Cleft Palate

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                      General Information



Cleft palate is an inherited birth defect in which an abnormal

opening (cleft) in the roof of the mouth allows liquid and solid

food to enter the nose during feeding.



The cleft may involve the hard palate, soft palate or both, and

vary in severity from a narrow slit to near absence of the entire

palate.  Large clefts prevent the newborn from nursing and may

result in inhalation of milk, causing death from aspiration

pneumonia.  With small clefts, bubbling of milk from the nose or

chronic nasal discharge may be the only sign.



                 Important Points in Treatment



1.  Surgical correction of the defect is the only effective

    treatment.



2.  When possible, surgery should be delayed for several months,

    as larger puppies have more tissue for closure, and there is

    more space for the surgeon to operate.



3.  Stomach-tube feeding is the most effective means of raising

    newborns with large clefts.  This is a simple, easily

    learned procedure.



4.  Since cleft palate is inherited, animals with this condition

    should not be used for breeding.



Recommendations: