2.5 years old and Diagnosed with Intestinal Lymphangiectasia

[TR10]

Hi all,

New to the YT forum, but not to forums in general. Just wanted to check in and share the cliff notes of our situation with our yorkie, Luna, a 2.5 year old female.

Upon my return from a long tour in Iraq, I decided to purchase a yorkie for my wife back home in Florida (her dream dog), as I still had a couple of years left before I was discharged. All in all, I'm the type of person who will research any subject/potential purchase entirely, competitive pricing, history,etc. endlessly until I'm satisfied I know everything there is to know about that specific subject/area so that I can make an informed decision. Why I didn't research our "breeder" more thoroughly, or catch any of the red flags, I honestly cannot say.... maybe it was just my lack of personal time during that period, or stress; But what I can say is that I honestly feel that I made a huge mistake in so hastily choosing to purchase a yorkie from "Moonlight Kennels" in Sparta, MO (from a Wanda Smith). I don't want to put the pricing or specifics out there in the forum, but if you message me I will gladly provide them privately).

I have researched the names and come across a few threads here at YT, where other forum members have pointed out a few red flags on their website; I have also come across alot of information which points out the fact that Missouri is well known as a state with a plethora of puppy mills (something I never knew before).

Essentially, the first 2.5 years of Luna's life were great. They were mostly spent at my wife's feet 24/7, happy & lively, usually peeing like a sprinkler anytime she became excited. About a month and a half ago, we noticed that over the course of 2/3 days she hadn't pooped and was refusing to eat nearly everything that she normally scarfed down eagerly. This went on and after her stomach started to look bloated, we took her to the vet. 2 vets and 5 visits later(bloodwork, xrays, ultrasounds, medications, etc.) we finally learned that she had Intestinal Lymphangiectasia. After tons of research online, and plenty of discussion with our vet (also a Yorkie owner), as hopeful as we were that it was just something temporary, we accepted that this is something much much worse.

She has lost all of her muscle mass, her ribs/spine are easily visible from across the room, she bows her front legs out in order to support her weight when standing, her stomach is constantly bloated, she eats only small amounts of food compared to what she used to (even with fresh, home cooked meals that our vet suggested), she sleeps throughout the night with no issue, gets up to go pee sometimes, and then sleeps most of the day (when we take her to the park, she walks around a few feet then just stares up at us, shaking violently), and she will often times pee or poop her bed without so much as moving a muscle to get up and continue to lay in it until we notice (no barking, whimpering,etc. or any indication whatsoever that she needs to go outside, which she always did in the past).

She has been on a few different meds for about a month and a half now, and see's the vet regularly for check-ups, weight,etc, but has not shown a single sign of improvement. She has actually become even bonier now, and it's just getting worse. Our vet is not a new DVM, she has a little over 20 or 25 (not sure) years with her practice, and has consulted with a few different sources for opinions... the outlook is not good. Although I have read some stories where yorkies have rebounded back, and with proper nutrition/veterinary care/etc. have lived nice long lives, this does not seem to be the case with us. Everyday she just seems to be suffering, and it does not seem fair to me to keep Luna in this condition. I know my wife is heartbroken over it, but I think it's best to consider whether or not it is fair to Luna to live like this rather than how sad we would be to see her go.

My biggest gripe is that even with all the attempts to call/email the "breeder" for advice/support, they have dodged every single attempt and refuse to respond. I have since contacted the AKC, Missouri Attorney General, Missouri Division of Animal Services, 2 Private Law practices in Missouri, and just today filed a complaint with the BBB.

I just wanted to put the story out there in the hopes that anybody who is even remotely entertaining the idea of purchasing a puppy from that joke of a supposed "breeder" stops before they are put into a situation like this. I will gladly provide copies of the letters I sent to the above listed organizations, specific details of our case,etc. if you would like, just shoot over a PM.

[TR10]

Just wanted to share some photos of her right before she became sick.

[ladyjane]

I am so sorry. Luna is a darling little girl.... and I am sorry she is so ill.
Thank you for sharing her story...perhaps it will help others.

