How to Feed a Cleft Palate Puppy

This is a video that shows how a cleft palate puppy can be fed with a bottle/syringe. We did not attempt tube feeding with her. Today, the little girl (Mini Wheat) is 4months old She was born on September 17, 2008. She eats all on her own. With a large cleft palate (in her hard palate) she rarely gets anything out the nose (if she drinks from her water bottle) and does really well with hard food (babydog30 by Royal Caine). Please email me if you need help with a newborn cleft palate. They are worth the effort. :)

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Cleft palate Dog
• Cleft palate Puppy

[18melissajane]

We have a litter of shih tzus born today and i noticed he was latching on the nipple and i looked in his mout and he has cleft palate how can i feed him because he is not getting enought milk please help

[lindablues]

@18melissajane We have a puppy that has a cleft in the back and pinholes toward the front. We have tube fed her as it didn't work the other way. She can eat puppy kibble at 8 weeks, but still has a problem with water going into her nose. The water makes her sneeze and gasp for air, so continuing with tube and will try a bottle waterer next. good luck!

[gerefamily]

@lindablues The water bottle helps because she will learn how to keep her head up while drinking. Mine adjusted. She now drinks out of a bowl and puts her head straight up to swallow. No water out of the nose. Keep up the great work!

[gerefamily]

@18melissajane Just saw this post, sorry for the late reply. You can feed him like we did or tube feeding. If tube feeding, watch some videos online to show you how to do it. make sure you let the little one suck your finger after they eat.

[WayTooFluffy]

I loved your video. I found you by searching for tube feeding puppies. We just had a puppy yesterday that has a hair lip and cannot nurse. We already love him.

[gerefamily]

How did things go with your little puppy?

[stahlt12345]

How do I know if the food is too big or too small? What did you give your puppy for chew things? She has had nothing but my finger so far. She also chews on her bedding.

[stahlt12345]

Hello. I have a 5 week old cleft palate Chihuahua puppy. Grace has just the back of her cleft open. I cannot get her to eat dog food. She will put it in her mouth and move it around then spit it back out. Any suggestions for me? I am still tube feeding her. When I saw her doing what your syringe fed puppy is doing I thought she was choking and gasping. I wish I would have found this earlier. How do I get her to eat hard food? She tries but winds up spitting it back out.

[shnookey1979]

Ahhh! I was wondering if it was possible to do it this way! I was worried about her breathing it in rather than swallowing, in the panic. I have a now 3 day old clefty girl I've been tube feeding. But hte tube is causing irritation and now there is blood that sometimes comes in her spit up . I was desperately wondering if there was any way to feed her without tubing her and causing this to get worse. I am going ot give this a try on her next meal!! Thanks and your girl is adorable!!

[pamelamccraven]

@pamelamccraven sorry, I refered to him as Her in the beginning, he would be offended,,, sorry, just wanted to clarify and add to my comment,,, god bless you for taking the time to save him, and thank you again for your post

[pamelamccraven]

I have a little Chihuahua with the same conditon, your video inspired me on January 17, the day after she was born, to give him everything I could. After feeding 2ml's every 2 hours for 2 weeks, he's still here, I'm going today to buy the hard food you recommended. Thank you for posting this, it truly inspired me, and as you said, I would gladly do it again,,, My little 'Nugget' (that's what his name is) is doing well, although i'd like him to gain more weight, and is expected to be about 2 lbs

[MacintoshBrasil]

great