Quote from: Diasi on September 19, 2023, 11:12:23 AMThanks Mike, your word 'link' is the best way to describe it.

Since my wife & I didn't have any children between us, our Yorkies & cats were like children to us.

The Yorkies are extra special insomuch as they were with us from the very start.

Anyway, some positive news is that I've found out why our Yorkie stopped eating & seemed to be losing her spark.

She has lost quite a few of her teeth, which the vet said wasn't a problem, & health wise it isn't. However, it did mean that she couldn't pick up her food from her deep doggie bowl so she was wanting to eat but couldn't get the food into her mouth & then gave up trying.

She must have been really frustrated that she couldn't eat her food but neither could she tell me why she couldn't.

So once I realised I now cut up her soft pouch food & put it on very shallow dinner plate so that she can use her tongue to push it into her mouth & she's now eating again & she's got the spark back.

I dread to think what could have happened if I hadn't twigged what the problem was.

Such simple things and of course they can't tell us. My friend Annie had the same problem with one of her Yorks a few years back. They erected a cam to watch the food plates and noticed it's sister York, then started pulling the food from her own dish to the floor, so her sibling could eat! My little one is a 'Biewer' a German originated Yorkie breed, namely a 'Tri-colored' version, but she's a very small (6lbs).

She had a 'hanging' front upper canine about a year ago and stopped eating too. The Vet advised leave her to her own devices and let it drop out, meanwhile to 'hand feed' her with Chicken or Liver strips. A week or so later I found the tooth on the floor. Trouble is she wanted the hand feeding to continue.

I couldn't resist her at first, she's very clever this tiny thing, at playing me for a complete co-operative plonker!

how absolutely gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!
Phil = so glad to hear your news

Quote from: Michael Rolls on September 19, 2023, 02:25:42 PMhow absolutely gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!
Phil = so glad to hear your news

Yes Mike, nowadays almost an appendage. Just likes being with me all day and night! She travels around in a pouched shoulder strap carrier, made courtesy of the local saddler! Very much the midget matriarch, she keeps the other two in order, although Albert reviews her protests with a certain 'Highland Disdain', which is very amusing to watch. Has definite barks for whatever task she expects me, as her Butler to perform. Is intuitive and instinctively knows when I'm unwell, or upset etc. The best of the three as a 'house-dog', her hearing is like 'Jodrell Bank', with huge ears compared to the rest of her, which can rotate a full 180 degrees!

lovely!

Who'd have thought such simple solution ? so glad she's ok now Phil and Cass ! what a little treasure 💕

Once again, thanks for all your good wishes.

The transformation has been quite dramatic, from being sat in her bed, listless, to being first out of the traps & sat in the middle of the kitchen waiting for her food tonight & later coming up for her treats.

I suppose, despite the stress, that fact that she stopped eating got her to the vet two months before her next due checkup & a couple of issues were diagnosed earlier than they otherwise would have been.

Cass, that little pooch is gorgeous!

Thanks Phil, I'm really so glad your little one is now OK. They (Yorks & Biewers) are such tough little creatures that when they're 'offside' they tolerate discomfort with such stoic application that they can kid you into thinking they're OK when in fact they have such small constitutions, the reverse can apply.

I got her from a very eccentric lady breeder. She was German National Puppy outright champion, but grew up too small to breed, or show. So eventually she gratefully accepted my offer to buy her. She is truly tiny, but thankfully not by in-breeding, just the luck of the draw. So she's always been very healthy, apart from her dental loss (es) and my they do pack a lot of teeth for such small dogs!

They get to mean everything I've found as I know you feel towards yours too.

Quote from: Cassandra on September 19, 2023, 10:57:49 PMThanks Phil, I'm really so glad your little one is now OK. They (Yorks & Biewers) are such tough little creatures that when they're 'offside' they tolerate discomfort with such stoic application that they can kid you into thinking they're OK when in fact they have such small constitutions, the reverse can apply.

