Need support from humans that have had yorkies born with Megaesophagus please.
 

I have a 7 week old male yorkie approximately 1 pound who has reguritated his mothers' milk since the day he was born through his nostrils. Oral meds, bottle, canned dog food and all food or liquids cause reguritation throught the nostrils. He has aspirate pnenmonia and is on antibiotics. I am in the process of modifying a doll high chair into a Bailey Chair. The vets are unsure and want to wait untl he is between 10 and 12 weeks old before conducting test. The internet says these little ones reguritate but do not say anything about them doing so through the nostrils. I really need to hear how people worked with these little dogs to help them have productive and happy lives. I welcome anyones advice. Thanks:animal-pa

It's a lifelong condition and a rescue that I was a foster with previously had a few of these puppies as forever fosters. They came from a "breeder" n my area that breed many sick dogs without regard to the health of the puppies and continued to breeder indiscriminately. I believe they sold puppies on the internet at a place called PremiumBreeders.net but it looks like the site is now closed down. I so glad because there were some very sick puppies sold on that site that caused a lot of heartaches for buyers. I don't have much advice regarding this condition since I was not involved directly with their care but my suggestion would be to have your parents spayed/nuetered. This is very time consuming and emotionally draining. I wold be further concerned since this is the second puppy that you have that has a very large medical condition that you are dealing with.

What did the vets say about his palate? Did they very thoroughly examine it? I'm not sure this sounds like actual regurgitation....but possibly a palate issue. :(

Eh, you might be right. :(

OP, are you sure it is being swallowed and clears the mouth before the regurg?

I worked with a GSD puppy once... it was important to feed her in a more upright position and she was fed smaller amounts of food at one time and fed more often, and we had to keep her upright for 30 minutes after she ate.

not palate
 

3 vets says this is not a palate issue and 2 of them have seen him many times. No one said megaesophagus until he was 5 weeks old and had been snorting up his food every single meal in his life. They plan an xray. I have asked repeatedly if it could be something else and they say they can find nothing at all wrong. One vet saw him the day of delivery and examamined him very throughly and has re-checked the palate along with other vets. One of the vets is a specialist that does surgery for many of the vets in the area. She claims to specialize in puppies. I hold him totally upright to feed him and then hold him that way for almost an hour to prevent the back flow of food that goes into his nose. I will read on palate issues and become more familiar with that issue too. They have led me in the megaesophagus area so I admit to studying it since so many vets said the palate is fine. What makes you think palate instead of regurgitation? I will look it up in the mean time. Research is something I am good at so I will put myself to work. Thank you.

Bettter with solid foods and not liquids not sure about palate
 

I know that when he is bottle fed it is going down and a few minutes later it is a problem and sometimes during feeding he will have a problem and act like he is try to regurgitatate while still trying to suck. What can be done if it is a palate issure? All the vets say it is not.

That is a done deal
 

I now own the mother and the pups belong to a good friend but she is not very open with problems. She gave me this dog already pregnant and I have an excellent male stud that I let her use because I could not find any problems in the line and thought I knew the dogs history. She gave the mother dog to me because they could not handle 3 females. I am having her spayed at 6 months after delivery, 4 more months and she is kept separate. She is getting along with the female that helps with the litter. I chose to spay my two females after 2 litters each. This little momma is momma for the last time. I did not want her but have known her too long to just see her ousted. She is doing very well here. The birth of these pups was horrible. She is not meant for birthing, they never asked a vet prior to breeding. I am unsure of exactly how much they intend on doing but I am committed to seeing to their needs because I permited the sire of these pups and hold myself accountable. That sire has now been neutered even though I have not had problems I can not take the risk. The friends are elderly and I think they got in too deep and just thought they knew better than others around them. The sire only has 3 litters, the 2 litters prior had no problems and all weights at 5 to 6 lbs as adults. I fixed him also because of females in house.

