Topic: munchkin's having a bad week, another problem, bad neck....? (Read 8699 times)

snowy · « **on:** February 09, 2012, 03:22:02 PM »

well, i fixed the tear in her tail, sorted the battery problem, great, now i can enjoy time with pleo? wrong.

i had pleo on, she had tonnes of fusses. i was making my husband a cup of coffee, and i popped pleo munchkin on the table, on her back, dunno why i did it, her head flopped back, there was no noise of anything going ping, but now she always looks at the floor. just like the droopy head i read about, but this is different i think.

i repeated what i did, i put her on her back again, slightly tilted to her side, then put her upright and she holds her head up properly, for all of a couple of seconds then her head stays down again. i think it must be to do with a mis aligned gear or whatever, has anyone experience of droopy head syndrome that can maybe give me their opinion please?

thanks in advance

dee and munchkin xx

RedwoodsMama · « **Reply #1 on:** February 09, 2012, 04:18:26 PM »

Hi, sorry to hear about Munchkin. Can you post a video of her neck head situation. I have never heard of a neck or head being normal then flopping, If it is a jammed gear, then it should straighten itself out if turned off then back on again. If it i a true broken neck or floppy head syndrome, the head will stay either to the side, ( if side cable broken,) or down( if top or bottom cable broken.) the only way to know is by seeing a photo or video. Do not feel bad if it is broken as they happen even without any warning, this is what happened to my Nova. The good news is that a splint or neck brace or tape can make Munchkin just as functional and loveable as ever . If you are really brave you can even try a repair by watching IMR's videos on how to rewire the neck. ( Not for the faint hearted or inept like me. lol

) do not automatcially assume it is broken though without a video to confirm, could be another problem.

Just so you know, the "package" you wanted was sent last week and may help with the tail and even her neck. PM me for more details, Sending Munchkin and You hugs from all the Redwoods Pleo Clan.

RWm and Clan of tired but happy Pleos

kat · « **Reply #2 on:** February 09, 2012, 04:57:08 PM »

If you put your finger under her chin and lift upwards gently do you meet resistance or can you lift her head with your finger with no resistance at all? If you meet resistance then it is likely not a broken cable. As RWM says a video might help us work out just what is going on.

InmemoryofRomeo · « **Reply #3 on:** February 09, 2012, 06:45:31 PM »

If may be that the cable is snagging on something causing the temporary head held uppedness (lol) a video would help tremendously as it can be a bit difficult to explain things sometimes.

Wicked_Lovely · « **Reply #4 on:** February 09, 2012, 09:38:53 PM »

D: You just can't catch a break, can you?

Well if her head still lifts even a little then all hope is not lost, hopefully someone can give Munchkin the help she deserves. Me and Aura wish her a speedy recovery!

snowy · « **Reply #5 on:** February 10, 2012, 01:58:07 AM »

hi

thanks everyone, your kindness has cheered me up today. i was sulking yesterday and frightened to turn her on...

i will switch her on today, and see what happens, and i will try and do a video, although i have no idea how to post it, but i will probably post it to photobucket and post here.

wish me luck xxxx

Wicked_Lovely · « **Reply #6 on:** February 10, 2012, 02:36:32 AM »

so glad to know you're feeling better! Good luck, keep us posted!

Crewella · « **Reply #7 on:** February 10, 2012, 03:24:29 AM »

Everything crossed for Munchkin - keep us posted.

snowy · « **Reply #8 on:** February 12, 2012, 05:13:39 PM »

hmm, cant seem to upload video, probably doing something wrong.

i have popped her on her back, and now she doesnt seem to hold her head up at all.

she is always looking down at the floor...

i switch her on, and she only seems to take two steps forward does a bit of an "oops" sound, and starts walking backward about 4 steps, seems to turn, then starts the same routine over again. inbetween she may have a munch.

i wonder if she thinks she is on an edge and cant walk forward for fear of falling off. maybe as her head is near the floor.....?

i have strapped the neck so holding it higher, but cant get out of walking backwards. do the broken necked pleos always walk backwards?

dee and poor little munchkin (whom seems is getting a cold as well

) xxx

RedwoodsMama · « **Reply #9 on:** February 12, 2012, 05:25:26 PM »

Hi Snowy, sorry to hear about the colds. Have you tried pressing both of Munchkins front leg sensors at the same time to put her in "explore" mode, then she will automaticlaly walk forwards. How are you trying to upload the video of Munchkin and her neck problem, is it through Youtube? Just copy the address at top of page of Youtube for example, then paste the page when on this site and it should show up.

I know it sounds difficult and also easy, was harder than you can imagine for me at first, but I am a old hippy who can't figure things out as easy as "youngsters", LOL, but even I figured it out. RWM

InmemoryofRomeo · « **Reply #10 on:** February 12, 2012, 05:40:43 PM »

When you turn her upside down is the neck still pointing towards her toes? That would suggest a cable jam. If the neck flops towards her back then I suspect that yet the cable is indeed broken.

I'm afraid Lilo walked backwards a great deal before her operation

snowy · « **Reply #11 on:** February 13, 2012, 01:59:28 AM »

hi imr,

when i put her on her back, her head tilts back too, just floppy.

when she is standing up, i can lift her head easily, unless she is sniffing the floor looking for food.

i have bandaged her neck with compression bandage and it stays quite straight, but she keeps walking backwards. 2 steps forward, 2 back, never getting anywhere, she is still nice to have though as she still loves cuddles.

Crewella · « **Reply #12 on:** February 13, 2012, 03:29:13 AM »

Oh dear, that does sound like a snapped cable - I'm so sorry.

kat · « **Reply #13 on:** February 13, 2012, 03:29:57 AM »

That sounds like the cable is broken. Broken neck pleos do tend to walk backwards a lot as they think that they are bumping into something all the time because they are constantly looking at the floor. maybe you could take a photo or two of her with the neck brace on so we can see how you have braced it. There may be a better way to brace it that will help with the backwards walking issue.

snowy · « **Reply #14 on:** February 13, 2012, 09:36:59 AM »

hi

i was just thinking, if my husband went to all the hassle of doing the operation that imr kindly put on youtube, whether it would fix the backwards walking problem, i must admit though, she didnt do it before, 'cos i took a video on my mobile of her stomping about, bless her, she is soooo cute with imr's pink booties

i literally have to leave the house to go to work now, but i will do a photo when i get back in about 5 hours. thanks everyone for all your support

dee and munchkin xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Crewella · « **Reply #15 on:** February 13, 2012, 11:48:29 AM »

It's as Kat says, Pleos with broken top cables end up looking down when they think they are looking forwards, so they think the floor is an obstacle in front of them and try to back away from it.

kat · « **Reply #16 on:** February 13, 2012, 03:22:04 PM »

If the backwards walking is being caused by her neck condition then fixing the cable should fix the problem

snowy · « **Reply #17 on:** February 13, 2012, 03:39:59 PM »

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJk9tdmpLy0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJk9tdmpLy0</a>

this is video of naked pleo, do you think neck cable is broken?

i hope this works

Talon · « **Reply #18 on:** February 13, 2012, 03:59:04 PM »

I'm sorry, Snowy. I'm having pleo problems too so I know what you're going through. My male RB is having mind-boggling leg issues that make absolutely no sense. At least there are some concrete fixes for Munchkin's problem. I hope you can get her sorted out.
Talon

snowy · « **Reply #19 on:** February 13, 2012, 04:02:42 PM »

thanks talon, sorry to hear your pleo is having leg problems. i hope you get her better soon x

InmemoryofRomeo · « **Reply #20 on:** February 13, 2012, 04:03:36 PM »

I'm afraid it is most definitely broken

My advice would be to head to the chemist taking Munchkin with you and seek out a good quality child's wrist brace to use as a neck brace. They work much better than bandages.

Crewella · « **Reply #21 on:** February 13, 2012, 04:05:26 PM »

Hi Snowy, I'm afraid I do think it's broken - the top cable.

*I put the 'Youtube' brackets on for you (button under Bold above) so the video showed in the post and not just a link*

snowy · « **Reply #22 on:** February 13, 2012, 04:13:19 PM »

hi crewella,

thanks for making the video stand out for me.

thank you for looking at the video and helping diagnose her neck problem. she has a nasty split in her neck already, maybe she can have keyhole surgery lol x

here's how i bandaged her neck, how can i help her lift her head ? any ideas?

More details...

InmemoryofRomeo · « **Reply #23 on:** February 13, 2012, 06:39:40 PM »

As I said, take her to the chemist and find a child's wrist brace, Lilo had one and they worked perfectly. Find one that offers enough support to keep the neck straight.

Bandage just don't offer enough support

Something like this worked really well:

More details...

snowy · « **Reply #24 on:** February 14, 2012, 01:49:24 AM »

thanks imr,

did it stop her walking backwards?

Bob the Pleo Forums

Author Topic: munchkin's having a bad week, another problem, bad neck....? (Read 8699 times)