Elongated soft palate

[zcb]

Scooter has been diagnosed with elongated soft palate. At first it was thought it was a trachea problem but that wasn't it. He goes through bouts of coughing and gagging especially when he drinks water or gets excited. He doesn't seem to have a problem with eating, only drinking. His vet is reluctant to send him to a specialist for surgery because he's 13 possibly 14 years old. I don't know his age because he was a rescue. Has anyone else had this problem? It breaks my heart to hear him coughing and gagging. I've never heard of this so please share your experience with me.

[pstinard]

Originally Posted by zcb

Scooter has been diagnosed with elongated soft palate. At first it was thought it was a trachea problem but that wasn't it. He goes through bouts of coughing and gagging especially when he drinks water or gets excited. He doesn't seem to have a problem with eating, only drinking. His vet is reluctant to send him to a specialist for surgery because he's 13 possibly 14 years old. I don't know his age because he was a rescue. Has anyone else had this problem? It breaks my heart to hear him coughing and gagging. I've never heard of this so please share your experience with me.

No personal experience with it. It's more common in short-nosed breeds like pugs. If it's not severe, maybe he can live with it, but if it's getting worse, it might be best to get a referral to a specialist for a consultation. It can be corrected surgically, but you would need to find out how stressful that surgery might be for your dog.

[pstinard]

I found a couple of Yorkietalk threads about soft palate surgery:

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sic...e-surgery.html

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sic...y-success.html

[zcb]

The closest place for surgery is 90 miles away and he would have to spend several days recovering. The recovery is very difficult and dogs have died during it. I just can't put him through that. I sit here and cry when he gets the coughing spells. It's just so painful to hear him. Thank you for the articles. I'll read them. Please pray for him.

[ladyjane]

How was it diagnosed? In order to diagnose it they usually need to be put under anesthesia. Are they sure there isn't anything else going on? I personally would not put a 13 or 14 year old through the surgery.

[pstinard]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

How was it diagnosed? In order to diagnose it they usually need to be put under anesthesia. Are they sure there isn't anything else going on? I personally would not put a 13 or 14 year old through the surgery.

I did some reading up on it, and it's usually diagnosed while the dog is sedated or under anesthesia. It's such a simple surgery that it's often repaired at the time of diagnosis in younger dogs. I don't know how this surgery goes for older dogs. That's why I suggested that the OP consult with a surgical expert to determine whether the benefits outweigh the risks. If the dog is miserable, or if the condition is so bad that it could shorten the dog's life, it can't hurt to get an expert opinion. I would do it in a heartbeat, but then again, I only live about 10 minutes from a veterinary teaching hospital. Living 90 miles away would make it much more difficult. Maybe there is some way that the vet can send the dog's records to the surgeon for at least some kind of preliminary consultation?

[muffy]

My first step would be to take an X ray followed by Ultrasound to confirm he has elongated soft palate, has he had any issues going under anesthesia? My little girl has this same issue every time she had to be put under for teeth cleaning, they had a hard time intubating her as the soft palate is too long ( closing trachea)and is very difficult to place the breathing tube down. Is he having a hard time in hot weather breathing , panting? or sleeping at night in warm climate? you have to closely record all this things and determine the severity before surgery. I would also have a CBC blood test done just prior to surgery as this will determine the overall health of Sccoter, if blood readings are good, chances are he will be in good health to recover. Mine did not have to stay in hospital after surgery, she recovered in about 10-14 days and she had 2 surgeries done at the same time ( ESP and Spleen removal )

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by pstinard

I did some reading up on it, and it's usually diagnosed while the dog is sedated or under anesthesia. It's such a simple surgery that it's often repaired at the time of diagnosis in younger dogs. I don't know how this surgery goes for older dogs. That's why I suggested that the OP consult with a surgical expert to determine whether the benefits outweigh the risks. If the dog is miserable, or if the condition is so bad that it could shorten the dog's life, it can't hurt to get an expert opinion. I would do it in a heartbeat, but then again, I only live about 10 minutes from a veterinary teaching hospital. Living 90 miles away would make it much more difficult. Maybe there is some way that the vet can send the dog's records to the surgeon for at least some kind of preliminary consultation?

I agree...needs a specialist. I would drive the 90 miles if the dog is coughing that badly. Best to know exactly what you are dealing with and I just have a feeling this might not be what this is. Just a feeling based on the odds of this happening in yorkies. There are so many other things it could be...and I wonder if CT has been ruled out. That can only be ruled out 100% by doing a flouroscopy. A lot of people think if the trachea is ok on a chest xray that it isn't CT, but sometimes it doesn't show on a CXR.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by zcb

The closest place for surgery is 90 miles away and he would have to spend several days recovering. The recovery is very difficult and dogs have died during it. I just can't put him through that. I sit here and cry when he gets the coughing spells. It's just so painful to hear him. Thank you for the articles. I'll read them. Please pray for him.

I don't know who told you that, but there are many choices in your area. Blue Pearl is on the list and they do have a good reputation from what I have heard.

Here is a list of the ones that are closest to you:

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Click on the Diplomate's name for additional information.

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Zip:33549
Country:United States of America
Distance:100
Results per Page:20
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ACVS Diplomate

Nicole M. Salas, DVM, DACVS-SA
City:Lutz, FL
Distance: 1.0 miles
Jennifer Ann Brown, DVM, DACVS-LA
City:Odessa, FL
Distance: 6.7 miles
16502 Offenhaur Rd
Odessa, FL 33556-2310
Phone813) 727-5606
Fax813) 915-5200
dr.brown@k9sportsvet.com

Web: http://www.k9sportsvet.com
Helga F. Bleyaert, VMD, DACVS
City:Tampa, FL
Distance: 7.3 miles
BluePearl Veterinary Partners-Tampa
3000 Busch Lake Blvd
Tampa, FL 33614-1862
Phone813) 933-8944
fvshelga@gmail.com

Michael R. Reems, DVM, MS, DACVS-SA
City:Tampa, FL
Distance: 7.3 miles
Florida Veterinary Specialists
3000 Busch Lake Blvd
Tampa, FL 33614-1862
Phone813) 933-8944
michael.reems@bluepearlvet.com

Andrea Lynn Smith, DVM, DACVS-SA
City:Peachtree City, GA
Distance: 11.2 miles
Callum W. Hay, BVMS, DACVS
City:Tampa, FL
Distance: 11.7 miles

Veterinary Surgical Svcs, Inc.
7512 Paula Dr # 103
Tampa, FL 33615-4114
Phone813) 901-5100
Leslie Thomas, DVM, DACVS-SA
City:Tampa, FL
Distance: 11.7 miles

Veterinary Surgical Services
7512 Paula Dr
Tampa, FL 33615-4114
Phone813) 901-5100
vetsurgicaltampa@gmail.com

[ladyjane]

I looked at previous posts and see that at one point Scooter was diagnosed with CT and was on Temeril P for a few days and it was working! Is he still on it? I had advised you speak with your vet about a flouroscopy...did you do that?

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/gen...te-advice.html

I am very confused about what diagnostics have been done on Scooter...that may be the real issue here. I strongly encourage you to have him seen by a specialist so you can get to the bottom of this issue and help Scooter feel better and you as well.