Does Anyone Have Any Info?

[paddysmate]

My 2 yr old stafford bitch has just been diagnosed with an elongated soft palate she's always been a snorer and snuffles a lot but I didn't think anything of it till Sunday we went for our usual walk which is about 4 km about 1 km in she started to puff so we got her a drink and took the gentle leader off her as this is a new introduction and I thought maybe I hadn't fitted it right we ended up sitting down with her as the puffing had turned to an extreme shortness of breath it reminded me of an asthma attack in a person. while my hubbie ran home with the other dog and got the car it took me nearly 2 hours to settle her down my local vet was out of town and the nearest one said watch her as he thought she may need sedation to regulate her breathing again anyway next morning vet checked her out and says elongated soft palate and she has an infection in her lung.My main concern is she was due to go to stud in the next few weeks but if this is genetic or in any way damaging to her I intend to cancel. The vet couldn't detect any heart problems. Second worry is surgery the way to go? I'm told it can get worse with age. Any feedback would be great.

Edited September 8, 2008 by paddysmate

[Staffyluv]

Poor baby, I hope she is alright now. That must have been very frightening for you.

I don't know anything about it but I certainly would not be breeding with an issue like this - just a personal opinion (and I am not a breeder).

Maybe if you post this in the breeders section of the board you might get more help - I know it is a health issue but the breeders will know more about it (we have a few wonderful Stafford breeders here on DOL).

[koolietas]

We've had a couple of pekignese with this problem. It does get worse with age...the sooner the surgery is done the better. Ours have had the surgery (specialist) - and they have improved - but we have to watch that they don't get over heated (either a warm day or too much exercise).

Definitely don't leave them in cars at any time of the year. Walk them with a harness (not a collar), keep them in a healthy weight range (don't let them get overweight), keep them fit (short walks) and definitely don't breed!

From memory - the surgery was around $1,200

[~Anne~]

It is largely genetic but can also be a random occurrence. I would certainly not be breeding from her.

I highly recommend the surgery. Without surgery, the pressure of forcing air past the palate can cause significant issues with the trachea, including partial and full collapse, depending on the severity of the elongated palate and the stress your dog is placed under when exercising.

I am not sure which state you are in but, if in NSW, I can recommend a Vet who can do the surgery for much less than the $1200 spoken of above.

[Nekhbet]

couldnt find the canine version but you get the idea! Elongated soft palate is genetic, its more common in the little breeds who do 'reverse sneezing'. Mums pomeranian has a mild form, he gets too excited or barks too much he has to be picked up and soothed until he stops snorting. A lot of the Brachy breeds get it too.

Breeding ... talk to your original breeder but I wouldnt if it affects her that severely

[~Anne~]

couldnt find the canine version but you get the idea! Elongated soft palate is genetic, its more common in the little breeds who do 'reverse sneezing'. Mums pomeranian has a mild form, he gets too excited or barks too much he has to be picked up and soothed until he stops snorting. A lot of the Brachy breeds get it too.

Breeding ... talk to your original breeder but I wouldnt if it affects her that severely

It is actually common in any breed with a shortened or small muzzle when compared to the natural evolution of a dogs muzzle. This includes the brachy breeds, toy breeds and dogs such as the staffy who have a more blunt muzzle then the 'naturally evolving' dog. This is why it can occur naturally and not be a genetic occurrence.

[storm]

Find a good vet and get it operated on. If your in qld I can give you a name of a vet to talk to, cost would also be much less then $1200.

[ellz]

Unfortunately elongated soft palate is more common in Staffords than most people believe (or admit to). If your bitch is as severe as it sounds, then I certainly wouldn't be breeding from her.

IMO jury is out as to whether it is genetic, but I personally feel it could almost certainly be considered a man made issue with the favour towards shortening muzzle length and increasing head size.

[Charles Kuntz]

Hi, Charles Kuntz here. If you need a specialist in Victoria I know one that can do it for more than 1200.00.

Brachycephalic airway syndrome is a condition of short-faced dogs and some longer faced dogs (like maltese, cavies, etc) that consists of some primary abnormalities and some secondary changes as well. They consist of the following:

1. Stenotic nares- narrowed nasal passages (primary)

2. Elongated soft palate (primary)

3. Everted laryngeal saccules (sacs normally outside the airway that pop into the airway due to negative pressure caused by sucking air against the other obstructions)- (secondary)

4. Laryngeal collapse- collapse of the larynx secondary to the negative pressure (secondary)

5. Hypolastic (narrowed) trachea- (primary)

You want to get the primary problems addressed early to prevent the secondary problems which can be more challenging to deal with. Recent studies have suggested a success rate of about 90% with surgery done by an experienced surgeon. Many dogs are better after surgery, but not necessarily normal. In addition, you definitely want 24 hour observation for a day or so after this surgery because some can be initially worse after repair.

