (muscles and ligaments) to maintain alignment; therefore is uniquely vulnerable to displacement. Displacement of C-1 can occur without pain and thus, often goes undetected and untreated. It can be congenital or acquired.

From your description of events in both threads, I believe DaVinci was experiencing some kind of pressure from the excess fluid build-up and/or the Atlas malposition when your DH picked him up, hence his struggle to be put down. There can also be a congenital defect between the Atlas (last vertebra, top of the spine) and the Dens (place the two meet and fit together. If the dens was congenitally malformed, DaVinci would be predisposed to this disaster occuring at any point in his life, from any reason ie: turning his head to the side quickly could cause it, or shaking his head too.

I hope this helps. Also, I would like to add that getting an xray would more than likely have caused more damage. Many don't survive just the xray as positioning is critical and it doesn't take much of a slip to be catastrophic. Treatment involves emergency neuro surgery to shunt the cerebrospinal fluid away from the brain, to relieve the pressure, and ortho surgery to stabilize the C1 and the Dens.

I think the best way to determine 'why' would be a necropsy.

Again, I'm so very sorry for your loss. My thoughts, prayers, and my heart are with you and your family during this devastingly sad time...
Kathy

Originally Posted by yorkiepuppie (Post 3087684)

thank you for helping me look for the information. i haven't been able to find too much info. on this. i would like to know more and understand.

thank you for protecting me from unintentional things that were said that might be hurtful. i just can't handle that right now. i don't know how i can ever forgive myself if i could have done something to prevent this from happening.

i kept asking the vet if this was something that i've done to cause. he just keeps telling me that there was no way we could have known until this happened... (this meaning davinci's death)

perhaps i should have gotten the x-ray when we saw the vet on tuesday. but i had no idea at all how serious a neck pain was, and was concerned about putting his life in danger by sedating him since the vet told me he thinks it was a strained muscle, but the vet did tell me he didn't know what was wrong with davinci. i don't think the vet knew how serious it was either. he told me we can always wait till thursday to get an x-ray if davinci was not better by then.

it is very hard without davinci, i miss him very much and i wish i knew more than i did and made better choices for him. i had no idea, davinci was playing everyday since he first showed signs of problems on sunday up until wednesday morning when he passed away, and right now that is my only comfort, knowing that he wasn't suffering the whole time when i did nothing helpful to get him better.

the morning he passed away, he could not move, and i didn't want him to move at all, but he wagged his tail every time i was near. i wish i didn't have to crate him, i wish i had him in my arms that whole time.