Cleft Palate

Cleft Palate

Cleft palate is an abnormal opening in the roof of the mouth and can be a life-threatening condition in puppies and kittens.

Originally published by Stephen Juriga, DVM · part of the AOSN network.

Signs you might notice

Commonly diagnosed at 1-2 days of age.

Your pet must be tube- or bottle-fed for 8-12 weeks before treatment.

If not treated, your pet may have difficulty eating and develop nasal infections (which may lead to pneumonia).

Cleft palate as seen in a 10-week old Sheltie

Surgery is necessary to seal or separate the oral cavity from the nasal cavity.

Schedule an appointment to have your pet evaluated by clicking on the “Get In Touch with Us” button.

Immediate post-op

Good healing at 2 weeks after treatment

Get help for your pet

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