A cleft palate is a congenital condition in which an individual's mouth and lip do not properly fuse together during development, resulting in an opening in the roof of the mouth. This can affect speech development, eating, and oral hygiene.
ASHG 2014: Scientists Identify Mutation Associated with Cleft Palate in Humans and Dogs ASHG Press Release — October 19, 2014 (ashg.org)
This article originally appeared on Dr. Mahaney's The Daily Vet column on PetMD as Cleft Palate in Dogs Awareness. (patrickmahaney.com)
Q: Dr. Mike: Could you tell me which toxins might be the cause of cleft palate in puppies and what other environmental conditions might also contribute to this problem. (vetinfo.com)