What to do if your kitten has a cleft palate?

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Kieth Culver asked a question: What to do if your kitten has a cleft palate?
Asked By: Kieth Culver
Date created: Thu, Aug 25, 2022 3:39 AM
Date updated: Thu, May 23, 2024 13:34 PM

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Video answer: Saving the Tiniest, Fluffiest Kitten with a Cleft Palate (Chouchou's First 3 Weeks!)

Saving the Tiniest, Fluffiest Kitten with a Cleft Palate (Chouchou's First 3 Weeks!)

Best answer to the question «What to do if your kitten has a cleft palate?»

In these cases, the kittens may be born with cleft palates. Diagnosis is made by a visual examination of the cleft palate. Treatment is surgical repair of the defect. Surgical correction is usually postponed until 3-4 months of age, if possible. More than one surgery is often necessary for complete closure of the opening in the palate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Those who are looking for an answer to the question «What to do if your kitten has a cleft palate?» often ask the following questions:

😻 When to put a feeding tube on a kitten with cleft palate?

In the meantime, a long nipple or an oral feeding tube may be recommended to help a kitten get the nutrition necessary to grow and survive. As the kitten grows, the cleft may become smaller, the oral cavity can become bigger, and surgery might be easier once the kitten is 3 to 4 months old.

😻 How old do kittens have to be to have cleft palate surgery?

Multiple surgeries are often necessary to repair cleft palate in kittens. It is standard practice to wait until the kitten has reached three to four months of age before surgery is performed. This allows the oral cavity to grow and the size of the cleft to shrink.

😻 How can I Help my Cat with cleft palate?

While the only treatment for a cleft palate is corrective surgery, there are steps you can take to keep your pet healthy and prevent infection. Have a vet examine the cat and discuss whether it’s a good candidate for surgery, which should take place when a kitten is three to four months old.

Video answer: Chouchou Goes to the Vet for his Cleft Palate (UPDATE)

Chouchou Goes to the Vet for his Cleft Palate (UPDATE)

Your Answer

We've handpicked 19 related questions for you, similar to «What to do if your kitten has a cleft palate?» so you can surely find the answer!

How old do cats have to be to fix cleft palate?
Treatment of Cleft Palate in Cats. Multiple surgeries are often necessary to repair cleft palate in kittens. It is standard practice to wait until the kitten has reached three to four months of age before surgery is performed. This allows the oral cavity to grow and the size of the cleft to shrink.
How do you fix a cleft palate on a kitten?
To treat your kitten’s cleft palate, ask your veterinarian if your kitten is a good candidate for surgery. Some extensive cleft palates may be too difficult to correct with surgery, while very minor cleft palates may not require it at all. If your vet does recommend surgery, schedule the surgery when your kitten is 3-4 months old, if possible.
How do I know if my cat has a cleft palate?
Symptoms of Cleft Palate in Cats. Kittens with cleft palate will exhibit one or more of the following symptoms: Sneezing. Coughing. Running nose. Difficulty nursing. Milky discharge from nose when eating. Difficulty breathing.
How can I tell if my kitten has a cleft palate?
A veterinarian will be able to check a kitten’s oral cavity and see if a cleft palate is present. Anesthesia might be necessary to be able to carefully examine the entire mouth, and x-rays may be used to check if pneumonia has developed as well.

Video answer: Cleft Palate in Cats | Wag!

