I hope Raindrop enjoys her visit with Santa!!!!

I am so embarrassed. :confused: The place I "thought" where Santa would be, were only Advertising for another place. Guess I didn't read the sign. Anyways, I took Raindrop in her carrier and went to K-Mart, and walked around. She was soooooo good. My neighbor had her two little puppies too (Yorkie's 5mths) and they all just slept. Guess I will have to find another place that has Santa.
Raindrop still walks kinda crooked, and head tilted, and flips over, and legs move like a fish out of water still. But no vomiting today. :thumbup: Eating and drinking well. Will keep you posted.

Let me ask you this: Was Rainbow better when she got the steroid shot, or better since she's started her current meds?

I say "better" from current meds, but she still walks different, and her head is cocked, but she is not falling over as much as she was. Eating the A/D slow, as her head it tilted, and tongue is out some. I have kept her away from the other dogs, and take her everywhere with me I can. Not sure at this point if it's the steroid that is kicking in, or the other meds.

So glad to hear she is doing some better. Continued health prayers for her.

I hope she continues to improve.

Thank you so much for all the kind words and prayers. I hope every day now, she just keeps improving. She may be little, but she is pretty tough.:)

Well today is Dec. 6th, Monday. Raindrop is doing the same. No vomiting, but still walking sideways, and head tilted with her tongue sticking out. She fell over this morning while trying to walk. Eating her A/D and drinking water. I hold her all day, as much as I can. Will keep you all updated.

So sorry to hear Raindrop isn't improving as expected... I would strongly urge you at this point to take her to a Vet Neurologist, you may need to get a referral from your vet or the ER vet... here's a link to some in your area.... I would mention the possibility of her having GME or Chiari could they rule that out....

vet specialties neurology, FL 32233 - Google Search

Keeping you both in my prayers....

I feel so bad for you and your lil Raindrop.:(

Still no changes in Raindrop. She trys to run and play, but her head is still tilted, tongue out. I guess I am waiting for this miracle to happen over night. Doctors said it would take a week, or ten days before I would see a difference. Putting the drops in her ears, and feeding her that A/D. No vomiting. Will let you all know if I see any changes. My little Raindrop.

It hasn't been that long. Sending prayers for little Raindrop that she'll be good as new very soon.

Thanks for the update.... keeping you both in my prayers...

I am a member of a GME group and I asked one of their techs about Raindrop.... basically I was told that Vestibular Syndrome can be a symptom or caused by GME.

The reason I am being a pest about this :) is that GME is fatal unless treated, and the sooner it is treated the better the outcome for a total and complete recovery. Most general Vets are not used to looking for or diagnosing GME and may not even think about it unless you mention it to them. You will have a better shot with a neurologist, as they are more current on GME/NME/Chiari (as it's more their field).

As Raindrop is so young to be getting VS just for any reason, I really implore you to have a neurologist investigate the cause of her VS asap, as she responded once to steroids (which are also used to treat GME), and doesn't appear to be responding too well to just the VS meds.

I went back again to the Vet's. Raindrop has gone from 5 lbs to 3.5 lbs. She is not urinating, her tongue sticks out further, and is dry, her head twists like it's going to break, and she is falling over all the time, now. The Vet today said she is getting fluid in her lungs, and reccommend I put her to sleep. He said she has a brain tumor.
I have just cried and cried. My heart is broken, and I don't know what to do.
I know she is not happy like this. The other dogs smell her. Her breath smells bad. (not like dog food) She will try to take a couple of steps, and fall over. I have to watch her so she will not hit her head.
So tonight I am just holding her, and loving her, as I have a feeling she may not make it through the night. I will try to get back on when I can. :(

This is very common for vets to say 'Brain tumor'... did he see it on xray or is he out of options? Please get her to a Neuro and have a spinal tap done, then get her on steroids, NOW. She doesn't have to be PTS.... Please, I am begging you...

please read this:

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

Darlene, I am so very sorry to read that Raindrop isn't doing well. My dog had walking problems which I stupidly thought was from his LP. We went to the vet and he had some kind of disc problem in his neck area and was showing neurological problems. He takes Neuronton (Gabapentin) and after a week or so we saw improvement. Did the vet say anything about a disc problem? I wish I could do something for you but all I can do is send you hugs, thoughts and prayers. Valerie

PLEASE, take raindrop for MRI & Spinal. Also please read the thread that Kjc posted. It is not likely that raindrop has a brain tumor but a subarachnoid cyst caused by Chiari malformation. This condition is most often Misdiagnosed as a brain tumor. I had a yorkie for 11 yrs with this condition. This condition IS treatable with Pred & Omeprizole. There is Hope for your baby. Also Chiari is most often diagnosed between the ages of 2 & 6 yrs of age. With the majority of diagnosis in the earlier yrs.
Also not sure of the spelling but Theophylline is the med used for the breathing. I could be wrong but there is a 99.9% chance that Chiari is what your baby has & NOT brain tumor at all.

As a last ditch effort try prednisone and Omeprizal (sp)... symptoms are leaning more to Chiari (very treatable disease)(needs MRI to diagnose) please you do not have to lose her.... I'll pray for you to make the best decision for her... Yorkies are not predisposed to developing brain tumors... Brain tumors are more rare than Chiari...

Vestibular Syndrome
 

I know exactly what you are going through. Last winter when we were in Florida my 13 year old King Charles Cavalier had these same symptoms.I too thought he had a stroke. He would try to walk and fall down and his head was tilted to the side.I took him to a vet and they said it could be a stroke or Vestibular syndrome. He got him to walk for him and looked at his eyes to see if they were darting back and forth , this is a sign of vestibular syndrome. In the end they looked at his ears and although there were no visible signs of an ear infection, he said it could be inner ear. I was flying home with him in three days so they gave him a steriod shot and put him on antibiotics for inner ear. He said I would see some improvement within 48 hours. I did but it took a good 3 to 4 weeks before his head came back to normal. That was in April. In August of this year while we were on vacation he awoke one morning with the dizziness again. I again took him to the vet and they told me he had a cerebral tumor. He passed away in my arms the next day. They asked if he had been given a steriod in Florida. They said that this sometimes shrinks the tumor for a short period of time. The steriod will also make them pant. Please do not take any chances with this little one. If you can get to a specialist. I would say she is too young for vestibular syndrome.Good Luck and I am sending prayers.

FYI, Chiari can and often does present as a disc problem in the neck.

lillymae, I didn't know that. I've learned so much here on YorkieTalk and I'm still learning. Let's all say a prayer for Raindrop that she will get well.

Oh yes, Chiari can show in so many diff ways. It all depends on the severity of the deformity .

FYI, Vestibular Syndrome can also be a symptom of Chiari. Also did you know that the King Charles was the 1st dog to be diagnosed with Chiari and was thought to be the only breed to have this condition for many yrs.

This is so sad, I feel so bad for Raindrop and you. I just don't understand why your vet hasn't referred you to a specialist. Can you get her to an emergency clinic and a neurologist tomorrow?

Mom of 3 I am praying for your little baby Raindrop.

Sending prayers for lil Raindrop and for you.:(

My little Raindrop passed away this morning. I held her all last night, knowning something was terribly wrong. She had stopped eating and drinking. I was forcing the water down her. My heart is broken. I will come back on when I can. Darlene

Oh No, I\'m so sorry for your loss.