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What is a
Molera?
Molera?
A Molera is sometimes referred to as a "Soft Spot" or "Open Fontanel".
This is a normal birth development in all breeds of dogs
The Molera is where the frontal and the parietal bones of the cranium have not ossified
(fused) solid because that will allow for a easier passage of the pup through the birth canal.
The head of dogs like in humans are the largest part of the body that must pass through
the birth canal.
Usually ossification (fussing) occurs soon after birth in most other breeds of dogs.
The frontal and the parietal bones will join together with cartilaginous sutures as the dog
matures shortly after birth.
In Chihuahua's the bones will continue to ossify (fuse) with the complete fussing of the
frontal and parietal bones but this may not occur in the Chihuahua's until they reach
around three years of age.
Eventually 50% of all Chihuahua's molera's will completely fuse close. In the other 50% of
Chihuahua's the molera will remain open for the life of the dog.
The Molera will end up being anywhere from between the size of a nickel to dime-sized.
The Molera in some Chihuahua's will be felt as circular shape or diamond shape, and
some will only be felt as just a small seam. Generally speaking, the smaller the Chihuahua,
and the more domed the head, the larger the molera.
The Chihuahua's soft spot is a very common trait. The Chihuahua's are the only breed of
dog to be born with and retain this incomplete skull closure. In the early years of the
development of the Chihuahua as a breed, a fontanel was the mark of purity in the
Chihuahua breed, and any Chihuahua's that did not have a fontanel were not considered
purebred. Most other Chihuahua breed standards e.g. A.K.C., U.K.C., C.K.C., F.C.I., will
mention the open Molera trait as a normal trait for the Chihuahua breed.
Many of the early breeders would not even consider breeding a Chihuahua unless it had
the open Molera which is considered a breed characteristic and not a defect.
Great care needs to be taken during the first six months of the Chihuahua's life until the
skull is fully formed on those Chihuahua's where the Molera will completely close. Any
Chihuahua with a Molera should be protected from any blows to the head because this
could cause the death of your puppy.
You should be gentle to ALL Chihuahuas at all times.
Avoid letting your Chihuahua puppy under furniture where they could bump their soft spot.
Do not poke this area of their head.
A Chihuahua with a fontanel is not necessarily unhealthy as it is a common breed trait.
The presence of a molera or fontanel is nothing to be alarmed about.
Many veterinarians are not familiar with Chihuahuas as a breed, and mistakenly confuse a
molera with hydrocephalus.
This mis-diagnosis sometimes leads to an unnecessary euthanasia of your Chihuahua
puppy. The lack of education about the molera has been and can continue to be very
destructive for the Chihuahua breed.
The presence of the molera does not predispose the Chihuahua to
Hydrocephalus.
Concern by some veterinarians equates the presence of an open Molera to be an
indication of abnormality has been allayed by veterinary university investigations.
Historically Chihuahua’s have enjoyed long lives ~ longer than many other breeds, 14
(fourteen) to 16 (sixteen) years is not uncommon at all.
More information about the fontanel can be found on the Chihuahua Club of America
website.
Article Resources on Molera:
1. www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesArticle/id-2062. html
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chihuahua_(dog)
3. Chihuahua Club Of America
This is a normal birth development in all breeds of dogs
The Molera is where the frontal and the parietal bones of the cranium have not ossified
(fused) solid because that will allow for a easier passage of the pup through the birth canal.
The head of dogs like in humans are the largest part of the body that must pass through
the birth canal.
Usually ossification (fussing) occurs soon after birth in most other breeds of dogs.
The frontal and the parietal bones will join together with cartilaginous sutures as the dog
matures shortly after birth.
In Chihuahua's the bones will continue to ossify (fuse) with the complete fussing of the
frontal and parietal bones but this may not occur in the Chihuahua's until they reach
around three years of age.
Eventually 50% of all Chihuahua's molera's will completely fuse close. In the other 50% of
Chihuahua's the molera will remain open for the life of the dog.
The Molera will end up being anywhere from between the size of a nickel to dime-sized.
The Molera in some Chihuahua's will be felt as circular shape or diamond shape, and
some will only be felt as just a small seam. Generally speaking, the smaller the Chihuahua,
and the more domed the head, the larger the molera.
The Chihuahua's soft spot is a very common trait. The Chihuahua's are the only breed of
dog to be born with and retain this incomplete skull closure. In the early years of the
development of the Chihuahua as a breed, a fontanel was the mark of purity in the
Chihuahua breed, and any Chihuahua's that did not have a fontanel were not considered
purebred. Most other Chihuahua breed standards e.g. A.K.C., U.K.C., C.K.C., F.C.I., will
mention the open Molera trait as a normal trait for the Chihuahua breed.
Many of the early breeders would not even consider breeding a Chihuahua unless it had
the open Molera which is considered a breed characteristic and not a defect.
Great care needs to be taken during the first six months of the Chihuahua's life until the
skull is fully formed on those Chihuahua's where the Molera will completely close. Any
Chihuahua with a Molera should be protected from any blows to the head because this
could cause the death of your puppy.
You should be gentle to ALL Chihuahuas at all times.
Avoid letting your Chihuahua puppy under furniture where they could bump their soft spot.
Do not poke this area of their head.
A Chihuahua with a fontanel is not necessarily unhealthy as it is a common breed trait.
The presence of a molera or fontanel is nothing to be alarmed about.
Many veterinarians are not familiar with Chihuahuas as a breed, and mistakenly confuse a
molera with hydrocephalus.
This mis-diagnosis sometimes leads to an unnecessary euthanasia of your Chihuahua
puppy. The lack of education about the molera has been and can continue to be very
destructive for the Chihuahua breed.
The presence of the molera does not predispose the Chihuahua to
Hydrocephalus.
Concern by some veterinarians equates the presence of an open Molera to be an
indication of abnormality has been allayed by veterinary university investigations.
Historically Chihuahua’s have enjoyed long lives ~ longer than many other breeds, 14
(fourteen) to 16 (sixteen) years is not uncommon at all.
More information about the fontanel can be found on the Chihuahua Club of America
website.
Article Resources on Molera:
1. www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesArticle/id-2062. html
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chihuahua_(dog)
3. Chihuahua Club Of America
