My yorkie just had puppies and the 4th on eborn-a little girl has a cleft palate. The vet said it is a soft cleft palate and she might make it if we hand feed her. She also might die because of complications.
anybody have a dog with a cleft palate that made it and has a normal life?
We are not sure what to do.
This pup will have to be handfed and if you don't ffed just right can develop pneumonia very easily.
It looks complicated. Sure would like some input!

Thanks!
Tammy

Hi

Sorry about your pup.
In the UK it is generally accepted that pups with a cleft are put to sleep, however there is a lady in the USA that you guide you through the posess of handrearing the pup. She has a 12 yr old I think who has a cleft.
Will try to find the address this afternoon as I have to pop out.

Hi

The contact email is: hennwood@juno.com

This lady is normally very quick to reply and very helpful.

Has the vet suggested that surgery may be an option once the pup is old enough? I have heard of a dog that had a plate made and fitted to cover the cleft but am not really sure how that works. I personally would have a cleft puppy put to sleep but if you are prepared to do it and put the effort in then go for it.
Bec

I know of a Cocker born with cleft palate and she is now three years old and full of beans:D She has had three/four lots of surgery to close the holes as there was more than one and she sometimes gets a bit snuffly as she still has a tiny tiny hole remaining.

General feeling is that had we known it would have taken four lots of surgery and still not fully healed the she would have been pts - but as things have turned out she's done very well She is on the small side and always will be. She needed hand reating as a tiny puppy but soon got to hold her own with her siblings and was quite a bossy little madam.

Pam n the boys

Paula and all who responded,

thanks for responding. We had the pup put down this morning. I feel so terrible. She was not retaining heat and we had her on a heating pad, but the mom kept moving so much that she had a hard time keeping up. We would put her by the mom, but she just was not thriving. She was almost listless and that was with feeding every 2 hours.
We were hand feeding her through the night. We would take a piece of fleece that was warmed by the dryer and hold her in it and feed formula that was semi-warmed and she would eat but was slowly going downhill.
We took her to the vet yesterday morning and she said that she was failing and that we should have her put down instead of having her suffer. The emergency room vet said to try to give it a go, but she kept declining.
We were crushed. We thought we could make a go of it, but maybe just couldn't do enough. We cried like babies, even my husband. We were attatched to that one!

We have 3 boys left and need to focus on them! This was our first litter and boy did we learn alot!

do you know if a yorkie can have a pup with a cleft palate and it can be caused by having antibiotics while pregnant?
I have read this at a few places online and wondered the validity to it. Just curious! I had no idea that this could happen in a dog.

ok, must be off to check on my girl and guys!

thanks again!
Tammy

Sorry to hear about the little one. It is terrible when they go especially after all the effort put in. As you said, though, you do have the other little uns to care for and I'm sure they'll thrive. With regards to the antibiotics question I've never had a bitch that had to have antibiotics whilst pregnant so can't answer that one. I suppose, like any drug, there are potential side effects. Why did she need the antibiotics. It could have been that that caused the probelms rather than the drugs!
Please keep us posted as to how the others get on :D
Bec

Hi Tammy,

Sorry about your pup, but I think it was the best thing for her. :(

Did your bitch have an infection during pregnancy (hence the antibiotics), as sometimes infections during the 5 week time can cause deformaties in the pups. We have never had to have a bitch on antibiotics during pregnancy, but some people do it as a matter of course....seems a bit silly to me!!

My friend breeds shelties and she always uses antibiotics and she does have a lot of problems, but not sure if this is due to the anti's or to bad breding lines or lack of exercise (she doesn't very often take them for a walk....sad if you ask me!!)

manda
X

hello i had 2 puppies with cleft pallet...i did try feed myself..but they did not survive..apart from sergery sweetheart..i'd let he go..as the food may go into her/ lungs..i had one put to sleep.
sorry i know it sounds cruel..but better than the little thing suffering. (yorkshire terrier's also)