kurrajongmum

Hello Everyone Sorry for the delay on updating, we've been away ! Happy to report our boy is much improved. He started on the cortisone 5mg tablet once per night before meals for 1 week then down to 1/2 a tablet every night since . We've notice a big difference in that he barely shakes his head just the occasional after getting up from bed but I think that's a normal dog thing ! He gets his tablet off my finger in a little peanut butter before dinner haha thinks he's getting a treat ! Dame Danny's Darling I will attempt to put a pic up on my profile soon Thanks again everyone

Thank you me too

Hi everyone , We've seen another vet same diagnosis so back to our trusted one ???? We now have microlone (cortisone) 5mg tabs to start one per day for a week then 1/2 per day for a week and monitor his behavior! If we have success the vet will adjust his dosage accordingly until we get it right. Turns out the medication is very inexpensive it can shorten his life span but not hugely and we all agree it's about the quality of his life , can't have him being miserable . The aim of the medication is to settle the inflammation around the base of the brain . Fingers crossed this is the solution . Thanks for all the support and interesting comments means a lot . Will re post when and if I see difference. Cheers

Will post an update when I get some news thanks everyone

fbaudry what is Syringomyela ? I have not heard of this

Oh the other quirks are not related I'm sure ie: he runs along through the house with a little skip of the back leg . He had surgery on the joint many many years ago as they thought it was the ligament but to this day he still does it but exhibits no pain more we and the vet think it's a little habit . He also carries his biscuits one at a time from his bowl in the laundry and places them on the carpet in the living room to eat one at a time . All things that we think are his funny little habbits but with the head shaking as it's become so frequent I'm definitely concerned . It's been a matter of weeks since seeing the vet and he is definitely doing it more frequently.

Ps if steroids is what he needs for the rest of his life rest assured it's what I will be doing for him ????

Thanks for your replies everyone he is a big part of our family and I don't want him in pain or discomfort that's for sure ! I didn't do too much about it sa first as he really shows no sign of pain or even distress more I thought it was a habit he had developed as he does have some "quirky "ways ! I was told that just to properly diagnose would cost thousands and other than the steroids they wouldn't be able to do anything if that was the problem. I think I might go get another opinion then go from there , the vet we are seeing I'm confident is good though . Apparently the apple shaped dome head in chihuahuas is the cause for this problem . I'm just not finding much info on it to know if her diagnosis sounds correct . Thank you all once again

Can someone please help .I have a 9 year old male Chihuahua who has been progressively shaking his head more and more for quite a long time now. When it started it wasn't noticed so much but now he is shaking heaps throughout the day and even in bed when he changes position ( which is so annoying ) He shakes so hard that he sprays dribble around him and you can hear hi ears hitting his head ! Ive taken him to the vet and had his ears checked .The vet says they are completely clear and her only idea is that he could have Hydrocephalus fluid around the brain and unless it gets more constant we shouldn't do anything as the diagnosis testing is very expensive and it wouldn't be causing him any pain or discomfort .Nor is it curable .The only other solution if it got worse was to put him on steroids I think it was .Which i believe would also be expensive for the rest of his life . Well its getting worse and I can't see that its not a bother to him it sure is to me and my family . Ha anyone else had this issue with there dog particularly a chihuahua ? Im so unsure as to wether to proceed with starting him on medication or get another opinion ? Could the vet have missed a problem within the ears ? They are not red or smelly and he isn't scratching them . Hoping someone can help me !