Cleft Lip and/or Cleft Palate

Puppies that have cleft palate can have difficulty eating and may present for weight loss. They are also more likely to accidentally aspirate food and are often noted to have persistent coughing and a runny nose due to respiratory infections; in severe cases this can progress to pneumonia.

Signs are first recognized in puppies.

Genetic testing and clinical signs can be used to diagnose this condition.

Cleft lip without cleft palate is a relatively cosmetic condition that can be corrected surgically if desired. Cleft palate can often be surgically repaired.

Talk to your vet about your dog’s cleft lip or palate result so you can discuss whether any signs of this condition are present and plan care if needed.

Monitor your puppy for signs such as milk or food coming from the nose, coughing during feeding, or difficulty gaining weight.

If you notice any of these signs, contact your vet promptly for evaluation and guidance on safe feeding and possible treatment options.

This mutation was first described in the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.

Penetrance: This mutation has an autosomal recessive inheritance, meaning that dogs must have two copies of the mutation in order to show clinical signs. Many causes of cleft lip and cleft palate do not have a known genetic cause at this time.

Gene

ADAMTS20

Inheritance type

recessive

Clinical category

Skeletal

Citations

1. Wolf et al 2015

• Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever