Cleft Lip and/or Cleft Palate in Dogs

Category: Oral & Dental
Breeds documented: 2
Published sources: 6

Overview

A gap in the lip or roof of the mouth can remain when facial tissues do not join properly before birth. A cleft lip and a cleft palate may occur separately or together. When the palate is affected, the gap can connect the mouth with the nasal passages. This can make nursing difficult and allow milk to enter the nose or airways.

Signs to watch for

A visible split in the upper lip.
Difficulty suckling or swallowing.
Milk coming from the nostrils during or after nursing.

Present at birth and often noticed shortly afterward, during nursing.

When to get help Arrange a prompt vet visit if a puppy struggles to nurse or milk comes from the nose.

Diagnosis and tests

A vet confirms a cleft by examining the puppy's lips and the roof of its mouth. The examination also checks how the defect affects feeding and breathing. For Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers, a DNA test can identify the CLPS variant, one specific inherited cause.

Breeds with documented risk

2 breeds

By breed size

2 Medium

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling RetrieverMedium · Sporting Group
Pyrenean ShepherdMedium · Herding Group

Inheritance

Not yet known
None of the sources we use states how this is inherited in dogs yet.

We've gathered what published sources say about this condition, so you can talk it through with your vet. It isn't veterinary advice: you and your vet know your dog best.