davinci might have AAI i am so scared, someone please help us.

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by kjc

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

YOU ROCK GIRL - this is great information thanks so much for posting!!!

This is so true a simple turn of neck can set it off as my friends dog screamed out in pain at groomer and when she found out her dog had this

oh and my friend's dog was a maltese too - she has since passed as well from this

[kjc]

Just needed to add: I am not a Vet, just a retired Vet Tech. The info I posted was taken from definitions of conditions listed by your Vet, a flowchart of events, and from personnal experiences.

[Wylie's Mom]

Kathy (kjc), that was just perfect, thank you so much - this is exactly what Yen is looking for right now.

[dwerten]

here is a link to a ton of more info but kjc nailed it but if you want to talk to someone whose dog had chiari which is all tied in with this then pm lillymae as she knows alot as well and her dog had this also the neurologist at ucdavis is on here as well that i posted

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sic...need-help.html

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by yorkiepuppie

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.

Yen, I lost a pup not long ago and was totally devastated and feeling as if I were to blame. It is a long story, and there is no reason to explain it all here.

Please, do not blame yourself in ANY way for this. Some things happen and there just is no blame.

In the middle of my doing just what you are doing...seeking an answer and trying to find peace, I found the following. It really came out of nowhere one night while I searched for info on CT and MI. I had just finished sending an email to a friend that day saying that I felt so responsible and my exact words were that I had killed him. I had prayed for three days for an answer from up above that this precious little being was ok....this, I believe, was my answer. It was also my answer for what I thought was my responsibility.

I hope it helps you as it did me. I realize it is a totally different story than yours, but the theme is the same: "It was not of your timing".

I Killed My Dog!

[QuickSilver]

Yen, you were such a super mom to your pups. We just have to look at the many threads you posted asking about what the absolute best food for dogs was. Of course there are many other things too that showed how dedicated you were.

You did the best you could. Someone told me this once, and maybe it will help you too (if not, feel free to ignore!): guilt can be a way of holding on to the past. Replaying the "what ifs" hurts, but it also the mind's way of shielding itself from the tragedy, which can feel too painful to fully acknowledge.

I do hope you can learn what you need to to give you some peace. DaVinci will be missed terribly.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by kjc

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

Great post!

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by yorkiepuppie

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.

Your post make me break up again. Please don't blame yourself, you were so protective in so many ways, and this sounds like something that could have not been prevented.

[dwerten]

here is some more info all tied in with chiari on youtube which explains it more

YouTube - syringomyelia in dogs

[dwerten]

here is some more info all tied in with chiari on youtube which explains it more

YouTube - syringomyelia in dogs

do a search on youtube.com for chiari and there are a lot of videos on this condition

[dwerten]

more good info on this video -check out all his videos he explains alot

YouTube - Diagnosis and Treatment for...

[yorkiepuppie]

i am so grateful for all the support and kind words and just everything that you guys are doing for me. helping me with the research, and just everything.

i went to my vet's office again today, trying to seek some understanding again of what had happened, and to get my milu out of the house because she seemed sad and was sniffing davinci's toys. when i returned home there was a bouquet of flowers waiting for me at my door. i could not believe it, i read the sweet note and it was from my yt family! i couldn't help but smile. i can't believe all the support and how much you guys care for me and davinci. i am just speechless, and i honestly don't know how to show my gratitude. i didn't know how to write this post, but i really want you all to know that everything that you are doing for me means so much to me and i am sorry i have not been able to thank everyone of you for all that you are doing for us. i am seeking answers and trying to find out what happened to davinci, and i will share what i learn with you all as many have told me that they would like to know as well.

i am having a hard time expressing myself right now with all the emotions i am experiencing, but i am just so thankful. and i miss my baby so much, but you guys really help me with my pain. thank you.

[Reese1]

It's always hard when we don't have definitive answers on why things happen.
I hope you can find the answers that will help give you peace and comfort!
Again, I'm so terribly sorry for your loss, my prayers are with you!

[dwerten]

I just pm'd you as i spoke to my friend tami yesterday on the way to the pet expo

here is my friends shiva who had the same thing sounds like and she said it happens about 2-3 years of age as that is when it happened to shiva

here is beautiful baby shiva

YouTube - Princess Shiva

[dwerten]

shiva had AAI and my friend said she thinks davinci had the same thing and your vet said C1 issue and that is what AAI is here is some info getting more

http://www.petplace.com/dogs/atlanto...ion/page1.aspx

vicki and val and jaimie on here also went through this with their 3 yorks