yorkie with neuro ?
 

has anyone ever had a yorkie that suddenly started walking sideways ? My little 10 month old mickey has been the picture of health and today he suddenly started walking to his left side, he leans in that direction as well. we went to the vet ( as i have health insurance on him ) and she can't figure it out says she's never seen it before but thinks it's a neuro problem we did x rays to check his hip, he does have a bad patella on his right back leg but she didn't think that was the problem, i also have a call in to our doggy chiropractor but while i wait for the neur appt and the chiro i was wondering if anyone else ever had a yorkie that did this ? just fyi in case you needed to know he weighs 2 lbs. please post if you have had something like this. :animal-pa

Bump! I'm no help, but I hope Mickey is well soon.

DO NOT go to Chiro without going to neurologist. This could be AAI or Chiari and if one of these things the Chiro could kill your dog.

ok so i had to google the AAI and the chiari they both sound fatal and we did xrays on him because he is so little his whole body fit in the x ray of course my vert admitted that she's not an ortho. i know i need to find another vet but when they are healthy you are just thankful and not looking for a new vet any way thank you for the response:animal-pa

They can be fatal if not treated timely and properly. Also Chiari can only be diagnosed with MRI.

Is this babies head tilted to one side like maybe his neck is kinked ? Sometimes it is so slight you really have to look for it. If so see a neurologist ASAP.

Can your vet refer him to a specialist for you?

100% agree NO CHIROPRACTER until you know what is going on

Did they ever do bile acid testings to rule out liver disease as dogs with liver issues it can cause neurological issues. I personally think this is neurological and a neurologist will figure it out. It can be vestibular disease which is inner ear issue as well. I woud go to a specialty hospital or vet school with a team of people that can work together to figure out what is going on.

I will pull a thread now that has a TON of info but dog doing the same head tilt

this dog had a head tilt as well and she has videos of her dog

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sic...d-help-17.html

Just to let you know, my little Moose waked into my office one day with his head tilted to the side...I was shocked and had never seen this in any of my rescues so I rushed him to the vet...Guess What? Infected tooth/teeth...The vet gave him antibodics and then in about a week he went in for dental surgery...ended up losing all of his teeth (he was a rescue) and so now my little dude walks with his head up but his tongue sticking out..

Might have the vet check the teeth...

good idea always good to check teeth for abssess and inner ear for ear infection with a head tilt issue

Neuro
 

Yes, unfortunately I know of one who started walking sideways. It was followed by other problems as well. This could be caused by "chiari" like disease. I believe the correct name is spiromylengalia (sp). It is caused by fluid not being able to drain from the brain properly. This dog underwent surgery to remove a bony section of her skull which allowed room for the drainage. She has done pretty well in the years since the surgery but would have died without the surgery. Hopefully this isnt your problem, but please get it checked out.

thanks so much there is info on the link below on chiari as well i believe and on another post I will pull that one up too

here is the thread with the videos

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sic...help-us-2.html

mickey update
 

So my first vet called the next day and insisted it was valley fever and wanted to do a blood test, ( she told me the same thing about my dachund and it was her back ) so we went for a second opinion to another vet who put him on antibiotics and prednisone, he thought it was an inner ear thing but was unable to see the ear drum because his ear canal is so small, he also thought maybe a seed from grass we have in our yard may have fallen in his ear, and then informed me both of his knees where bad. It's been 7 days of antibiotic and still walks to the left a little. We did have the chiropractor come and do an adjustment since she can read an xray, and for a few days he walked straight, so next stop back to the second vet and see if he needs to sedate to make sure it's not a seed, and then check liver, neither one will give me a referrel to neuro yet, the first cause she wants to do lots of lab work, the second cause he dosen't think it's neuro. i want to thank everyone for the response i will keep looking for a reason for this as we love our little angel.:animal-pa

wanted to address the liver issue i asked both vets about that since his size is small we never saw the parents and don't know if he suppose to be that small any way they told me they would have to draw blood from the jugular vein and wanted to rule out ear,teeth etc before doing that.

Just an FYI, since your Yorkie is so tiny, any time he has bloodwork he will most likely have it taken from his jugular vein. His veins are as thin as thread and most puppies struggle if a leg is being held. It is much safer and less painful to do one stick in the neck than to struggle and perhaps have to try several times to draw blood from the leg.

Please don't let that stop you from getting a bile acids test or any other test your vet recommends done. It is very important to find out what is causing his symptoms.

My little Yorkie, Emmy Joyce, started doing the exact same thing. The Vet said thought it was inner ear trouble because we had treated her for yeast ear infection a month before. She would get better, then the symptoms would re appear. After a month of this, I took her to a Vet specialty hospital and we saw a neurologist. He did an MRI and a spinal tap. My baby has Breed incephalitis and she is on Prednisone. After a week on the pred. she started to straighten up. This happpened in February. We are now trying to taper her pred dosage down, but there is no cure for the type of incephalitis she has. Please get a NEURO EXAM because Predinson can make the symptoms go away. Chances are is not what my baby has and if its the bacterial type, they have a good chance of recovery after antibiotics.. Take care and I will keep you and your baby in my prayers!

thanks for posting this so does your dog have GME which is inflamation of the spine? If so have you joined the yahoogroups.com NEW GME - they are a wonderful support group and know all the latest protocol by dr sisson. Check it out as it would be a great group to join for support with others going through the same things such as you and your baby

