Todayโs path rounds are on ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ญ ๐ฉ๐๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐!
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ญ ๐ฉ๐๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ is abnormal formation of the hard palate (roof of the mouth) during development.
๐๐ก๐จ ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
Any species can get this!
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
During development, the roof of the mouth develops from the outside inwards, with fusion of the two sides on midline. In cleft palate, this inward growth isnโt sufficient to reach midline, leaving a large gap in the roof of the mouth. There are varying degrees of cleft palate, ranging from just a small defect, to a completely divided hard palate. The exact cause of this abnormality is unknown, but there is a suspected genetic component in some species of animals. As well, the exposure of the mom to ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐จ๐ ๐๐ง๐ฌ (mutation causing compounds) or other toxins may cause formation of cleft palate in the developing baby.
๐๐ก๐ฒ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ?
The main issue with cleft palate is that anything that enters the mouth ends up in the nose, including milk! This can cause milk to enter the lungs, causing ๐๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ฉ๐ง๐๐ฎ๐ฆ๐จ๐ง๐ข๐. The prognosis of aspiration pneumonia is generally pretty poor, so these animals are often euthanized.
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐๐?
Small cleft palate defects can be treated surgically in some cases, but the success rate is fairly low. Plus, during the pre-operative period, the animal must be intensively managed to prevent aspiration pneumonia, and often need to receive milk by an oral tube. This often leads to owners electing euthanasia, since the treatment success is so low and the procedure is extremely costly.
๐๐ก๐จ๐ญ๐จ๐ฌ
1) A calf with cleft palate who canโt keep his tongue in his mouth 
2-4) Examples of cleft palate defects in the roof of the mouth. In one of the photos, you can see feed material packed up into the nose, which is a prime cause of aspiration pneumonia!
5-7) The skull of a calf with cleft palate, showing how the skullโs shape can be affected in severe cases. This is probably one of the coolest skulls Iโve ever seen!
๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ
Maxie, G. Jubb, Kennedy and Palmerโs Pathology of Domestic Animals, Volume 2. Sixth Edition.
Photos 1-4 courtesy of Noahโs Arkive.
Photos 5-7 courtesy of Meredith Holley.
