This page is aimed mainly at breeders, and at anyone considering a litter who has not costed the possibility.
Why it must be checked immediately
A puppy with a cleft palate cannot generate suction to nurse effectively, and milk that enters the nasal cavity can be aspirated into the lungs. Aspiration pneumonia in a newborn is frequently fatal.
Every puppy in this breed should have the roof of its mouth examined within hours of birth. A wide cleft is unmistakable. A narrow cleft confined to the soft palate at the back is easy to miss and just as dangerous, so look properly with good light.
What follows
An affected puppy needs tube feeding — every few hours, day and night, for weeks or months — until it is large enough for surgical repair. That is a genuine commitment, not a formality, and it is undertaken with no certainty of a good outcome.
Repair is specialist surgery and is rarely straightforward. Dehiscence, where the repair breaks down, is common enough that revision procedures are routinely needed.
Signs to look for
- Milk appearing at the nostrils during or after feeding
- Failure to gain weight
- Coughing or choking while nursing
- A visible gap in the roof of the mouth
- Nasal discharge in a very young puppy
- Aspiration pneumonia
What causes it
- Disrupted fusion of the palatal shelves during gestation
- Inherited predisposition, markedly higher in brachycephalic breeds
- Certain drugs or nutritional deficiencies during pregnancy
How it is diagnosed
Direct examination of the roof of the mouth, which should be performed on every newborn puppy in this breed. Wider clefts are obvious; narrow soft palate clefts require careful inspection.
Treatment options
- Tube feeding to bypass the defect and maintain nutrition
- Surgical repair, usually deferred until three to four months when tissue is robust enough
- Antibiotics for aspiration pneumonia
- Euthanasia in severe cases where repair is not feasible
Reducing the risk
- Avoid repeating matings that have produced affected puppies
- Avoid unnecessary medication during pregnancy
- Examine every newborn's palate within hours of birth
Insurance: Congenital and present from birth, so excluded by essentially every policy. This is a cost borne by the breeder, and one more reason breeding this breed is not the business it appears to be.
What we would actually buy
Lifetime cover with per-condition limits that hold up against a single IVDD surgical episode. Compare the per-condition limit rather than the headline annual figure.
Best for:Owners insuring from the day of collection
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Common questions
Can a puppy with a cleft palate survive?
Yes, with intensive tube feeding until it is old enough for surgical repair, typically at three to four months. It requires round-the-clock commitment for weeks, and outcomes are not guaranteed.
Is cleft palate hereditary in French Bulldogs?
There is a clear inherited component, and brachycephalic breeds are markedly over-represented. Matings that have produced affected puppies should not be repeated.
Related reading
This page is general information, not veterinary advice. Every dog is different. If you are worried about your French Bulldog, speak to your vet.