JeannieK you are right usually genetic and/or congenital issues show up before age two. And GME is not genetic (or may not be genetic).

However, I know when my Teddy had his seizures, we called and wrote to our YTCA breeder and let her know. Teddy was 2 when he was diagnosed with epilepsy and a tremor disorder and I got a refund and support from her because she wanted to know that the money in her pocket would go to Teddy's care that he will need for the rest of his life. By the way, his report from the neurologist actually states that Teddy's epilepsy cannot be proven to be genetic. But his breeder still cared enough to help us out (not that we even needed financial help but because she felt strongly committed to Teddy).

Jeannie -- You are just trying to stir trouble with your comments on prayer. NO ONE is going to debate you on theology and Ann has asked that we steer clear of religion as a specific topic! Hopefully some generic comments will not be against her wishes. Once again -- prayer is not preclusive to other treatments! Those that pray, are talking with God --thanking, asking forgiveness, seeking direction, asking for assistance, pleading for help not only for ourselves and others but also the skill & knowlege of doctors and also asking for help in being a better person ourself! We pray, not instead of seeking adequate medical care but along with every thing we do or want! Using your comments about God & prayer to try to incite conflict is counterproductive and actually goes against the entire principle of religion. Rise above JeannieK -- you are better than that!

Ann- Hopefully I avoided specific religious aspects and focused on how it is NOT the reason for denying Polo adequate care IAW vet's advice. I apologize if I stepped over the bounds.

He was born May 12,2008, according to her profile. So, 3 years old next month.

Great idea to contact the breeder -- especially breeder to breeder. Actually, I don't mind sending a simple note to let her know about the thread. She might want to be involved although it is hard to say what the contract might have required. I would be beside myself if someone had one of my puppies and was unwilling to pay for adequate testing to get them a diagnosis. I would plead for turning him over to me so I could pay for adequate care. But my contract did not contain any clause that would cover this. I guess I was naive enough to think everyone would do the right thing!

I think that is a great idea that you are willing to send her a note. She should know that one of her babies is suffering.

Well here is why I'm going "against the flow". I noticed that many of y'all were using the same method of persuasion, and all getting no results. So I thought I would try a kinder more gentle approach, one of compassion and understanding.

You can't keep doing the same thing, expecting different results. Time after time it has been proven that bullying and badgering gets NO results. So even if my method gets NO reults, we are no worse off than we were before, Right?

Please, please go back and read all on my prior posts. I don't think in any of them have I tried to "bully" or "badger" anyone. I have reached out to the OP, tried to express to her the necessity of finding the root of this baby's problem. In the beginning, I expressed to her that I didn't think diet would cause the neurological problems that she was describing. As time (weeks) went on, the problem does become more serious and the consequences to this pup greater. At what point do you think that people that care about this puppy should quit being complacent?

Very upsetting reading this thread. I am praying that Polo gets better and gets the help he needs, it disturbs me beyond anything to see a pup not getting help when they are sick.

We've all heard of those people who won't seek medical advice when they are ill, or when their children are ill, instead they pray on it...sounds like this is one of those cases.

Gimme the info and the facebook page, I know very little about yorkies but I will contact the breeder and get her involved...this offends me THAT much. :(

I just want to say that I've seen 'GME' posted here so much that it seems like an online diagnosis was made. There are other neuro diseases/conditions.

One that I've found is that it may well be a vaccine reaction. Look at the posts from the first one. Polo, an apparently healthy dog, had what was called a 'parvo' shot shortly before symptoms appeared. I really think he likely had a combo shot and, if so, a neuro reaction due to the distemper vaccine would be a very real possibility. I admit to assuming about the combo shot, but don't think it's a huge assumption.

I have no medical expertise but am connecting the dots here. The fact that Polo didn't get much worse, despite the duration, kind of leans me in that direction, too. The OP says he is better....better than one might expect from steroids if it were GME, is that not true?

Here's the link to the info I'm basing this on. It seems to follow what's happened to Polo pretty darn close. http://www.german-pinscher.com/acrob...ionsNotice.pdf There's a lot of info about the distemper vaccine causing inflammation of the brain if you google for it.

Now, we all can see that the OP isn't having the mri done, but is working with a vet. That much is obvious by the doubling up on the dosage. I hope it is a vaccine reaction as Polo is likely to have a good outcome with the steroid therapy he's now receiving. If it isn't, the steroids are probably just masking symptoms.

I just want to stress that none of us are vets and, even if we were, an online diagnosis can't be made. The possibility of it being a vaccine reaction is just as likely as it being something else. No matter what any of us thinks it might be, we're all doing a little assuming. The MRI would be great but, in lieu of that, I'll pray for a good outcome for Polo.

Very good points and well said. :thumbup:

And me too! :)

Of course an online diagnosis can't be made nor can online treatment be prescribed. But online forums can sometimes wake up those in denial and impress upon them the need for ACTION. If the dog has GME, steroids will mask the symptoms and the dog will get worse. No amount of prayers will take the place of the correct medical protocol. But you are right, no one really knows what is wrong with the dog, and that is why it needs an MRI like the vet recommended.

As an aside, and not directed at you, I'm tired of the antics of some who come on here with no positive contribution who call those who try to help "bullies" or "badgerers" JeannieK may be content to let a dog die in her arms as she told us about in earlier posts but I would NEVER be. If my dog is dying, it will not be in my arms without a vet next to me humanely euthanizing it. I think that is sicker than not taking Polo for the MRI. I just can't wrap my head around some people's concept of pet ownership!

Can't argue about what if it's GME. The what ifs are surely there and can't be answered without the MRI. I don't think that's gonna happen, though, so my HOPE is that it's a vaccine reaction and my PRAYER is for a good outcome.

As to what I bolded, I don't think that's fair to Jeanie. I'm sure she wasn't CONTENT to have that baby die. Fact is, there's very little a vet can do for a tiny newborn and I'm sure Jeanie was fighting for that baby's life with everything she had. She didn't give up and to take a baby to the vet to be euthanized is giving up. Many breeders have had babies die just as Jeanie described (myself included), but some have lived, too. We do our very best...sometimes it isn't enough. I can empathize with her sense of failure...it's heartbreaking and many of us have been there/done that.

I agree that little bit of info she gave told alot about her as a breeder and pet owner. It also shows why she takes the positions she takes

I'm sorry but I still think a vet should be consulted in these cases. JeanieK has posted a long thread asking how to euthanize puppies without using a vet. I remember how horrified I was reading that, and now I read it again -- She was rocking the baby in her arms and I would be running out the door to a vet, sorry.

This is why I could never be a breeder. Undoubtedly, not all pups survive, but I just simply do not have the emotional strength to deal with a newborn dying :(