How did we end up with a cleft palate puppy?
Well cleft palates are very common in this breed. Normally our regular veterinarian would not allow us to take home a cleft puppy. On July 3, 2006 our regular veterinarian was closed for the Fourth of July festivities; therefore, we took our female to a highly recommend veterinarian. As it turned out the veterinarian did not notice the cleft palate. Hence, even after we asked if there were any cleft palates in the litter, he replied, “no”.
We did not discover the cleft until the puppy was about 3 ½ weeks old. All a long we thought our puppies was ill due to milk aspiration; therefore, we placed the puppy on antibiotics once we noticed a greenish mucus discharge coming from his nostros. We then decided to tube feed in order to avoid additional milk entering the trachea. It was not until we began to wean the puppy that we noticed the puppy having difficulties eating. We then compared the roof (palate) of his mouth to the other puppies and noticed the cleft palate.
For now, we have ordered larger feeding catheters (tubes) that will allow us to feed the puppy his new blended diet (ground beef, puppy chow and goats milk) The tube is a 14 french catheter that will allow us to feed heavier amounts of food (heavy paste) without clogging the tube. As the puppy increases in size we will also increase the size of the catheter to an 18 french.
So, what is a cleft palate?
It is the incomplete fusion of bones of the palate. The cleft may be confined to the soft palate at the back of the mouth; it may include the hard palate, or roof of the mouth; or it may extend through the gum and lip, producing a gap in the teeth and a cleft lip, which is cosmetically difficult to repair but is not disabling. The condition appears to be hereditary but not under the control of a single pair of genes. A cleft palate causes separation between the oral and nasal cavities. A puppy cannot develop proper suction for drinking, and there is the danger of milk entering the nasal cavity and being aspirated into the lungs. Formula must be carefully placed at the back of the tongue for normal swallowing to take place. Ear infection may result from food or fluid passing from the nasal cavity to the middle ear by way of the Eustachian tubes. (continue)
