An elongated soft palate is a congenital hereditary disorder that negatively affect dogs and cats' breathing and eating.
[1] The soft palate is made up of muscle and connective tissue located in the posterior portion on the roof of the mouth.
When the soft palate is elongated, it partially blocks the throat thereby creating breathing and feeding-related issues.
The elongation and other accompanying symptoms occur in breeds characterized with “smooshed faces” such as pugs, bulldogs, and Persian cats.
[5] Some of the signs and symptoms of an elongated soft palate are loud and/or labored breathing and eating difficulties.
[7] Recognizing different sounds during the animals breathing can help to diagnose BOAC and the presence of an elongated soft palate.
[8] Pets can be diagnosed via physical examination, which involves observation and detection of the symptoms associated with altered breathing due to an elongated soft palate and BOAC.
Oral examinations are performed under sedation and includes determining the position of the soft palate.
Weight loss, controlling allergies, staying in a cool environment, and avoiding neck leads.
Packer RM and Tivers M found that after about a 6 month follow up, 72.1% of owners stated that their dog’s digestive status was excellent and 75% no longer needed treatment or a special diet .