[jadabug]

I just looked and your pics and intro in the general and read that you had posted a thread here. I am so sorry about little Luna. I hope the vets can get her under a medication regiment that will help her. I can't image the hurt and anger you are going through. You will get lots of emotional help on this forum. There are so many reputable breeders on here that might be able to offer you some useful information. Again I am so sorry for what you are going through and sending prayers to you and your family.

[manolos mom]

I am so sorry. I know how frustrationg all this must be. My vet treated my Lola for Lymphantasia because her symtoms where the same, no muscle mass chronic diarhea with blood and looked like she was dying. Well after months of going thru each food and medication, she was 100% diagnosed with Histoplasmosis. This is a fungus that she got from either eating or breathing in spores. Hers is an intestinal Histoplasmosis. 6 months of treatment and yes she can die. Lymphantasia has no cure but can be treated, Your girl could live a happy life. I fed Lola rice for one week then added ground turkey for one week then peas then sweet potato, this all take time. Does your doctor have you doing this? Also she was on Metro and Prednisone(which only made her fungus grow rapid) but some what controled the diarehea. You dont need to Euthinize her. Please dont. Keep us updated....

[SassyAnn101]

I am sorry that you are going through this with your baby. I have not heard of this illness before, but I will keep her in my prayers. Your post caught my attention because Moonlight Kennels is where my Trouble came from. He just turned two this past December, and I have had him since he was 13 weeks. For the most part he has been healthy so far. I have just found out that he has a skin condition that starts with an S which leaves him greasy feeling. I did read on their website a few weeks ago that they were retiring and no longer selling puppies. Best of luck with everything. I will keep you in my prayers.

[chickwit]

I am so sorry your little one is sick please do not give up!!!

Sending Prayers your way

[TR10]

Originally Posted by jadabug

I just looked and your pics and intro in the general and read that you had posted a thread here. I am so sorry about little Luna. I hope the vets can get her under a medication regiment that will help her. I can't image the hurt and anger you are going through. You will get lots of emotional help on this forum. There are so many reputable breeders on here that might be able to offer you some useful information. Again I am so sorry for what you are going through and sending prayers to you and your family.

Thank you very much. I have spent a long time lurking, and pulled up plenty of good information on here. This is an amazing site with some amazing people that have a tremendous amount of knowledge about this great breed!

Originally Posted by manolos mom

I am so sorry. I know how frustrationg all this must be. My vet treated my Lola for Lymphantasia because her symtoms where the same, no muscle mass chronic diarhea with blood and looked like she was dying. Well after months of going thru each food and medication, she was 100% diagnosed with Histoplasmosis. This is a fungus that she got from either eating or breathing in spores. Hers is an intestinal Histoplasmosis. 6 months of treatment and yes she can die. Lymphantasia has no cure but can be treated, Your girl could live a happy life. I fed Lola rice for one week then added ground turkey for one week then peas then sweet potato, this all take time. Does your doctor have you doing this? Also she was on Metro and Prednisone(which only made her fungus grow rapid) but some what controled the diarehea. You dont need to Euthinize her. Please dont. Keep us updated....

Our vet had us put her on a home cooked meal diet with many of the same ingredients/items you mentioned, and plenty other. There was no change at all, except she was coaxed into eating it easier than her regular dry or soft food. She has never had blood in her feces as one of her symptoms, though. Prednisone is the med she has been on as well, along with a few others. The vet has also mentioned "MCT" oil, which she wants us to go pick up this week ?

We definitely do NOT want to euthanize her, but if treatment regimen after treatment regimen and different ideas/approaches do not work, we're not sure what to do...especially considering it is a hereditary/genetic disease that will never go away. It honestly does not seem fair to Luna to have her living this way for years to come...she would never to be able to enjoy a dogs life

Originally Posted by SassyAnn101

I am sorry that you are going through this with your baby. I have not heard of this illness before, but I will keep her in my prayers. Your post caught my attention because Moonlight Kennels is where my Trouble came from. He just turned two this past December, and I have had him since he was 13 weeks. For the most part he has been healthy so far. I have just found out that he has a skin condition that starts with an S which leaves him greasy feeling. I did read on their website a few weeks ago that they were retiring and no longer selling puppies. Best of luck with everything. I will keep you in my prayers.