Cleft Palate in Cats | Wag! Is cleft palate a fatal disorder?
Lethal omphalocele- cleft palate syndrome is characterized by the association of omphalocele and cleft palate. It has been described in three daughters of normal unrelated parents. They were all diagnosed at birth. One had omphalocele, posterior cleft palate, and uterus bicornuatus; she died at 2 months. The second had omphalocele, cleft uvula, and hydrocephalus and died at 4 months; the third had omphalocele and cleft palate and died at 1 year.
Can a kitten with a cleft palate breastfeed?
A kitten with a cleft palate will likely have difficulty nursing normally and will need to be bottle or tube fed. If the kitten has a suckling reflex and bottle feeding is possible, use a specially designed long nipple. This will reduce the amount of milk that passes through the cleft into the nasal cavity.
What is the treatment of cleft palate?
Treatment of Cleft Lip And Palate. This correction involves surgically producing a face that does not attract attention, a vocal apparatus that permits intelligible speech and a dentition that allows optimal function and aesthetics. The cleft palate team concept has evolved from that need.
Can a 3 month old kitten with a cleft palate be fixed?
As the kitten grows, the cleft may become smaller, the oral cavity can become bigger, and surgery might be easier once the kitten is 3 to 4 months old. Multiple surgeries might be necessary to totally fix the palate. Unfortunately, if a cleft palate is severe and irreparable, euthanasia may be the only option.
What is a cleft palate in a child?
Cleft palate may involve any part or all of the palate. It may be quite small or extend the entire length of the palate. The cleft, or opening, can extend along the bony portion (hard palate), the flexible portion used in swallowing (soft palate), or both.
Can you feed a kitten with a cleft palate?
If a kitten has a cleft palate, it may be riskier to feed. Be sure that you've assessed the kitten's temperature and body condition before feeding. Ensure that the kitten is able to swallow by placing a drop of formula on their tongue and feeling the throat with one finger.

Video answer: Feeding my newborn kitten with cleft palate

Feeding my newborn kitten with cleft palate Can a kitten be born with a cleft palate?
A cleft palate is a congenital birth defect, so a kitten will be born with it. However, there can also be instances when the palate is damaged as a result of trauma even though a cat was born with a normal palate.
How do vets treat cleft lip and palate in dogs?
Your veterinarian may need to administer an anaesthetic to perform a complete oral cavity, especially if the cleft palate runs into the soft palate, which is far back in the mouth. Chest x-rays to check for pneumonia. Treatment of cleft lip and palate depends on the severity of the condition.
How old do kittens have to be to have cleft palate surgery?
Multiple surgeries are often necessary to repair cleft palate in kittens. It is standard practice to wait until the kitten has reached three to four months of age before surgery is performed. This allows the oral cavity to grow and the size of the cleft to shrink.
What happens if a cat has a cleft palate?
It is possible that the cleft may reopen after surgery and the cat may continue to have nasal problems. Because kittens with cleft palate are likely to be underweight and malnourished, there are additional risks associated with the necessary anesthesia.
What is a cleft palate?
Cleft palate is an abnormal opening in the roof of the mouth. It is caused by failure of the two sides of the palate (roof of the mouth) to come together and fuse during embryonic development. A cleft palate results in an opening between the nasal passages and the mouth. Symptoms expected with a cleft palate include:
What is an orofacial cleft (CLP)?
When both a cleft lip and palate occur together, it is known as an orofacial cleft (CLP). Congenital cleft lip and palate occur during the embryonic stage of development when the primary and/or secondary palate fails to fuse, leaving an opening or cleft.
What are the symptoms of a kitten with a cleft palate?
Symptoms expected with a cleft palate include: 1 Runny nose 2 Coughing 3 Aspiration pneumonia (pneumonia caused by milk and food contents entering the cleft and infecting the lungs) 4 Respiratory difficulty (caused by aspiration pneumonia) 5 Difficulty sucking and nursing (in the kitten) 6 Slow growth 7 Weight loss 8 Lack of appetite
How to save a newborn puppy with a cleft palate?
  • Anesthesia,Inhalation/veterinary
  • Animals
  • Animals,Newborn
  • Cleft Palate/complications
  • Cleft Palate/surgery
  • Cleft Palate/veterinary*
  • Dog Diseases/surgery*
  • Dogs
  • Lip/surgery
  • Palate/surgery
What are the risks of surgery for a cleft palate kitten?
Because kittens with cleft palate are likely to be underweight and malnourished, there are additional risks associated with the necessary anesthesia. From birth until the kitten is old enough to undergo surgery, special feeding techniques will be required.

Video answer: Meet Aela, The Adorable Kitten With Hydrocephalus And A Cleft Palate Who Found A Great Foster Home

Meet Aela, The Adorable Kitten With Hydrocephalus And A Cleft Palate Who Found A Great Foster Home