more history
 

My male was mated with the female 2 times, day 10 & 11 according to her records. She has an adolescent male that within 2 weeks bred with her 2nd female who is only 1 year. As previously stated, she did not listen to anything I had to say and I had already let my male mate when I realized she was so intent on letting the other female breed "if she wanted too". Could it be possible that the 9 month old male also bred with the mama I have and these two little babies be preemies or whatever? She had her for about 3 weeks after the two (my male and the mama to the puppies with problems) were mated (the female would still have been receptive) Any time I saw the adol. male she had him diapered but it only takes once. I neutered my male because he had been with 4 females and I did not want to mate him anymore and expose him to problems. I love him dearly. Also, I was very concerned over these puppies now I am wonderning if the adol. male may be a problem. Is there a way to get relieable information? Now that the adol. male has sired a litter just born yesterday to them, the pups are healthy so how do we know if there is a problem? She is doing most of this with a vet and I have no say in any of it so all I can do is not help in any way. But the sick pups are my responsiblity too no matter what. This has strained our friendship dramatically and I do not have anything to do with her dogs now except to take care of these 2 little sick ones. I have done all I know to keep it from happening again but they are my reality now. My male is fixed and mama soon to be.

It does sound like you have a huge mess on your hands with health issues as well parentage of several litters of puppies. I would suggest that you start to DNA check them all and make sure that you inform any buyer of all puppies as well. Since I am not a breeder and only try to learn from who I consider nothing short of the best I would think you should be placing and not selling all the puppies with any kind of known health issues. So you only had one male that you used for your litters? There isn't a possibility that there might others beside the sick litter and the so far healthy litter?

The only other problem I can think of that can cause regurgitation in young pups would be intussuception... have they xrayed his abdomen to rule this out?

Prior to this littler all of mine are DNA
 

Since I just whacked my 2nd stud, I am out of the breeding because even if you are on the up and up others are not and I have not been in many situations that I think were right all the way around. If my friend allows me to rescue these 2 sick puppies the other 2 are very healthy. Only 1 of those technically belong to me for stud service. I have already placed him and they visit him every Saturday for 2 hours. He will not go to their home until he is 11 weeks old. The other healthy male will go to the owner of the bitch (technically I own her now). She seems to act as though I am trying to keep the sick ones for some motive even though she is at every vet session. I feel like I am doing what should be done and that I am getting a lot of responsibility and financial obligation instead of gaining 2 coveted puppies. I love them dearly and I do best at rescue but I have enough and I am doing this because I believe it to be the right thing to do. I withheld all rights to registering the litter with my sire. I also made sure that the health certificates have my phone number and references to litter problems. She is not savvy as to how that took place but it will stop this litter's line. Once the mother of these pups is spayed, no doggies in my house will have the equipment. When the 2 sick ones are healthy enough they will be neutered. I broke protocol for a friend and friends and contracts don't mix. Yesterday I found a wonderful sight on problems with palates and now know why it was not more obvious to the vets. These little ones with really short snouts have been bred this way before mother nature has had a chance to catch up to the evolution of these little guys. He doesn't have a cleft but it is slightly longer toward the back and that can be fixed. Until he is 4 months I will follow the excellent suggests offered by the website. So far it has worked for 2 days solid. What a difference the right treatment makes. Thank you for your advice and concern. PS The new litter my friend has is not related to any of mine in any way. It is her basket of puppies. I am just concerned that she is too impulsive and thinks just because you have a champion you should bred it. My little champs are going to do agility, play in their gym play room and be lap babies from now on. Mary