Wow, I did not expect to run into another person on here who had purchased from there. I am extremely glad to hear he is doing well! Luna turned 2 back in July, 2008, and it wasn't until after that point when she suddenly began with these symptoms. We researched all the documents that Wanda Smith sent to us, and our research turned up that she was actually born to a yorkie couple that is owned by a Bill & Sue Guerin out of Taneyville, Missouri. We never knew that until much later after we had taken delivery of Luna.

I find it extremely ridiculous and insulting how the "Moonlight Kennel" website states the following:

"We do not possess a USDA license or a broker's license and do not sell puppies to either pet brokers or pet stores"

"Wanda is not able to keep up with the demand for Yorkies and Schnauzers by herself and does occasionally list puppies from other breeders. What does this mean for you? Many other sites list other breeder's puppies and try to disguise the fact that they know almost nothing about the dogs being listed on their sites. In many cases the person listing the puppy has never even seen it. At Moonlight Kennels, NO YORKIE OR SCHNAUZER PUPPY WILL BE LISTED THAT HAS NOT BEEN PERSONALLY EXAMINED AND PRONOUNCED SATISFACTORY BY WANDA. That means that even if you choose a Yorkshire Terrier or Miniature Schnauzer puppy that Wanda did not personally breed, you still get the benefit of Wanda's extensive experience."

Funny how in our case she did exactly what she stated that she doesn't do; she brokered a deal. I'm sure she made a killer profit as "the middleman". My favorite part of all is the line about being "personally examined and pronounced satisfactory by Wanda". She doesn't state that she will only outsource a pup from a specific breeder, or if she has any criteria for outsourced pups that she did not breed...instead, her words indicate she can just simply find a pup from anywhere, give it the once over, and "pronounce it satisfactory". I would not doubt that she picked up our Luna from some sort of puppy mill for pennies on the dollar and "re-sold" her to us with an insane profit margin (we paid a pretty penny).

I also came across the same line about them "retiring" a couple of weeks ago, but I have not been able to find it again. Maybe they took it down ?

I am seriously debating flying up there to missouri as soon as I can get some time off work, just to research these "kennels" and take some live footage/pictures for all to see, then confront Wanda Smith in person and record it. My only concern is that I know most of these areas, especially in that region, are very very rural areas where everybody knows everybody, and outsiders are usually not welcome and met with hostility... we will see. When the time comes, I will definitely report back to YT exactly what transpired.

Again, thank you all for the tremendous amount of support you've shown. It's great to know that so many people out there actually do care!

[TR10]

Originally Posted by jadabug

I just looked and your pics and intro in the general and read that you had posted a thread here. I am so sorry about little Luna. I hope the vets can get her under a medication regiment that will help her. I can't image the hurt and anger you are going through. You will get lots of emotional help on this forum. There are so many reputable breeders on here that might be able to offer you some useful information. Again I am so sorry for what you are going through and sending prayers to you and your family.

Thank you very much. I have spent a long time lurking, and pulled up plenty of good information on here. This is an amazing site with some amazing people that have a tremendous amount of knowledge about this great breed!

Originally Posted by manolos mom

I am so sorry. I know how frustrationg all this must be. My vet treated my Lola for Lymphantasia because her symtoms where the same, no muscle mass chronic diarhea with blood and looked like she was dying. Well after months of going thru each food and medication, she was 100% diagnosed with Histoplasmosis. This is a fungus that she got from either eating or breathing in spores. Hers is an intestinal Histoplasmosis. 6 months of treatment and yes she can die. Lymphantasia has no cure but can be treated, Your girl could live a happy life. I fed Lola rice for one week then added ground turkey for one week then peas then sweet potato, this all take time. Does your doctor have you doing this? Also she was on Metro and Prednisone(which only made her fungus grow rapid) but some what controled the diarehea. You dont need to Euthinize her. Please dont. Keep us updated....

