My 4 month old lab has been diagnosed with elongated soft palate, a condition typically associated with the brachycephalic breeds. When my vet suggested that this might be the cause of his raspy breathing, I was very skeptical. Later I mentioned the problem to a vet I know who does research associated with service dogs, primarily goldens and labs. After I listed the symptoms, her first suggestion was elongated soft palate. I was flabbergasted but immediately took my pup in for a sedated throat exam. It was confirmed as elongated soft palate overlapping the epiglottis by 10 cm. That is well beyond the 2-3 cm range where they begin to suggest surgery. I can't find any information about this condition in labs. I have contacted my breeder. She has contacted her breeder mentor. I have searched the internet. Nothing. Has anyone had experience with this, seen any write-ups on this or have any information at all?
Yikes so sorry you have to cope with this in your baby. I don't have any experience with this but I searched PubMed for "elongated soft palate in dog" : https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=elongated+soft+palate+in+dog I'd start with no. 9 because it's not behind a paywall. Your vet friend might help you wade through these. It does appear to be typically associated with brachycephalic breeds but that doesn't mean it doesn't ever happen in other breeds. Perhaps your vet friend can advise you on what to ask the surgeon(s) in terms of experience and outcomes. If possible I would want to know if long term follow up treatments were the rule or the exception. Please let us know how you get on
Thanks for the info. Almost all the literature references brachycephalic breeds since such a huge percentage of them have airway problems. Chuckles is a lab, I was hoping to find any information on other type breeds. With the brachy's they advise surgery asap to avoid stress that compromises other parts of the airways. Chuckles doesn't have fragility in other parts of his airway system. But there is the issue of growth. Chuckles is only 4 months old. We all know that our pups grow by fits and starts in different parts of the body. What if his soft palate grows a lot more and they don't take enough? What if his soft palate is already full grown and they take too much to allow for more growth? For now, I'm waiting and continuing to research. I've only had the diagnosis for a couple of days so I'm still coming to grips with what this means for my little stinker.
It's very frustrating when your dog has a condition that is rare or unusual because it makes it hard to get support and information. Your best bet is probably to talk to two or three vets, and to get them to suggest any resources where you can read up on this condition in dogs with normal skulls, however there may not be much literature available. While no-one wants to put their little pup through an operation, from what I have read it would seem that the outcome after surgery is good! I hope all goes well for your pup. Do let us know how you get on. Threads on these unusual conditions are important because they can be great help to others in the same situation
Thanks. I'm in the process of setting up a consult appointment with our leading vet hospital for respiratory issues and a vet whose practice is almost entirely brachycephalic breeds. Reading up on this condition has helped me figure out the questions to ask. Thank goodness I have investigative time while he grows more. One vet I've talked to explained the lack of literature. She said that this condition pops up sporadically in all of the breeds with boxy heads. She knows a cocker spaniel that has elongated soft palate. As labs have evolved more toward the English-type, the heads have become broader and muzzles have shortened. As a result elongated soft palates may be seen a little more frequently. I am still baffled about Chuckles. His dam, his sire and he all have moderate traditional lab heads. I'll keep posting on this. Maybe someone else is facing the same challenge.
Did you ever get the surgery done? My Labrador is 3 and we just got the surgery done for him and the vet said that was the first lab she’s ever seen with an elongated soft palate on a lab.
