cleft palate in puppy?

Question

The runt of our litter that is now 6 days old is not doing so well. I am bottle feeding him and have noticed that milk often comes out from his nose. I don't notice this when he eats off of mom, but he also doesn't seem to get much from her. The other puppies are doing great. Is this a sign of him having a cleft palate and is there anyway I can check on my own? Or is he just getting ahead of himself when he eats from the bottle?

I meant to also mention that he often sounds like he is somewhat congested when he eats.

I meant to also mention that he often sounds like he is somewhat congested when he eats.

Answer 1

if there is a cleft pallet you should be able to see some type of diformity on the roof of the mouth, there is usually a hole. milk could also be coming out of his nose if he is getting too much milk out of the bottle at once. buy a new nipple for the bottle and make a 1/2cm-1cm slit in the middle. if he doesnt get better TAKE HIM TO YOUR VET!! a cleft pallet is a very serious disfigurment. good luck.

Answer 2

Milk coming out of his nose is not good. This means that he is inhaling the milk while drinking it and later will cause lung problems. I had a puppy die because of this same thing. The vet told me not to use the bottles that you buy from stores but to get an eyedropper bottle, clean it and then feed the puppy by that. Try it and see if there is any change. If not, you may want to take the pup to a vet and have it examined.

Hope this helps.

---If he sounds congested, then he is inhaling the milk.

Answer 3

It sounds like the puppy has a cleft pallate or an oronasal fistula (opening between the mouth and nasal passages).

You could take it to the clinic for your veterinarian's opinion. Surgery is an option.

Answer 4

Duh???
OPEN IT'S MOUTH & ***LOOK***!!!
You'll see a HOLE!


It's it has,KILL IT QUICKLY! Do NOT make it linger & suffer!

Bottle-feeding DROWNS pups!!! TUBE IT!!!