It is a palate problem difficult to see
 

I fournd a wonderful website that discussed cleft palate puppies, this little guy has a palate that is just a tiny bit long in the back and that is why these 4 vets could not detect it. Also none of them held a flashlight in his little mouth and inserted a tongue depresser to see if there were flaws. After viewing many on line, I got the light out and had my husband hold him where I could get a really good look and there it was. I think it will just need to be slightly clipped when he is older. They grow and I am concerned about when to have it done but the website talks about most vets waiting until 4 months old. In the mean time, the website had excellent feeding suggestions and I have had him on the new system for 2 days and he is starting to do SO MUCH BETTER! My old vet retired because his wife has breast cancer and I have been to 2 vets in one office, vet in another office and one in another office yet and none of them seem to be half the vet he was. I feel so lost without him. I found his new number and apologized after telling him how great he was and begged him for a reference. He gave me one and I will see that vet tomorrow. In the past 3 months, I neutered by 2 wonderful little studs and only had 5 litters between the two of them for the past 2 years but today it is too dangerous and diseases everywhere. All my litters have been DNA except this one in which I did this with a friend and I will never do anything but be a friend to friends in the future!!!!I withheld registration of my sire on this litter and the health certificates have clear statements about each puppy. My friend is not very paperwork savvy and I am not being mean all of this is in my right to do under the circumstances and I explained it to her. I am not sure she really understood all of it. The present litter she has has nothing to do with me and I have made sure the vets involved are aware of how she is doing things. I will raise these 2 sick babies with the other rescues I have adopted. I only had 2 female and 2 males that were perfect enough to bred in the first place. I now have one female that could be bred but proabably never will and have neutered all except the new mama and the 2 sick babies which will take place in 4 months. I feel like I have got myself under better control now that I am getting somewhere in helping this little guy, Chad. I can not stand seeing them suffer with no way to help or at least it felt that way. Thanks for your support. Mary

You were absolutely right
 

After intensive research and study, I examined Chad myself with a flashlight and tongue depresser. His palate in the back appears to be a little long and I found a website that explained everything. I think a little trimming and time will make all the difference. I put him on the feeding regiment and special technique and WOW, what a difference. He does not have megaesophalgus at all. If you had not questioned that, I would have let what the vets said steer me and never have realized it in time to save his little life. Thank you so much. I did not think it possible but it made me take another look. Thank you and Chad thanks you. I am going to get some video on him as soon as I am feeling a little more human and less exhausted. I have been working 3 to 4 hour feeding intervals and 2 hours intervals first 3 weeks since he was born. I have been to the vet more times than I can possible remember at this point and have prodded that little guy with numerous injections. Yet, he still comes to me with the most trusting look full of love no matter how horrible he has felt. Now, he looks significantly better. He is not out of the woods but we can now see a way to salvation! Thanks, thanks, and thanks again.

No Message

Wylie's mom and kjc and megamomma thanks NO megaesopalgus!
 

:animal-paI am okay now I think. I am so glad this is not Megaesophalgus and I think it is only a moderate palate problem. If I can get him over the pneumonia I think he will be okay and WOW does he look better both yesterday and today. I think we need to tell vets that if they are our long counted on trusted doctors that they are not allowed to have health problems, vacations, retirement or even think of entering their senior years because we relie on them way too much for such trival life events.....................

Lizzy07 says she once lived in Merritt Island, FL and took a pet to the University of FL in Gainsville. She said they worked miracles. In the morning, I am calling them and setting appointments for both of these babies and I now have a vet referral from my retired vet when I need one here. Their is light coming through the tunnel. These babies are on their way. I feel so uplifted and have a resurgance of energy that wiped out some of the hopelessness and feelings of frustration out. Thanks for all the support and I will keep updating.

So glad you found some answers and that little Chad is improving.... keeping you both in my prayers...:D

Chad undergoing test to evaluate
 

I found out that my retired vet referral to another vet had a graduate from the Univ of FL in Gainesville and they have run a battery of test on Chad and today are doing another. We hope today will help us find something that will lead us to an action. I love this new vet and all the vets associated in the office. They are experts and real professionals. Chad is in excellent hands. I know that we are getting to the bottom of this and they are going to take care of Bubba too. After spending nearly $900 for vet services prior to this vet and getting no where money is very tight and they are working with us on that and are proceeding to take care of him agressively regardless of ability to be paid up front for the entire amount and are allowing us payments. Yesterday was $400 and today is estimated at $300. We paid $200 and are making payments on the expanding balance. They stated this little guy should never have made it this far and that it is our care that has made the difference. It is such a good feeling when you are appreciated for your efforts and not seen just as a $. Anyone in the central Brevard County area of Florida who is looking for a well equipted and professional vet needs to consider Aloha Pet & Bird Hospital in IHBch. I will update when more when we have more concrete information. Thanks to you and all of those helping to support us with the care of these two guys. Mary

Was wondering how the little babies are doing? Are they doing any better and did you get definitive diagnosis for them? I hope they are doing better.

