Possible cleft palate

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Deborahm

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We had a pony foal born last night who has been running milk from his nostrils. The vet came this afternoon and said its most likely that the foal has a problem with its soft palate or a cleft palate.

Without taking the foal into be scoped a definite diagnosis couldn't be made, nor the extent of the problem. However the vet said that the prognosis probably was not good, as such foals usually get pneumonia from the milk going into the lungs causing infection. We have been given oral antibiotics from the vet, and the foal has had a tetanus jab.

We want to take the foal into the RVC to be scoped at the start of the week to find out the extent of the problem. As its a pony foal (not an expensive TB) realistically we are ruling out an operation to fix it if it does has a cleft palate, as we understand that costs around £5000, is a major op, and is no guarantee of a healthy outcome.

If it does turn out to have palate problems are we just delaying the inevitable and should this foal be put to sleep? Is there any chance of a normal life for a small child's pony that has a minor palate deformity? How high maintenance are horses with palate problems? Any advice welcomed, as the foal is actually a real sweetie and stunning. It will be heartbreaking to euthanize it, but would that be the kindest decision?
 
I don't know about horses but cleft palates are associated with heart and lung defects in humans if associated with the 22q11 deletion (which is also hereditary).

I hope it isn't a cleft palate :( hopefully it is something completely benign
 
Sometimes in the first 24hrs foals can run milk out their noses after they've fed, as they haven't quite got the hang of swallowing before they breath, especially a really greedy foal that is guzzling it down like there is no tomorrow! And with such short concentration spans they easily forget what they are doing!! Does he choke and cough a lot after or during feeding? We've had a few do it for a couple of days and then they get the hang of it and are fine.
Fingers crossed it isn't a cleft palate as they do die usually within the first week or 2 from pneumonia, the operation is awkward in people and often needs several, so I would imagine the one for horses is not really a viable option or a fair one I would have thought. Good luck and keep us posted.
 
Hi Deborah, chrissie from SU here, sadly I have nothing to add, but am so sorry to hear of the trouble you are having. I hope that it is only a matter of time and adjustment in technique. xx
 
Hi, i have had two foals run milk thro their nostrils, frightened me to death the first time until vet came out and checked foal over. Greedy foals and mares with plenty of milk! Hope this is your case!
 
I really hope your foal is fine...on a slightly positive note I saw a story of a 3 year old strapping gelding who had a cleft palate. He had not been given a good prognosis either, but bless him he learnt to adapt how he ate and his owner learnt what foods were best for him.

I wish I could remember where I had read it...one of the horse magazines though. I will try to find it.
 
We also had a foal born that we thought had a cleft palate, she ran milk down her nose to start with, the vet said it couldnt happen but it did, and she hasnt, can you see anything obvious? Have a look with a torch, this happened within a fortnight of the below horse.

We also know a horse that was born with a cleft palate who did go for investigation, his was so bad the vet said it was good!!!! He does run fluid down his nose but is a strapping 3 year old now without a heart condition - which has been checked. It was advised to get him on solid food as soon as possible and he was kept on antibiotics for a long time as a foal then as he got stronger if he got any kind of rustle on his chest to put him on antibiotics, it was difficult to get them down as they would come through his nose but now hes a strapping boy as big as all the other 3 year olds and you would never know. Although he does fill up his water trough with green gunk lol!!!! This horse was also not an expensive TB.

I personally would give him a chance and see if it is and/or how he copes, keep him on oral antibiotics and take it from there. Good luck!!!!!
 
Thanks everyone for your kind messages. We would dearly love to hope this it's just bad suckling technique, but I don't really dare as we'd be heartbroken all over again. His nose does get gurgly when he sucks but he doesn't seem to cough as yet. I think we need to get him scoped tomorrow if at all possible so that mentally we know where we stand.

I don't think my elderly parents will feel that they can cope with a high maintenance pony who needs to be on antibiotics and nursed frequently, so fingers crossed its not too bad. We don't have anyone to ride them, so they are bred to be sold. My mum has been breeding them for over 40 years, and this is the last of the line. She was considering selling this last broodmare as we find it difficult to cope this winter (I have a fulltime job), so this was potentially our last foal. Its a sad way to end.

We've been lucky and not lost a foal since I can remember, though Chrissie will remember that my 2 horse foals caused concern. The pony ones were always so tough though that we are shocked by this one. We thought that we'd got him over the risky stage when he was delivered, and had already started to bond with him as he's very affectionate. Its a shock to have to be thinking of putting down a foal that is so sweet and looks so healthy at present :-(

Will post updates when he's been scoped. Thanks for all your thoughts and advice.
 
Today we only saw a small amount of milk from 1 nostril one, otherwise he seemed to manage ok. Of course we played with him all day long - so much for not getting emotionally attached! He has been bucking and bouncing around, he really doesn't seem sick. Dare we hope he was just a poor suckler?? We will call the vet tomorrow to update him.
 
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