Boston Terriers are one of several breeds that are predisposed to being born with cleft palate and/or cleft lip. The other breeds that are generally affected are Pekingese, Bulldogs, Miniature Schnauzers, Beagles, Cocker Spaniels and Siamese Cats.
As a rule purebred dogs and cats have a higher occurrence of cleft palate and bradycephalic pups such as Boston Terriers with their squished in faces, are at greater risk. Even though genetics is the primary culprit of this defect, nutritional deficiencies, viruses and any poisons that strike the mother during herpregnancy may also play a part.
What is a Cleft Plate?
Cleft Palate is an opening between the mouth and the nose that occurs when the area separating them does not fuse together correctly.The cleft or opening in the mouth can reach along the hard palate, the soft palate necessary for swallowing, or in both areas. It is very common for the pup to also be born with a cleft lip.
With a primary cleft palate, the signs are usually obvious. The teeth and gums of the upper jaw can be displayed and there can be an abnormally placed nostril. Dogs with a secondary cleft palate present with the following symptoms: Food and saliva entering the nose causing sneezing & snorting. Distorted nose after eating or nursing. May have a persistent drip if the area is infected. While drinking water the pup may cough and gag. Failure to thrive, if having trouble eating. Or If there is fluid or infection in their noses, Many have problems breathing or exercising. 
How is this birth defect diagnosed?
An oral examination is performed to check for this birth defect. The cleft on the hard palate is easy to see but in order to view the soft palate in the back of the mouth, the puppy must be anesthetized.
A chest x-ray is usually taken to rule out pneumonia. Although small primary clefts of the lip and nostril generally do not cause medical problems, most owners choose to have them repaired for cosmetic reasons.
What part does Surgical intervention play?
Surgery is required for secondary cleft palates to prevent upper and lower respiratory infections and to ensure proper nutrition is met. The cleft on the hard palate can actually become smaller as the puppy matures so surgery is often delayed until the dog is 3-4 months old.
Anesthetizing a young, underweight puppy with breathing issues for surgery is a risky undertaking so some owners opt for tube feeding. This can be done manually by the owner or the vet can place a temporary feeding tube on the side of the pup’s neck for blendarized food.
Following the surgical intervention, there can be some swelling of the soft palate that can hamper breathing and cause snoring. This usually resolves itself. As with any surgery, there are restrictions that can include: Antibiotics for infections, wearing a collar to prevent face rubbing, no hard toys and a pureed diet by mouth or tube feeding.
Any dog born with a cleft palate should not be used in breeding and any parent producing this defect should not be further bred if they are of predisposed breeds.
Depending on the size of the cleft and the skills of the vet, the prognosis can vary. Most vets and breeders believe the puppy should be euthanized and for good reason.
How easy is it to care for a Cleft Plate and keep puppy alive?
Although well intended, most people don’t realize the amount of time that is 
necessary to nurse a puppy affected with this disorder. Tube or syringe feedings must be administered every two hours around the clock for an extended period of time or the puppy will suffer greatly and die a slow death. For those who do undertake the challenge and are realistic, saving the life of a puppy with a cleft palate is extremely well worth their efforts.
What are the challenges that must be overcome?
A puppy with a cleft palate can't latch on properly to nurse! It may look like they are nursing but they may not be getting enough to sustain them. They may not be getting anything at all. Think of sucking on a straw with a hole in it. It looks like you are sucking but you are getting little to nothing.
A puppy born with a cleft palate should be pulled from mom immediately. If the puppy does manage to nurse just a little, they will be exposed to aspiration pneumonia. The safest way to feed a cleft palate baby is to tube-feed them.
Youtube link : How to feed a Cleft Palate Puppy
What you will need to care for a newborn pup with a cleft palate
A catheter feeding tube. They come in many sizes and can be purchased at your vets office
Syringes A bulb syringe (to suck out babies mouth and nose if they burp up formula)
A heating pad Hand-warmers for emergency trips to the vets office to keep baby warm
A good scale (monitoring weight is essential!!)
Puppy formula - either purchased at a pet store or homemade (recipes below)
Nutri-cal or Karo syrup
OR
Recipe using goats milk
10 ounces of goats milk
(I found it in my grocery store in the health food/Organic section)
1 tbsp. light corn syrup
1 cup of plain white (whole milk) NOT LOW FAT yogurt
1 egg yolk
Pour 10 oz. of goat's milk into a bowl and add in 1 tbsp. of corn syrup, 1 cup of plain white yogurt, and one egg yolk. Mix up the ingredients well using a whisk or electric mixer.
www.acns.org
What are Bully Sticks, Beef Tendons and similar treats?
Links to some sites are provided. We do not endorse any of the brands mentioned even if we may use them... This is just informational. We included some comments from some of the product sites we felt would add to the discussion.
What are Beef Tendon chews?We appreciate that there will be some readers that are grossed out by some of the animal body parts that are used. We feel it is important to be upfront on just what animal and what part we are talking about.
