gapvic Posted March 8, 2013 Share Posted March 8, 2013 Hi all, I have a five week old greyhound puppy with what appears to be hydrocephalus. Her head looks like that of a chihuahua. She eats, drinks etc ok but is much quieter than the other pups. It also appears her vision is affected although she isn't blind. The pups are due at the vet next week for their vaccination so we'll have her thoroughly checked then and diagnosis confirmed. Has anyone had a pup with hydrocephalus? What was the outcome? I'm quite prepared to keep her myself as a pet as long as her quality of life is ok. She's a dear little thing. Larissa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirislin Posted March 8, 2013 Share Posted March 8, 2013 Perhaps ask in the Health and Nutrition forum. Rappie the vet might know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gapvic Posted March 8, 2013 Author Share Posted March 8, 2013 Thanks Kirislin will do Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jed Posted March 8, 2013 Share Posted March 8, 2013 I was advised by my vet that pups like this are in pain - as the brain grows larger it is compressed by the skull/fluid, and hurts the dog. I kept one for 10 weeks, when she was obviously in pain. I took her to the vet to be pts, and he told me it should have been done as soon as the problem become obvious rather than let her go on suffering. Not all vets feel like this, but I think it is valid. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christina Posted March 8, 2013 Share Posted March 8, 2013 I was advised by my vet that pups like this are in pain - as the brain grows larger it is compressed by the skull/fluid, and hurts the dog. I kept one for 10 weeks, when she was obviously in pain. I took her to the vet to be pts, and he told me it should have been done as soon as the problem become obvious rather than let her go on suffering. Not all vets feel like this, but I think it is valid. Good luck. PTS is the kindest thing to do however I wonder Can they put a shunt in like they do with people ? If yes how successful is this ? What would be the cost ? These are questions to ask the vet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marina Posted March 9, 2013 Share Posted March 9, 2013 Hi all, I have a five week old greyhound puppy with what appears to be hydrocephalus. Her head looks like that of a chihuahua. She eats, drinks etc ok but is much quieter than the other pups. It also appears her vision is affected although she isn't blind. The pups are due at the vet next week for their vaccination so we'll have her thoroughly checked then and diagnosis confirmed. Has anyone had a pup with hydrocephalus? What was the outcome? I'm quite prepared to keep her myself as a pet as long as her quality of life is ok. She's a dear little thing. Larissa My vet said that if the puppy shows signs of being off their food or lethargic they are in pain. Head wobbles and uncoordinated movement are also signs of Hydrocephalus. Some pups will have it mildly and can live for a year or more some need to be put to sleep well before they are 6 months. As far as I know they do not do shunts for animals. If her vision is affected, she is already in pain and at only 5 weeks that seems pretty severe. The sad thing is you can't do anything to help her. Be wary of breeding this female again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted March 9, 2013 Share Posted March 9, 2013 The only hydrocephalus pups I ve seem have been PTS Never heard of one being kept alive longer than a few days. Poor little girl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gapvic Posted March 10, 2013 Author Share Posted March 10, 2013 Thanks guys. They can put a shunt from the brain to the stomach to drain away the fluid. She doesn't actually seem in pain - she plays, she barks, she eats, she is just thinner, smaller and less active than the others and obviously not right. We've got an appointment with a neuro specialist on Thursday and will make a decision then - if he advises the kindest thing to do is pts, we'll let her go :-(. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gapvic Posted March 10, 2013 Author Share Posted March 10, 2013 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alyosha Posted March 10, 2013 Share Posted March 10, 2013 Aww. Cute photo. Am hoping you get some good answers from the specialist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gapvic Posted March 10, 2013 Author Share Posted March 10, 2013 Thanks Alyosha, not expecting a positive outcome but quietly hoping she's not a lost cause Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirislin Posted March 10, 2013 Share Posted March 10, 2013 Oh the poor little thing, it's a lovely photo of her but yes, she doesn't look "right" for a greyhound does she. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lils mum Posted March 12, 2013 Share Posted March 12, 2013 (edited) I am aware of a 13 month old dog with hydrocephalus. He has seizures, and he has brain damage due to pressure on his brain from excess fluid causing it to be compressed and 'shrink'. He also has unpredictable behaviours due to the brain damage. Edited March 12, 2013 by lils mum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gapvic Posted March 14, 2013 Author Share Posted March 14, 2013 Hi all, We've just got back from the specialist. He was very pleased that she is showing no neurological signs of the disorder as yet. He did an ultrasound to try to confirm diagnosis but was unable to do so as the little hole that pups have in their skulls when born has already closed over. Next step was to do an MRI but at $1000, he didn't recommend it. He advised against doing the shunt surgery as it is super expensive (about $5000) and has a failure rate of about 50%. He said that as she was bright, happy, and relatively normal, at this stage we should just sit tight and see how she progresses. He gave us a US paper to read on it and it was heartening to read that in some cases, it does resolve itself. It has given us a little hope. Our plan is to just take each day as it comes and as soon as she starts to suffer, we'll let her go. To the people who pm'd me, thank you so much Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirislin Posted March 14, 2013 Share Posted March 14, 2013 That's sounding a bit more positive! I've been wondering how the vets visit went. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gapvic Posted May 5, 2013 Author Share Posted May 5, 2013 An update on little Chi who is now three months old :) . She is doing quite well all things considered. She appears to have no issues with her eyesight and has not had any seizures so far. She moves a bit oddly (in particular her right hind leg) and learns much more slowly than her siblings. She tends to be quite frightened of people and other dogs but is comfortable with those she knows. She is very fussy about her food but is more inclined to eat if the food is warm rather than cold (except for her own poo which she loves to eat given half a chance ) . House training is so far proving impossible. She is half the size of her siblings (the boys are now around 14kg, the girls 12kg, and Chi is 7kg). She is a dear little thing and we are so pleased our vet advised to just see how she goes. Hopefully she will continue on without any major health issues - the mental problems we can hopefully deal with. Some photos taken yesterday: And with her brother, India Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirislin Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 she looks like a whippet! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gapvic Posted May 6, 2013 Author Share Posted May 6, 2013 :laugh: yes, she does. She looks completely different to her siblings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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