Soft Palette Defect

[Megsnan]

My kitten has a small soft palette defect that the oral surgeon didn’t want to repair because of his heart disease. Today he sneezed and a bunch of clear liquid came out with a few pieces of food in it. I don’t think it came out of his nose though but I was in the other room and only heard him sneeze and saw the liquid on the countertop. Does anybody have any experience with palette defects? Is his palette defect maybe the cause of this sneeze with liquid?

 

[jen]

If he is a flatter nose cat that is definitely something that can be of concern. I am more familiar with it in dogs, but you know the bulldogs and pugs that make that ridiculous snorting/loud breathing noise all the time? Then they sneeze and slobber everywhere. That is due to the soft palate being deformed. I imagine it is the same with cats, or similar. You have to watch their heart and make sure they don't overheat. If he already has a heart condition that is unfortunate. I hope he didn't come from a breeder...

 

[artiemom]

I am so sorry to hear about this little one.. Bless you for taking her in.. ((hugs))

Ok, just going from my experience with human babies with cleft lip and cleft palate.

The cleft may be a very deep cleft which is communicating with the nasal passages/sinuses. That is why you are seeing trapped food, when your baby sneezes..

Honestly, I do not know what can be done to fix this, without surgery. In human babies, they start with a plastic prosthetic; to allow the baby to nurse/eat, until the baby is old/large/stable enough to do reconstructive surgery; and it is usually several surgeries as the baby grows....sigh

This type of defect is called a mid-line defect and is strongly associated with heart defects.. sigh...

I am so sorry.. I really do not know what you can do... I hope the specialist had some ideas...

I would be afraid of getting an infection in the nasal/sinus cavity... sigh....

((Hugs)))

 

[Megsnan]

If he is a flatter nose cat that is definitely something that can be of concern. I am more familiar with it in dogs, but you know the bulldogs and pugs that make that ridiculous snorting/loud breathing noise all the time? Then they sneeze and slobber everywhere. That is due to the soft palate being deformed. I imagine it is the same with cats, or similar. You have to watch their heart and make sure they don't overheat. If he already has a heart condition that is unfortunate. I hope he didn't come from a breeder...

Oh no! He does have a flat face, he’s a British Shorthair. And yes I did get him from a breeder. I told them about the defect and dilated cardiomyopathy, they didn’t seem too concerned.

 

[Megsnan]

I am so sorry to hear about this little one.. Bless you for taking her in.. ((hugs))

Ok, just going from my experience with human babies with cleft lip and cleft palate.

The cleft may be a very deep cleft which is communicating with the nasal passages/sinuses. That is why you are seeing trapped food, when your baby sneezes..

Honestly, I do not know what can be done to fix this, without surgery. In human babies, they start with a plastic prosthetic; to allow the baby to nurse/eat, until the baby is old/large/stable enough to do reconstructive surgery; and it is usually several surgeries as the baby grows....sigh

This type of defect is called a mid-line defect and is strongly associated with heart defects.. sigh...

I am so sorry.. I really do not know what you can do... I hope the specialist had some ideas...

I would be afraid of getting an infection in the nasal/sinus cavity... sigh....

((Hugs)))

Yes my regular vet is afraid of him getting an infection there. I think I will call the oral surgeon in the morning. Poor little guy has so many things wrong with him. He just got a bum deal. Thank you for the info!

 

[jen]

Oh no! He does have a flat face, he’s a British Shorthair. And yes I did get him from a breeder. I told them about the defect and dilated cardiomyopathy, they didn’t seem too concerned.

They didn't seem concerned? Isn't it likely genetic?

 

[Megsnan]

Likely yes but the problem is there’s no definitive way to prove it. I told the breeder that all I wanted was for them to consider removing his parents from their breeding program. They got very defensive and blamed me for the kitten’s poor health.

 

[Wile]

Wow... I have no words. I hope that kitten was either free or you have a good contract because surgery and medication will likely be expensive. It's really unfair of that breeder to blame you for what are clearly birth defects. Good luck with your kitten. It sounds like he's got a rough road ahead of him.

 

[Megsnan]

Wow... I have no words. I hope that kitten was either free or you have a good contract because surgery and medication will likely be expensive. It's really unfair of that breeder to blame you for what are clearly birth defects. Good luck with your kitten. It sounds like he's got a rough road ahead of him.

He does have a rough road ahead of him and most likely a short one as well. I had heard all the horror stories but I never imagined that I would be one of them. There is a contract but from what I gather I’m pretty much S.o.l. I had hoped that what happened to him could at least prevent any more kittens from suffering but there’s just no reasoning with some people.
Thank you for the well wishes!