Our subject is feeding dogs not people food. We want to gently point out that many of these items are considered gourmet foods for much of the world’s peoples. We also wish to point out that in this global economy that the names of products, country of origin and processes are changing rapidly as global companies continue to buy out our USA brands or our companies buy out international companies. The dog Chews we are focusing on are limited ingredients and generally considered treats. We have even found a make-it-yourself Beef Tendon treat recipe to make.
Tendon: a cord or band of dense, tough, inelastic, white, fibrous tissue, serving to connect a muscle with a bone or part; sinew. Dog tendons chews can be made from pig, beef, oxen, and buffalo, including water buffalo). Tendons attach muscle to bone, so quite different than Bully sticks. Beef tendons usually come from the neck or legs.
This brand I am familiar with as you can find it not only on line but in several pet stores.. and yes I was attracted to the "Made in USA" this is an American owned international company.
♦Redbarn Pet Products: We take pride in producing 100% of our pet food in the U.S.A. In addition, the majority of our treats are made in our company-owned plant in Great Bend, Kansas. Approximately, 80% of Redbarn’s products are made in our plant located in Great Bend, Kansas? All of our USA sourced and processed products proudly feature our “Made in the USA” stamp.The products that list “Made in Paraguay” on the label are made in our company-owned and operated plant located in Paraguay. Because we own the plant, it allows us to maintain and guarantee our quality control standards are met at all times. The Redbarn Large Tendon is a thick, durable tendon originating from the lower leg of the animal. These chews are high in protein and low in fat so they are a great long lasting chew. Because they are a tough chew, they also support dental health by scraping against teeth as the dog chews. Origin: Paraguay Beef Tendon No additives, preservatives or chemicals Rich Flavor and tough texture Natural dental aid High protein and low fat. http://www.redbarninc.com/
How To Make All Natural Beef Tendon Dog Treats
by Doggie Stylish
For those
that are concerned about ingredients in the treats they feed their dogs, this recipe is a winner!
There are only two ingredients, beef tendon and olive oil. Beef tendon can be easily obtained at your local Asian foods market.
You will need; beef tendon, olive oil, a kitchen brush, a good knife, a cutting board, some tin foil and a drying rack/drippings pan combo for the oven.
Before you start anything, turn the oven on to its lowest possible setting.
Tendons naturally occur in pairs. Find the part of the tendon where you can easily pry them apart. Taking your knife, gently fillet the tendons apart.
Taking your kitchen brush, lightly coat all the tendons in olive oil. The oil will prevent the tendons from getting overly dry. Place the oiled tendons on the drying rack. Make sure that the drippings pan is coated with tin foil, this will make clean-up easier
Place the pan in the middle rack of the oven and let the tendons dry for about 2 hours. The tendons will shrink by about 50% with the drying process.
Allow the tendons to cool down for a few minutes and then trim off any excess fat.
Cut the tendons into appropriate bite sized pieces for your dog and you’re done!
Store these treats in the fridge to prevent spoilage.
Link to site :
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-To-Make-All-Natural-Beef-Tendon-Dog-Treats/?ALLSTEPS
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What are Bully sticks?
100% natural product, thickness, shape and color may slightly vary. Also there are several manufacturing methods.
Compared to other dog chews, bully sticks last incredibly long time. It can take weeks for a small dog to chew on one bully stick, while large breeds may enjoy chewing of bull pizzles between a few hours and a few days. Bully sticks, also known as beef pizzles, pizzle sticks, beef sticks, steer stix, are made from 100% bull penises This link will take you to a detailed description of how they are made. Pizzle is an old English word for penis, The word is used today to signify the penis of an animal chiefly. http://www.bullysticks4dogs.com/bully_sticks_made.htm
We are partial to anything made in the USA. We suggest that you may want to take a look as these.
♦Merrick Pet Care: a family business established about 20 years ago. Merrick Pet Care has grown into a national brand that guarantees the highest quality dog treats made in the United States of America from USDA sourced ingredients in accordance with American standards and regulations. Merrick brand means no artificial preservatives in dog chews.
♦Bone Buddies: bull penis dog treats “natural bully stix These bully sticks are of superior quality and made from USDA inspected cattle. Great taste and freshness that dogs absolutely love in combination with odorless nature. From Brazil: Bones Galore bully sticks are made from free range Brazilian "green" cattle that graze on lush meadows and drink from fresh springs. Their diet is free from hormones, antibiotics and steroids. Bone Galores bully sticks do not contain additives, preservatives or artificial flavors. This high quality, all-natural, healthy organic product meets strict USDA standards.
There are of course several other manufactures in the USA or meet USDA food standards... If you would like to recommend another manufactures please add to the comments. And to be fair, I am sure there are substandard American manufactures also.
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♦Natural Pet Buffalo Knots Dog Chews: is made with 100% Water Buffalo Intestines Country of Origin: India. Touted as “the perfect chew for dogs with common beef and poultry allergies, “high in protein and low in fat”. The single ingredient water buffalo is from free range, grass fed animals that are raised without hormones or antibiotics. Buffalo Knots, although irresistible to dogs, can be pungent for many people, so feeding outside or in a separate room is preferred.
