I'm also a worrier, which I think is a good thing. I will keep Princess Chloe in my prayers. Hang in there. God is good!:)

Thank you for your replies and prayers. Last night was not a good night for Princess Chloe, she kept crying out in pain. I gave her her pain med. and she spit and foamed it out like if she had eaten some soap.LOL

We were having a big rain, thunder/lighting and high wind storm which went on about 6PM unti this morning. It woke her up at 12Midnight and she only wanted to sleep in my arms. So I held her all night, I truly hope she got some sleep. Good news, her stool is hard, yeah!!!Seriously, I never thought that hard stool would make me so happy!:D

Well tomorrow is the day with the neuro vet. I'll post an update tomorrow night.

Big kiss/lick from Princess Chloe and gratitude from Mami Naomi

Poor baby....I am sorry she had a rough night. Good luck with the neurologist tomorrow. :)

I have to give Bailey every day and he used to spit them out too. I got a pill crusher (walgreens) and put that in with some canned organic pumpkin (only ingredient should be pumpkin). Maybe that will get her to take the pain pill and them pumkin will help to calm her tummy.

Thank you Lady Jane and Chandra for your well wishes and suggestions! I will pickup a can of organic pumpkin today and see if she'll take her med. that way.

Big kiss/lick from Princess Chloe and gratitude from Mami Naomi:)

Lots of prayers going out to Princess and you. I hope you both can rest tonight as you sound like you both desperately need it.

Just seeing this thread now. So sorry that your baby is going through all this.

You do have something in your favor. Being in California, your baby would be covered by the lemon law. You should be able to keep your little girl, but be reimbursed for Vet expenses up to 1 1/2 times the cost of the pup. That should help a little bit with covering her treatments.

California Lemon Laws for Dogs

Good luck with your neurology appointment.

Hi, I am just reading this thread now. I'm in the Bay Area too, Redwood City and my baby Brooke has a neurological problem too, not AAI. What neurologist are they referring you to? UC Davis? I'm sending all the positive vibes I have for you and Chloe. Nanci

Sending lots of prayers for you and Princess Chloe

Prayers and well wishes for your neurologist appointment tomorrow.

I'm sorry to hear about your little one. After your neuro appt. contact the breeder. Also check out your puppy lemon law rights in your state. You do not have to give the pup back in order to get help with the vet bills, if you have a good puppy lemon law in your area. Even so if the breeder is reputable she should be willing to help you with either a full or partial refund to defer the cost of her treatment. Will keep you both in my thoughts. E.

So hoping all goes well...

Im so sorry your little one is going thru so much , prayers are with you :heart to

Prayers for you and Princess. I am so sorry you are going through this.

Thank you all for your comments, replies and prayers!

Today was the big day we went to see the NeuroSurgent.
Forgive any misspelling, I'm writting this a bit overwhelmed right now!

We spent an hour 1/2 with the Neuro surgent as we answered all his questions and he performed different exams on Princess Chloe to evaluate her condition. He looked at the Xrays and read all of her history.

His evaluation was the following:

1-She shows 60% separation of the C1 and C2.
2-She show neurological problems with her vision, he doesn't know if this is related to the serapation or if this would be an addition condition that she has.
3- He recommends surgery first of the AAI condition, but if we wanted to acertain the problem more of her vision he would have to have her go to another place, which can take the MRI, they don't have the equipment in there facility.

Thank you Brittany for all your questions they really came in handy in talking to him.

4- He has performed the surgery on 20 small animals including yorkies and smaller animals than Princess Chloe with successful results since 2006.

5- He will be entering through the bottom to perform the surgery. He will perform a CT scan prior to surgery.


6- The tools he would be using would be; surgical implants (pins), Bone wax, Staples(skin, Gelfoam. I inquired as to the bone density and he said she has grown as much as she is going to grow in his opinion and that pens or screws would hold well. I also inquired as to Shelby's methodof sutures threaded through the vertebrae, no pins because of her tiny size, and he said that it's his experience that method does not be a success in many cases.

7- He mentioned that she would be sent home with a collar, at which I said that would not work for her. This was not furthered discussed.????

8-After care would be 4-6 weeks restricted in kennel, carried to bathroom when needed and feed in the kennel.

9- One evaluation after surgery, I think he said at 2 weeks, I need to hear the recording (we took a small pocket recorder to record everything he was say so we can review it tonight). There will most likely more CT or MRI's after firsts consultation seperate cost.

He mentioned that I should look into the puppy lemon law for CA, which I have and we will be calling the breeder.

Two days ago I had called UC Davis Veterinary medical Teaching Hospital just as a back up should I want to get a second opinion and thank God I did. As I discussed with my husbandI think I would like her to be seen by their Neurology/Neurosurgey department just because I want to asses the vision problem. I don't think it's in Princess Chloe's best interest to put her through a surgery for her neck and then find out that she has a neuro vision problem with her brain.