UPDATE on Chad and Draco (Bubba)
Chad has swallowing disorder, most dogs do not live to be diagnosised. Chad is 8 weeks and counting. When he is 6 months we will look at a $3000 test/surgery procedure that has a 50% success rate if the procedure indicates the problem is a certain set of swallowing muscles in the top of the swallowing area. We have to get food down successfully and keep him clear of aspirant pneumonia. He eats every 3 to 4 hours except for 8 hours at night now. Lord is he cute and ornery! Draco has an epicoid cyst basically it is a transparent bubble in the soft spot that is full of brain lining fluid and brain matter. It is only about 1/4 inch high and wide. The xrays indicated a defect in the bone and underlying tissue. He is have very slight neuro symtoms and is thriving. When he is 6 months, miracously the bone will have closed and the material inside the brain cavity or more likely we will be doing CT scan to see if the feeder is localized or connected to more than one area. I have decided to make both of these boys the best life possible while they are here and if the opportunity is there for more we will walk that road as it lays before us. For now, they have an excellent vet who is doing a case study on both, human parents that dote on them, and a name to live up to. We are going to all grab life and hold on to it with gusto. I want to add a video but I do not know how to use YouTube to upload it too and when I figure that out, I will put it on my page and in the video forum. Thanks for the support all of you have given. It has been a tremendous help. Mary

UPDATE on Chad and Draco
 

UPDATE on Chad and Draco (Bubba)
Chad has swallowing disorder, most dogs do not live to be diagnosised. Chad is 8 weeks and counting. When he is 6 months we will look at a $3000 test/surgery procedure that has a 50% success rate if the procedure indicates the problem is a certain set of swallowing muscles in the top of the swallowing area. We have to get food down successfully and keep him clear of aspirant pneumonia. He eats every 3 to 4 hours except for 8 hours at night now. Lord is he cute and ornery! Draco has an epicoid cyst basically it is a transparent bubble in the soft spot that is full of brain lining fluid and brain matter. It is only about 1/4 inch high and wide. The xrays indicated a defect in the bone and underlying tissue. He is have very slight neuro symtoms and is thriving. When he is 6 months, miracously the bone will have closed and the material inside the brain cavity or more likely we will be doing CT scan to see if the feeder is localized or connected to more than one area. I have decided to make both of these boys the best life possible while they are here and if the opportunity is there for more we will walk that road as it lays before us. For now, they have an excellent vet who is doing a case study on both, human parents that dote on them, and a name to live up to. We are going to all grab life and hold on to it with gusto. I want to add a video but I do not know how to use YouTube to upload it too and when I figure that out, I will put it on my page and in the video forum. Thanks for the support all of you have given. It has been a tremendous help. Mary

I'm glad to hear the boys and you are all hanging in there. I hope they have a long life, they sound happy.

Mommy is scheduled to be spayed and daddy is now neutered. I agree about Premium Breeders and I am not sure they really went away because I have seen their embedded url that they can not remove on other sites like YorkieBreeders or MalteseBreeders and other breed specific sites. I wish I had the link for you but I let it go. Also, I believe registered dogs with AKC has become a concern. While I enjoy purebreds AKC limits breeding to just those registered and even DNA can be misleading unless grandfather, father, son, and etc are all DNA! Mom's need to be DNA also. I have seen many people not following guidelines and I feel that breeding should be more open (not just a registery) if one is going to breed. Mostly for those registering dogs it is about money to the organization whether it be AKC, CKC, etc. They make it look as though they are very careful but in reality... Observation says more... I think we really need to ge able to register only based on DNA for purebreds and if a dog is not in the registery and test indicate DNA is yorkie and vet says is yorkie, then register and have better representation in the gene pool. That will improve the breed and the health of the breed. Registration should be about registering the DNA not just a litter or whatever...