I had not come across these before and so was interested in these comments from customers.
“My dog went absolutely nuts over these! Be warned, they're super stinky, but from experience, that's what my dog considers the best of the best. As soon as I pull out the bag, he's dancing circles around me waiting for his special treat.”
“I have to smile at the comments about the smell. I like it and so do my dogs. So many products have a chemical/unnatural odor but these smell very earthy and healthy. I am curious as to what part of the buffalo they come from. Will have to find out.”
“My handsome boy went nuts over these chews! From the moment they arrived at our door he was ready to devour them. I was a little surprised at the smell when I opened the bag (STINKY) but he could barely contain himself. My guy is a pretty aggressive chewer (80lbs black lab) and these lasted him about 20min, and he loved every second. The good news was that once the chew was gone so was the smell - it did not linger in the room or on his mouth/paws.”
♦Best Bully Sticks (online company)Beef Trachea chews, sometimes referred to as "moo-tubes" or "windies," They are a hollow chew that last a long time. Trachea are high in both chondroitin and glucosamine. These naturally occurring agents have both been proven as effective in promoting healthy joints in dogs., and we are sure that you won't be disappointed!
♦6" inch bladder bully sticks although these are not the traditional bully stick, they are very. They are about 6 inches in length and provide a similar chew time to that of a bully stick. Recommended for smaller dogs, but large dogs will enjoy them too! We recommend storing all of natural treats in the freezer or refrigerator since they do not contain any preservatives. No need to thaw, your dog will love them frozen!
CUSTOMER COMMENTS:
“My three dogs love these much more than the traditional bully sticks. I have switched to these.”
“My dogs & boarders pretty much want these (and my homemade chicken jerky) exclusively. They will chew a bully stick if that's all that’s available and I've tried a variety of the quality products Best Bully Sticks offers, but they look at me like, "where are the bladder sticks?" when I offer anything else. “
♦BEST BULLY STICKS COW HOOVES are all-natural, full-sized hooves that have been thoroughly cleaned. Renewable Stuffable Dog Toy, because the hollowed out space of the hoof can easily be stuffed with all kinds of goodies to make a healthy, long-lasting dog treat. Cow hooves are also fully digestible dog treats, never treated with hormones or chemicals! As your dog chews on this single-ingredient treat, they're also removing tartar and plaque from their teeth. Keeping your dog's pearly whites healthy means great overall health for years to come! Origin: Brazil Sourced from free-range cattle May be stuffed with yogurt, peanut butter, etc We recommend storing all of our natural treats in the freezer or refrigerator since they do not contain any preservatives. No need to thaw, your dog will love them frozen!
CUSTOMER REMARKS:
“This is the ONLY chew that my dogs both are eager to chew and that lasts for a very long period of time. These are no longer available locally to me, and a search online for these led me to the Best Bully Sticks website originally, 2 or 3 years ago. I keep coming back for these even though our veterinarian does not recommend these because of their hardness and the subsequent risk of chipping canine teeth. We have never had problems with chipping.”
“I had bought cow hooves from a pet store and had to throw them away because they stunk of cow manure (understandable but very unpleasant). These have been cleaned and are a really good size. There is still a slight odor when the dogs are chewing them but I guess that's what makes them so irresistible! They have stood up to a lot of chewing so far. 5 paw rating!”
“I bought some of these last month for my 12 year old beagle and my 2 year old lab. Both of them love them. They are super long lasting and keep the dogs occupied for hours. The only drawback, and this is kind of a big one actually, is that they stink so terribly bad. My entire living room smells like a barnyard when the dogs chew on these. I would totally recommend these if your dog will be chewing on them outside, in their own room, the garage, or anywhere that isn't next to where you're trying to have your evening bowl of cereal while you watch tv.”
“Our puppies didn't really like these too much - they were happy to take them, but got bored with them really fast.”
While these are “MADE IN THE USA” I remember what several vets told me of their concerns for cracked and splintered teeth… I would advise you to speak to your vet on these products…
♦Large Elk Antlers are a great-tasting, long-lasting dog chew perfect for larger pups. Sourced from naturally shed antlers, The ones I was looking at were made-in-the-USA and collected from wild-roaming American elk. Cut and sanded for safety and appropriate sizing, these antlers are shipped to your front door completely free of preservatives, chemicals or additives of any kind! Large Elk Antlers are a naturally high source of essential nutrients such as calcium, glucosamine and chondrotin. Additionally, the durability of our antlers also makes them a great dental chew by engaging the gums, improving breath, and even preventing the buildup of tartar and plaque. Elk Antler chews are more durable than many other chews, are fully-digestible, unlike rawhide and man-made toys,. Contain essential nutrients and no additives of any kind. Virtually odor-free and won’t stain carpets or furniture. Supervise your dog when chewing elk antlers, or any dog chew. Dispose of the elk antler when it becomes too small for your dog to grip with its paws.
CUSTOMER COMMENTS
“My dog seemed to like the flavor, but the bone is just too hard. I am afraid he is going to break his teeth trying to get to the marrow in the middle.”