The San Francisco NeuroSugent is going to email me his report, we haven't received it yet, but I will call tomorrow morning to make an appointment as soon as possible to have her seen at UC Davis for a second opinion.

The San Francisco NeuroSurgent hospital does not have an MRI on premises, and UC Davis has every equipment under the sun.

I'm praying to God for wisdom to make the right decisions and for his guidance as we embark on this journey.

Princess Chloe sends you all lots of kisses/licks and receive from me all of my gratitude. Naomi

I think another opinion at UC Davis is absolutely a good idea! You are being very thorough and careful and Chloe is so lucky to have you! I am just so sorry that you have to deal with so much.
I will keep her and you in my thoughts and prayers.

Thank you so much for your reply and comment! We love her sooooooo much, she's been a blessing to us. We know that God place her in our hand for us to do all we can do for her.

The estimated cost for the surgery is ove $6,000 and we'll be calling the breeder to see how much he can contribute to this. In the meantime, thank God for credit cards, we will be looking into Care Credit tonight to see if we qualify.

Thank you for your concern and prayers.

Receive from Princess Chloe many kisses/licks and from me my gratitude for your concern.

Naomi

Does that include an MRI? Sounds very high for just the surgery. Perhaps UC Davis might be less.
You all are wonderful for taking care of her. I certainly hope the breeder comes through without you having to fight for it.

Poor baby girl. I think I would deff go to UC Davis as they do have all equipment on site and only 20 surgeries would make me a bit nervous as well. If you are going for a second opinion at UC Davis you really need to do it ASAP and keep her crated until then. As others have said she needs to be treated as a very fragile china doll. Also you mentioned the Dr said she may need to wear a collar ? if the Dr says she needs it then you Have to find a way to make it work. I don't know if a collar is the norm but I would see what they say at UC Davis. It is very important to follow ALL the Dr's instructions though if you want a good outcome. I will be praying for her & you.

I just read through this entire thread, and I am so sorry that your little Princess Chloe is going through this. You and your husband are angels, know that I am saying prayers for all of you. God Bless and God speed...

Thank you for your replies, concern and prayers!

Definitely we will follow the doctors advise, I have a stiff collar that was given to me by the SPCA when she was spayed two weeks ago. She hated it and was trashing her head every way possible trying to get it off. I just think that right now it would only make her condition worse, I would rather sit up with her in my arms all night with the tower folded under her head so she can sleep than see her trying to get the collar off.

I'm paying that God will give me wisdom to make the right decision!!!!

Mami Naomi

I am sure the surgeon was referring to a different type of collar. What they gave you after the spay surgery was to keep her from licking her suture line. After her neck surgery, she may have to wear a brace to keep her neck in line.

Thank you for your prayers, concern and reply!

I specifically asked him about a collar and he only referred to a post collar, he didn't give me any option as to a collar for right now! This is when I started to think I needed to contact UC Davis. I think he was more focused on doing the surgery right away, than giving usd the time to analize our options. This is 60% not 100% separation, and he hasn't sent us his report as of yet.

I don't know but something doesn't feel right!

He charges $180 per hour for consultation, and he didn't send her home with some sort of brace to support her neck??? We were supposed to receive an alternate pain medication prescription emailed, and up to this writting we haven't received it.

I've folded a tower to support her neck when she's in my arms, I would have expected him to suggest a support or something? Am I being unreasonable???

Pls pray that I can get an appointment tomorrow with UC Davis, I really don't want to waste any time!

Princess Chloe sends you kisses/licks, and I send you my gratitude for your concern. Naomi

I will pray that you get an appt . Maybe if you call 1st thing in the A.M. they can get you in tomorrow or wed. I don't think you are being unreasonable at all. I know others have had casts on their pups and maybe that's what the Dr was talking about ? IDK but I'm with you that I would NOT be putting a cone collar or anything else on her neck that was not done by a specialist. Also wanted to add that she could be having a vision problem from fluid build up in her brain from the AAI and if this is what is going on it should resolve once her neck is fixed. I am pleased to hear you are calling UC Davis , I am wondering what kind of a neurologist doesn't have the means to do an MRI ?

Couldn't sleep so got up to sit up awhile and just saw your update. I was so sorry to read your neurologist's report and that your baby is so very sick. My heart goes out to you as you and your husband assess the situation and try to make some hard decisions for your little darling. Just know that your little family is in my prayers as you go through this terrible time. I am truly so sorry.

Is he board certified? You can look for him at:

www.acvim.org

I agree with Ladyjane. And Chloe is very a lucky little girl to have you in her life.

I'm so sorry all of you are having to go through this. Princess Chloe will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Hugs to you all,
Bonny

Naomi- keep strong we are all here for you and Princess Chloe. Your new AAI group is now your family and Chloe always be special to us. Thinking about you with love and prayers.

Just wondering if you got an appt for UC Davis. How is your baby doing today ?

Just checking in to see how Chole is doing? I must check this thread 5 or 6 times a day. I forget the time difference.

We will be keeping Chole and you in our prayers.