Originally Posted by mommadog1 (Post 3113939)

I found this when doing a search on my chihuahua who has an open fontanel. She is almost 2 now and has never had any problems.
Karla
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Open Fontanel

Congenital open fontanel is seen in several toy dog breeds, but most often it's seen in Chihuahuas. The fontanel is the area at the top of the skull where the bone plates merge. When babies (human and dog) are born the bony plates of the skull are usually partly soft and separated. Usually this area closes to about the size of a dime by the time the puppy is about one year old, but sometimes the bony plates never completely fuse, leaving a hole in the top of the skull that has a soft mushy feel when you touch it. The affected pup can still live a long, full and active life.

The major difficulty with owning a Chihuahua with an open fontanel is the stress for the owner - the constant concern that the spot will be damaged. The Chihuahua with an open fontanel will be as active as any Chihuahua with a closed fontanel. As long as the owner takes a few precautions most Chihuahuas do just fine. Precautions the owner should take include protecting the Chihuahua from being hit on the head, preventing situations where the Chihuahua might fall and not allowing the Chihuahua to jump from furniture, beds, etc. It is not recommended that a Chihuahua with an open fontanel be added to a family with very young children.

There is no treatment for an open fontanel. Since open fontanels are either hereditary or genetic, once a good breeder determines which parent dog carries the gene the parent dog should be retired from the breeding program and spayed or neutered. Chihuahuas with open fontanels should not be bred.

Originally Posted by mommadog1 (Post 3113939)

I found this when doing a search on my chihuahua who has an open fontanel. She is almost 2 now and has never had any problems.
Karla
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Open Fontanel

Congenital open fontanel is seen in several toy dog breeds, but most often it's seen in Chihuahuas. The fontanel is the area at the top of the skull where the bone plates merge. When babies (human and dog) are born the bony plates of the skull are usually partly soft and separated. Usually this area closes to about the size of a dime by the time the puppy is about one year old, but sometimes the bony plates never completely fuse, leaving a hole in the top of the skull that has a soft mushy feel when you touch it. The affected pup can still live a long, full and active life.

The major difficulty with owning a Chihuahua with an open fontanel is the stress for the owner - the constant concern that the spot will be damaged. The Chihuahua with an open fontanel will be as active as any Chihuahua with a closed fontanel. As long as the owner takes a few precautions most Chihuahuas do just fine. Precautions the owner should take include protecting the Chihuahua from being hit on the head, preventing situations where the Chihuahua might fall and not allowing the Chihuahua to jump from furniture, beds, etc. It is not recommended that a Chihuahua with an open fontanel be added to a family with very young children.

There is no treatment for an open fontanel. Since open fontanels are either hereditary or genetic, once a good breeder determines which parent dog carries the gene the parent dog should be retired from the breeding program and spayed or neutered. Chihuahuas with open fontanels should not be bred.

Originally Posted by ArmaniMan (Post 3113994)

How does one protect themselves from buying a yorkie like this? Is there a way to tell when a lay person examines the pup, or is it something only the vet would notice? Also would a vet notice this upon first exam, or would you need them to check for this condition?

Thanks!

Originally Posted by Mardelin (Post 3113998)

It's very easy. While this issue, on the average affects tinies. It can occur on those pups that are of normal size.

When you have a pup in your hands, gently run your thumb through every inch of a pups skull. If an open fontanel is there it is recognized by a soft indentation. It can be as small as a pin head, but you'll be able to feel it. Sometimes they are more evident than that, just as in a human babies soft spot.

Originally Posted by Mardelin (Post 3113971)

Thanks for the educational post. Education is the best way to inform the unsuspecting public.

Originally Posted by Mardelin (Post 3113998)

It's very easy. While this issue, on the average affects tinies. It can occur on those pups that are of normal size.

When you have a pup in your hands, gently run your thumb through every inch of a pups skull. If an open fontanel is there it is recognized by a soft indentation. It can be as small as a pin head, but you'll be able to feel it. Sometimes they are more evident than that, just as in a human babies soft spot.

Originally Posted by mommadog1 (Post 3114003)

Yep, I agree... Educating is good for everyone. I had no idea about this until I got my long haired chihuahua. It just never closed all the way but she has lived a very normal life and plays with the other dogs.

I forget what I paid for her,I think it was 850.00 or 650.00 I can't remember. but I would not pay that much again for a puppy with ANY hereditary or genetic problems. However, I didn't know. If I had I would have probably bought her anyhow but I would have asked the breeder to lower the price considerably. I cannot imagine our life without Foxy.:)

Foxy ended up with a funky bite and her tongue hangs out on the right side.. She is too cute though..and she is 3.5 pounds with short little legs and she is the best little dog we have ever owned.

People must be informed about this issue with the pup. He can still live a normal life. and it still could close more, Foxy's did..Just not all the way.

So please, at least let people know the puppy has an open fontanel so they can do their own research about it and talk to the puppy's vet or their own so that they can make an informed decision when purchasing the puppy.

Karla