title: Clinical characteristics of horses and foals diagnosed with cleft palate in a referral population: 28 cases (1988-2011).
abstract: The objective of this case series was to characterize the population, case presentations, and outcomes of 28 equids diagnosed with cleft palate over a 25-year period. The incidence of cleft palate was 0.04%. The median age at presentation was 2 mo (range: 1 d to 3 y). Fifty percent of the animals were < 2 mo old, 21% were ≥ 2 mo but < 1 y old, and 29% were 1 y of age or older. Males and females were nearly equally represented. Short-term outcomes included euthanasia in 50%, surgical repair in 11%, supportive care in 4%, and no treatment in 32% of cases; 46% of the animals survived to discharge. Defects involving both the hard and soft palate and/or aspiration pneumonia generally had less favorable outcomes. Though cleft palate is rare in horses, it should be considered as a differential diagnosis in horses of all ages with nasal discharge, a cough, a history of recurrent respiratory infections, poor growth, or chronic submandibular lymphadenopathy. Endoscopic evaluation of the pharynx may aid in earlier diagnosis and prognostication for owners.
authors.affiliation: Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, 4475 TAMU, College Station, Texas 77843, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.affiliation: Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, 4475 TAMU, College Station, Texas 77843, USA.
authors.forename: Tracy E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Norman
authors.affiliation: Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, 4475 TAMU, College Station, Texas 77843, USA.
authors.forename: Carolyn E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Arnold
authors.affiliation: Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, 4475 TAMU, College Station, Texas 77843, USA.
authors.forename: Michelle C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Coleman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D006736:Horses; D008297:Male