Help!!! We got bad news on Colby today.
 

Colby my 6 month old started acting weird last night. He acted like he could not walk, so I thought it might be the hair overgrown on his feet. I took him to the groomer today and when I picked him up she said I needed to take him to the vet. She knew something was wrong. I took him to the vet and they said they are almost positive he has a condition called Cerebellar Hypoplasia. Has any one dealt with this before? I was told I needed to take him to Auburn University for more testing. They are treating him with steroids until we can get him there. He can not walk, he cries, his eyes are glassy, and his head bobs when you hold him. We have to hold him like he is a newborn baby. He is acting just like he did when we first got him. I am heartbroken that he has regressed so much so fast.

So sorry to hear this. I have no experience with what you are dealing with, but give you prayers and blessings that things will improve.

I'm sorry, I know nothing about this, but I hope and pray you find the answer and are able to get Colby treatment very soon. Kiss him for me and know I will keep him in my daily prayers.

Oh Annmarie, I am so very sorry to hear of Colby's suffering right now! I will have to go google this condition as I've never heard of it. I am sure someone here has dealt with it and will be along to help. I just want you to know that Colby and YOU are in my prayers!

Also, Auburn is one of the best vet schools out there! I've dealt with them in the past..they will do all that is out there to help Colby. Just know that ok?

I just did some reading (very little but some) and why are they sure this is what Colby has? It is hereditary and can be noticed at birth or within 2 weeks. It says the condition doesn't get worse with age. Also, that it is more common in several breeds (none were Yorkies).

This is where I was reading so just curious why the vet thinks it's Cerebellar hypoplasia?
Cerebellar hypoplasia in dogs

Prayers for Colby and his family...poor baby.

Oh my goodness!! I have never heard of this!! I hope you get answers soon!! Keep you in my prayers!!

prayers going out for colby and you

Did he get vaccinated on the 15th when he was at the vets??

I'm so sorry to hear he has so quickly gotten ill. I agree with taking him to Auburn, and I would go 1st thing this morning. They are the best vet school in the country and they will figure out what is going on with him. Keep us updated and I will keep him and you in my prayers.

After doing a little research, I agree. What really seems weird to me is these are very similar to the symptoms that Huey had that caused my to find YT in the first place. He was limp, unsteady to the point of falling over, then he wouldn't walk at all, vomited once, lethargic and his head lolled against me when I picked him up. I watched this behavior for several hours then rushed him to the vet as soon as they opened, where he performed a miraculous recovery and they thought I was a nutter. He did it again recently but recovered more quickly. See http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/gen...d-my-mind.html. We went to the vet again and we are discussing the possibility of a seizure disorder. The 1st time we thought it might be vestibular syndrome, but his age didn't fit (older dogs and he is just 4) and it resolved too quickly. I agree with Mandies mom...the age of Colby doesn't fit. If you can't make it to Auburn, maybe you can get to Univ of Fla in Gainsville DVM school, but I don' t know the reputation of that school like I do Auburn. Good luck and I hope you get clearer answers than I did!

I am so sorry to hear about Colby. Did you contact the breeder? I would let her know. My heart goes out to you both. Good thoughts and blessings to you both. Hugs

I am so sorry that Colby is ill

I am very sorry to hear this news about Colby.

PetMD mentions that exposure to toxins can also cause cerebellar hypoplasia. I remembered that both of your dogs were recently very ill and you mentioned you recently had new floors installed.

Colby and you are in my prayers.

Brain Tissue Undervelopment in Dogs | petMD

Yes. He had a booster of distemper and his rabies.

Good memory, Kristin. I remember that thread now. Definitely could be a connection. Hopefully, Auburn will be able to pin this down.

Still in my thoughts and prayers...

Are his symptoms intermittant, or is he off balance all the time? You said he was like that when you first picked him up from the breeder. Did he get vaccinated then also? How long did the symptoms last that time?

How is he doing today?

Hope you get an answer soon keep us updated

From what I've read, it happens before the pups are even born, and the mom either has an infection (herpes, parvovirus, ....) or exposure to toxins.

I to have never heard of it, I am so sorry that you and your little guy are going thru this. Big hug to you both and hope for some results soon. We will be thinging about you.

How is this pup doing? OP, have you taken him to Auburn yet? Or some specialist? I hope so as he sounds very uncomfortable. :(

So sad. I hope he is ok.

I don't think this is CH, bc CH is a painless congenital condition.

If this is intermittant, then it could be enchephalitis caused by the vaccines, as many times breeders also give a vaccine shortly before the pup is sent to the new home. As he had the same symptoms then, and recovered. This is treatable with steroids and recovery takes a week or two. There was a member here about 6 months ago whose dog did the same thing after getting vaccines.

I would still be at a specialist if it happened to my pup. Don't care what may have happened to others. The description the OP gave is horrifying to me. :(

Any updates? How's he doing this evening? Hope he's better.

Wondering how this little guy is doing today, have you gotten any other opinions yet? Best wishes...my thoughts and prayers.

I was just trying to give the OP some hope....

Looking for an update on Colby....hope all is ok.

My heart goes out to you and Colby, thank goodness he has a GREAT mommy and will do everything to help him.......I, too, had to "Bing" this illness..............Please keep us posted.

Update
 

The doctor has started Colby on steroids. He is more alert today and he getting up to walk. He is no longer peeing all over himself. However, when he does walk he is very wobbly and unsteady. I took a video of him lastnight, but I can not figure out how to post it on here. Thank you everybody for your prayers and words of encouragement. Please know that whatever is wrong with him we will love him just the way he is and he will have a home with us until it his time to cross over to rainbow bridge. I have been in contact with a Doctor from Auburn and they have told me to hold off for now on bringing him and see what the steroids will do for him. They also told me if it turns out to be cerebeller Hypoplasia which they are leaning towards to due to his symptoms that there is no cure or treatment he will adapt to it and they are in no pain it is just the signal his brain sends out to his muscles is getting lost. In dogs like him the brain does not develop fully is what they have told me. I have been in contact with the breeder and she has never seen or heard of this before. She has never had anyone she has kept in contact with have anything go wrong with their puppys and never anything like this with her own. She mentioned the vaccinations also. At this point I am just taking care of him and praying and hoping for the best. On a positive note he has started gaining weight finally. He was 4.8 lbs when they weighed him the other day. What is weird is the way he is now is exactly the way he was when the breeder gave him to my best friend and then I took him from her to keep him from being put down. In 3 short weeks of having him I got him walking and running and playing with the other pups, and he has always been unsteady on his feet (always walked and ran differently then the others) but he still walked, ran, and played. Then now it is like he went back to how he was when we first got him. Like his muscles will not work at all. Stand him up and he falls to the side. He stands up he takes a couple of steps he falls. It also seems like if it is calm around him and he is really thinking about it he can walk as soon as the other pups come around or he gets excited he has more trouble. We are looking into getting him a special cart made for him to be able to get around again without falling. I am afraid he is going to fall one time and hit his head and really hurt himself or worse. Sorry it is so long. I just wanted to update you guys. Oh and before we discovered something was wrong I had him groomed so here is a picture of his new haircut.