Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Managing cleft palate in a Labrador retriever until surgery
By Davidson, Autumn P et al.·Published in The Veterinary clinics of North America. Small animal practice·2014·Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital Small Animal Clinic, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Successful management permitting delayed operative revision of cleft palate in a labrador retriever.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A Labrador Retriever with a congenital palate defect was successfully managed until he was old enough for surgery. This condition, known as a secondary cleft palate, can cause feeding difficulties and other health issues. The veterinary team focused on providing proper nutrition to help the puppy grow before performing the necessary surgical correction. Thanks to this careful management, the dog was able to reach adult size and undergo surgery successfully.
People also search for: labrador cleft palate treatment · puppy feeding issues · congenital palate defect in dogs
Abstract
Congenital palate defects (CP) occur in dogs. Secondary cleft palate (SCP) is a congenital oronasal fistula resulting in incomplete closure of the hard and soft palate. SCP occurs alone or in combination with primary cleft palate involving the lip and premaxilla. CP results from incomplete fusion of the palatine shelves, most critical at 25 to 28 days gestation. Methods to improve survival of puppies with CP are sought by clients. This case report illustrates a successful method to manage nutrition in affected dogs until adult size is attained, facilitating surgical correction.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24580993/