Our vet had us put her on a home cooked meal diet with many of the same ingredients/items you mentioned, and plenty other. There was no change at all, except she was coaxed into eating it easier than her regular dry or soft food. She has never had blood in her feces as one of her symptoms, though. Prednisone is the med she has been on as well, along with a few others. The vet has also mentioned "MCT" oil, which she wants us to go pick up this week ?

We definitely do NOT want to euthanize her, but if treatment regimen after treatment regimen and different ideas/approaches do not work, we're not sure what to do...especially considering it is a hereditary/genetic disease that will never go away. It honestly does not seem fair to Luna to have her living this way for years to come...she would never to be able to enjoy a dogs life

Originally Posted by SassyAnn101

I am sorry that you are going through this with your baby. I have not heard of this illness before, but I will keep her in my prayers. Your post caught my attention because Moonlight Kennels is where my Trouble came from. He just turned two this past December, and I have had him since he was 13 weeks. For the most part he has been healthy so far. I have just found out that he has a skin condition that starts with an S which leaves him greasy feeling. I did read on their website a few weeks ago that they were retiring and no longer selling puppies. Best of luck with everything. I will keep you in my prayers.

Wow, I did not expect to run into another person on here who had purchased from there. I am extremely glad to hear he is doing well! Luna turned 2 back in July, 2008, and it wasn't until after that point when she suddenly began with these symptoms. We researched all the documents that Wanda Smith sent to us, and our research turned up that she was actually born to a yorkie couple that is owned by a Bill & Sue Guerin out of Taneyville, Missouri. We never knew that until much later after we had taken delivery of Luna.

I find it extremely ridiculous and insulting how the "Moonlight Kennel" website states the following:

"We do not possess a USDA license or a broker's license and do not sell puppies to either pet brokers or pet stores"

"Wanda is not able to keep up with the demand for Yorkies and Schnauzers by herself and does occasionally list puppies from other breeders. What does this mean for you? Many other sites list other breeder's puppies and try to disguise the fact that they know almost nothing about the dogs being listed on their sites. In many cases the person listing the puppy has never even seen it. At Moonlight Kennels, NO YORKIE OR SCHNAUZER PUPPY WILL BE LISTED THAT HAS NOT BEEN PERSONALLY EXAMINED AND PRONOUNCED SATISFACTORY BY WANDA. That means that even if you choose a Yorkshire Terrier or Miniature Schnauzer puppy that Wanda did not personally breed, you still get the benefit of Wanda's extensive experience."

Funny how in our case she did exactly what she stated that she doesn't do; she brokered a deal. I'm sure she made a killer profit as "the middleman". My favorite part of all is the line about being "personally examined and pronounced satisfactory by Wanda". She doesn't state that she will only outsource a pup from a specific breeder, or if she has any criteria for outsourced pups that she did not breed...instead, her words indicate she can just simply find a pup from anywhere, give it the once over, and "pronounce it satisfactory". I would not doubt that she picked up our Luna from some sort of puppy mill for pennies on the dollar and "re-sold" her to us with an insane profit margin (we paid a pretty penny).

I also came across the same line about them "retiring" a couple of weeks ago, but I have not been able to find it again. Maybe they took it down ?

I am seriously debating flying up there to missouri as soon as I can get some time off work, just to research these "kennels" and take some live footage/pictures for all to see, then confront Wanda Smith in person and record it. My only concern is that I know most of these areas, especially in that region, are very very rural areas where everybody knows everybody, and outsiders are usually not welcome and met with hostility... we will see. When the time comes, I will definitely report back to YT exactly what transpired.

Again, thank you all for the tremendous amount of support you've shown. It's great to know that so many people out there actually do care!

[SassyAnn101]

Originally Posted by TR10

Thank you very much. I have spent a long time lurking, and pulled up plenty of good information on here. This is an amazing site with some amazing people that have a tremendous amount of knowledge about this great breed!



Our vet had us put her on a home cooked meal diet with many of the same ingredients/items you mentioned, and plenty other. There was no change at all, except she was coaxed into eating it easier than her regular dry or soft food. She has never had blood in her feces as one of her symptoms, though. Prednisone is the med she has been on as well, along with a few others. The vet has also mentioned "MCT" oil, which she wants us to go pick up this week ?