I got her from a very eccentric lady breeder. She was German National Puppy outright champion, but grew up too small to breed, or show. So eventually she gratefully accepted my offer to buy her. She is truly tiny, but thankfully not by in-breeding, just the luck of the draw. So she's always been very healthy, apart from her dental loss (es) and my they do pack a lot of teeth for such small dogs!

They get to mean everything I've found as I know you feel towards yours too.

They do indeed mean everything, which is why we try to give them the best lives that we can.

Last week's test has shown that her heart is enlarged & she's having an ultrasound scan next Thursday to determine the actual state of it so she's been prescribed medication which I collected yesterday.

The vet informed me, via a phone call, & I could tell he was uncomfortable when discussing treatment options as he asked if I wanted to just have the medication without a scan as the scan would be expensive.

Today is the first day of my new routine for our Yorkie's heart medication. She has to have half a tablet an hour before her meal twice a day & 12 hours apart so I now get up at 05:45 to give her the half tablet then I have a coffee & some cereal & then feed her & the cats at 06:45. I'll do the same in the evening with her half tablet at 17:45 & her & the cats' meals at 18:45. 

worrying time Phil - fingers firmly crossed for the little one

Aw bless her, hope all goes well next week. 

Quote from: Michael Rolls on September 22, 2023, 08:24:33 AMworrying time Phil - fingers firmly crossed for the little one

Quote from: Alex on September 22, 2023, 12:08:16 PMAw bless her, hope all goes well next week. 

Thanks both of you.

I still think that she's got a degree of dementia because when I feed her she looks as though she's not sure what to do with it & it can sometimes be an hour before she actually eats it.

But in herself she seems happy enough.

So a lot to deal with & it has to be one day at a time. 

Phil, she might have had a little stroke? I once had a Spanish mongrel, literally a beach stray pup from Fuengirola, which we 'imported' with 6 months quarantine etc etc. in 1981. Tough as old boots, he lived until at least 17 . He however suffered a small stroke and then had 'steroid' treatment. He recovered after a few months and lived a further two years, when the death of my wife gave him another stroke and we had to say goodbye, the week before she passed.

A friend in the UK with a 10 year old Yorkie had her suffer from exactly the same symptoms as yours - (enlarged heart). She, I remember looked like she wasn't really there at all most of the time. However the treatment that sounds like your regime, restored her back to almost a young dog again, but it took perhaps six months or so I seem to remember. The little critter is still going strong now aged 13. As I said before their tough little creatures, I feel sure she'll be OK, do keep us updated. Meanwhile the best and most sincere regards for you all in your little 'pack', from ours over here.

Quote from: Cassandra on September 22, 2023, 03:09:48 PMPhil, she might have had a little stroke? I once had a Spanish mongrel, literally a beach stray pup from Fuengirola, which we 'imported' with 6 months quarantine etc etc. in 1981. Tough as old boots, he lived until at least 17 . He however suffered a small stroke and then had 'steroid' treatment. He recovered after a few months and lived a further two years, when the death of my wife gave him another stroke and we had to say goodbye, the week before she passed.

A friend in the UK with a 10 year old Yorkie had her suffer from exactly the same symptoms as yours - (enlarged heart). She, I remember looked like she wasn't really there at all most of the time. However the treatment that sounds like your regime, restored her back to almost a young dog again, but it took perhaps six months or so I seem to remember. The little critter is still going strong now aged 13. As I said before their tough little creatures, I feel sure she'll be OK, do keep us updated. Meanwhile the best and most sincere regards for you all in your little 'pack', from ours over here.

Thanks Cassandra, I do tend to be a worrier & probably an over-thinker & your post has given me some well needed positivity.

I'll suggest the possibilty of a small stroke to our vet.

I post about it on the forum as I have no one at home with who to discuss it so our best wishes to you & your pack too.

I hope you get some positive news.  I can imagine its hard when there's no one to share with at home.