This is a congenital condition (not definitively hereditary) but probably should not breed affected animals.

Let me know if more questions.

Charles

[~Anne~]

Hi, Charles Kuntz here. If you need a specialist in Victoria I know one that can do it for more than 1200.00.

Why would she want to pay more? I assume you meant less than?

A second comment, the condition that this particular dog suffers from would not be considered brachephalic airway syndrome I wouldn't think. An elongated palate on its own, in a dog that is not a brachy breed, would not be considered part of this syndrome would it?

A specialist is not neccessary either if there are no secondary complications. Many general vets now routinely resect palates in Sydney, and I would assume in other states around Australia.

[Charles Kuntz]

I did mean more. I was making a joke. As a specialist, I charge more that primary care vets for most procedures. While a specialist is not required, you do want someone with a lot of experience operating on soft palates, you want 24 hour care available and would want someone who can recognise everted laryngeal saccules and is comfortable with removing them if necessary. You cannot predict which dogs are going to have the everted laryngeal saccules.

Charles

[Charles Kuntz]

I would also consider Staffies to be borderline brachycephalic as I have seen quite a few with 2 or more of the brachycephalic airway syndrome components.

Charles

[InspectorRex]

if my dogs needed specialist care /surgery Charles Kuntz would be my first point of call- he ia one truly amazing Veterinary Specialist.

I would not chance surgey like this to a GP Vet- it is specialist surgery and as Charles has stated the dog needs 24hr observation post-op and not too many GP Vet Clinics can provide that.

JMHO

[~Anne~]

Thanks for the response Charles.

I have nursed a few Pugs through brachy surgery. Christine Cole from the RSPCA in Sydney is my preferred surgeon for this and she is not a specialist in this field but has performed numerous surgical procedures of this type.

I agree that a specialist is probably preferable, but for many it is a case of economics and a general Vet, who has experience in this arena is more then capable in my view.

[Charles Kuntz]

That sounds great. I certainly know of several primary care vets that are very capable surgeons as well!!

Keep me posted.

Charles

[paddysmate]

Vet has already said he would not do the surgery as we're just a little country town in victoria( think he deals with a lot more sheep problems than dogs!). Guess i'll look towards a Ballarat vet to find a specialist or vet who is capable.

After talking to the breeder (whose vet just happened to turn up) they say around 20% chance of passing this on to a pup. Got to say I'm confused about the breeding thing but leaning towards not being the best option.

Bindy is looking better today got her spark back antibiotics must be doing the trick for now, can anyone tell me why it's not been a problem till now I mean we usuallly walk about 3-5 km most days of the week and have done since she was a pup we live inland and it gets up tound 45 some summer days.

[Clyde]

A specialist is not neccessary either if there are no secondary complications. Many general vets now routinely resect palates in Sydney, and I would assume in other states around Australia.

*nods* Rosalie Mathews is a "Bulldog vet" at Gladesville Vet and does a lot of palettes, great results without the specialist costs.

[~Anne~]

After talking to the breeder (whose vet just happened to turn up) they say around 20% chance of passing this on to a pup. Got to say I'm confused about the breeding thing but leaning towards not being the best option.

I would think that 1 in 5 is far too high to be contemplating breeding.

[~Anne~]

Bindy is looking better today got her spark back antibiotics must be doing the trick for now, can anyone tell me why it's not been a problem till now I mean we usuallly walk about 3-5 km most days of the week and have done since she was a pup we live inland and it gets up tound 45 some summer days.

There are many things that will cause your dog to have difficulty breathing when it comes to an elongated palate. It may be that her trachea has already suffered some secondary issues related to the constant pressure of forcing air through the respiratory system. A dogs throat will also swell in this state and make the problem worse. She may have everted laryngeal saccules which are also caused by the constant pressure of air being forced through the airways. Age is obviously another factor. The older she gets the worse the condition usually becomes.

Having a respiratory infection would not have made things any easier either.

Perhaps Charles can add more??

[Charles Kuntz]

Dogs with brachycephalic airway syndrome are prone to respiratory infections, particularly ones with a narrowed trachea. These will often present for recurrent pneumonia. I don't have any reason to believe that your dog, in particular, has this component of the syndrome, but I would have it checked. The possibility that secondary changes have developed due to the negative pressure is certainly possible, as well as generalised swelling due to turbulent airflow and negative pressure. It would be worthwhile to have everything checked out, and to have everything corrected that needs correcting. Most of these dogs will do well long-term with appropriate management.

Charles