We definitely do NOT want to euthanize her, but if treatment regimen after treatment regimen and different ideas/approaches do not work, we're not sure what to do...especially considering it is a hereditary/genetic disease that will never go away. It honestly does not seem fair to Luna to have her living this way for years to come...she would never to be able to enjoy a dogs life



Wow, I did not expect to run into another person on here who had purchased from there. I am extremely glad to hear he is doing well! Luna turned 2 back in July, 2008, and it wasn't until after that point when she suddenly began with these symptoms. We researched all the documents that Wanda Smith sent to us, and our research turned up that she was actually born to a yorkie couple that is owned by a Bill & Sue Guerin out of Taneyville, Missouri. We never knew that until much later after we had taken delivery of Luna.

I find it extremely ridiculous and insulting how the "Moonlight Kennel" website states the following:

"We do not possess a USDA license or a broker's license and do not sell puppies to either pet brokers or pet stores"

"Wanda is not able to keep up with the demand for Yorkies and Schnauzers by herself and does occasionally list puppies from other breeders. What does this mean for you? Many other sites list other breeder's puppies and try to disguise the fact that they know almost nothing about the dogs being listed on their sites. In many cases the person listing the puppy has never even seen it. At Moonlight Kennels, NO YORKIE OR SCHNAUZER PUPPY WILL BE LISTED THAT HAS NOT BEEN PERSONALLY EXAMINED AND PRONOUNCED SATISFACTORY BY WANDA. That means that even if you choose a Yorkshire Terrier or Miniature Schnauzer puppy that Wanda did not personally breed, you still get the benefit of Wanda's extensive experience."

Funny how in our case she did exactly what she stated that she doesn't do; she brokered a deal. I'm sure she made a killer profit as "the middleman". My favorite part of all is the line about being "personally examined and pronounced satisfactory by Wanda". She doesn't state that she will only outsource a pup from a specific breeder, or if she has any criteria for outsourced pups that she did not breed...instead, her words indicate she can just simply find a pup from anywhere, give it the once over, and "pronounce it satisfactory". I would not doubt that she picked up our Luna from some sort of puppy mill for pennies on the dollar and "re-sold" her to us with an insane profit margin (we paid a pretty penny).

I also came across the same line about them "retiring" a couple of weeks ago, but I have not been able to find it again. Maybe they took it down ?

I am seriously debating flying up there to missouri as soon as I can get some time off work, just to research these "kennels" and take some live footage/pictures for all to see, then confront Wanda Smith in person and record it. My only concern is that I know most of these areas, especially in that region, are very very rural areas where everybody knows everybody, and outsiders are usually not welcome and met with hostility... we will see. When the time comes, I will definitely report back to YT exactly what transpired.

Again, thank you all for the tremendous amount of support you've shown. It's great to know that so many people out there actually do care!

Wow I had never read that on their site before, but my puppy Trouble was bought for me by a friend after I lost Gizmo. I did speak with Wanda and ask her many questions. She was nice to me, and Trouble came to me very clean and very healthy. He just turned two in December 2009, and back this past summer his hair started staying greasy and dirty looking. He seemed to be itchy also. I found out that he has a skin disorder that starts with an S which they say is inherited. His front right paw seems to be double jointed or something. It looks crooked to me, but my vet said it was fine. How did you find out that your baby did not come from Wanda? If you do not mind my asking who was her parents? I wonder if our babies are related?

[lilnursetlc]

I just posted in another thread, but my Yorkie was purchased from Moonlight. He has been perfect, and I don't have any complaints about the breeder. However, recently he has some breathing issues (he is 10 years old). Two different vets have not been able to diagnose, and say it might be paralyzed vocal cords. I emailed Ms. Smith to see if she had ever heard of any similar issues. I was not writing to complain, but just to see if someone might have any insight so that I could try and get a diagnosis. My email was bounced back. Upon googling her name in Sparta, MO, I did run across an obituary. I am not sure if it is the same Wanda Smith, but I think it is a small town.