Thank you dwerten!! I sure do need a support group. No, she does not have GME. The neurologist said the type of incephalitis she has is so very rare. She had paralisis on her left side for a short while. Couldnt even blnk her left eye. The Vets said she would never be able to blink that eye or eat by herself, dur to her left side of her mouth being paralized also. Guess what??? NO PARALISES!!!! She eats, plays, blinks all by her little self. They didnt give me much hope that day we left the hospital. Needless to say, they are in shock of her progress!!! I am just so happy to still have my little girl!!! I told them not to tell any negatives!!! I dont want to know worst cases! She is on many suppliments,and all holistic diet and I massage her several times a day. I quit my job, moved to a less expensive place, and dont regret one minute of it, all to take care of her. I am so blessed.

wow you are an AWESOME mama - was it NME? There are two different forms GME and NME

join here I just put the link for you

NewGMEDogs : NewGMEDogs

They are so nice and very knowledgeable

How soon after the last puppy shot did the symptoms appear. I have had puppies do this after their second shot. Turned out to be enchephilitis. But we ran every test imaginable before getting an answer. Had to put the puppy on a 30 day round of injectable Baytril and clavomox liquid to get it cleared up. Puppy is 3 years old today and very healthy. The shot which was give was Ft Dodge.

Betty

Please do not use Chiropractor till you figure out what's wrong for sure. If your baby has Chiari malformation using a Chiro is an absolute no no and can kill your dog. Chiari does not show in an x-ray Only in MRI. Talk to your Chiro about the possibility of Chiari and I guarantee she will not adjust him again till you have MRI. Tell her yorkies are prone to this malformation. I hope you have gotten it straightened out by now but if not do not take the chance with Chiro without MRI.

up date
 

ok so after my last post we went to 2 diffrent vets and were told he had an ear infection. after 1.25 mg of prednisone nd antibiotic he straightend out, then just recently he started walking sideways again the chiro came and put his knees back in and then he did fine for a day, then he got worse couldnt walk without falling over 3 vets later numerous test that were inconclusive they did a bile test, urine, ammonia levels, cbc about 800.00 3 diffrent treatments for liver and nothing. i got on here and remembered prednisone made it stop so i gave him 1.25 mg again and 4 days later he was fine again, then after a week suddenly he was doing head tilt back to the vet changed his liver treatment and more prednisone, walking fine and then still head tilt er vet told me to change his liver treatment which we did and gave him a lactulose enema. tapered off his steriod and bam spinning in circles to the right on the floor,and cant walk cause we tapered off steriod? so started it back and can walk but still head tilt doing liver treatment and steriod neuro after doing an mri dosent know 4 diffrent vets dont know always liver, liver, liver, so any one have an ideas, or maybe had a baby that did thes he is now 16 months old and no one can tell me what it is just the same thing liver,liver,liver. i need answers from someone,or suggestions, i love this dog he has insurance and at this point i work parttime to help pay his bills there are no lengths i wont go to for this baby. i know everyone on here wishes us well and will pray, i dont need to know that, and i dont want to hear about taking him to another vet or another specialists we've been to all of them, and no one knows what it is and if it is the liver at some point all this should have gone away, and we could take him off the steriod, just posts suggestions only, iam not some lame duck that thinks u guys on here are vets, i would just like to know what u think about his symptoms. thank you.:aimeeyork:)

shes adjusted him several times.

And what are the results?

up date
 

we've been to several vets and several tests lots of diffrent medicine and after i started him back on prednisone ( i did it after reading here) he starightened up called the vet told him he sent me out some to the pharmacy and then several weeks later bam hes doing the head tilt, noone can tell me why ive spent lots of money 800.00 alone in medicine, and nothing check liver bile, check ammonia level, mri, x rays, u name it weve done it steriod worked for a few weeks, even had him sedated to look in his ears, and nothing. i saw a post on here where they did prilosec thinking of calling dr for it to be sent to compound pharmacy cant hurt right? after my last post he did well for a while, so maybe it masked the symptoms and corrected the problem for the neuro visit? this sucks i love this baby with all my heart and yet i cant find a vet that knows what they r doing! working part time job to pay for all this treatment and will cont to do so until i find out what the hell is wrong with him. every thing is either inconclusive or normal. and all i hear is liver,liver,liver. sick of it after all the treatments weve done for it lactolose,flagyl,neomycein,and three other antibiotics he dosent get better. one vet thought i should taper down the steriod and when i did he walked like he had been drinking beer all day. so against advice he went back on it, i couldnt stand watching him roll in a circle to his right any more and guess what he got better he can walk without falling down, but still head tilts to the right. please any suggestions and yes i will call vet and get the prilosec sent to pharmacy after all they owe me that one. but i digress any advice please post. thanks

results of what all these tests nothing, nothing,nothing. told it screams liver and yet after all these treatments he cont to walk like he's drunk unless he's on the steriod, then his head just tilts to the side. hate this.

chiropractor same thing walks well for a day then falls down. not helping either, if u were me u would explore every option .

It is difficult to read your posts because you have so many run on sentences. I think you said you don't want us to suggest another vet; but honestly, the only thing I can tell you at this point is that you need a specialist. Have you seen a board certified neurologist?
Or...are you saying it is the liver? What do you mean by "it screams liver"?

Well, if you want to continue *not* getting answers - then yes, keep going to the vets who aren't finding them :(.

You\'re asking for help - so, I\'m going to give it, even though it\'s not what you want to hear. But first, questions. Which TYPES of specialists have you seen?

If it \'screams liver\' - a vet would probably have suggested an ultrasound as well as a liver biopsy by now. That\'s part of initial diagnosis, for liver.

As to what I think of his symptoms, I think they *need* to be assessed by a Neuro vet asap, as the brain could be losing function every day.

Please keep us posted and best of luck.