Hair lip?
Submitted by HudsonsDad on October 18, 2010 - 6:10amHi,
I've tried searching but can't find much...sady one of my bulldogs died on Thursday, we think it was a heart-attack. Thankfully it was quick and hopefully painless, at least I know right up until that moment she was her incredibly happy self. We adopted her from our breeder at about 4 (she was the mum of our first bulldog, how could we say no?) so she was about 8 we think.
Anyway, my question is we let the breeder know as we know what had happened, and mentioned that we'd like to one day get another bulldog as company for our other (and us, we need some joy right now). Anyway he found one from another breeder he knows and trusts, the only thing is she apparently has a hair lip.
Is this an issue/danger/health problem, or simply a cosmetic thing? I'm no oil painting so I don't care if it is, and indeed even if it's more than that. I just want to know what we're dealing with and what we can do to help her if we are lucky enough to take her home.
Cheers,
Tim
So sorry about your girl...
How old is the puppy? I'm assuming he can eat without problems? I don't know what kind of problems can develope from this (hare lip/cleft pallete), hopefully someone else will have information.
to be clear about the terminology
The term hairlip has been obsolete for a few decades now because it is so yucky sounding and it leads to confusion with the other cleft palate term. A cleft lip is a split in the lip (it never finished closing in utero) and a cleft palate is a split in the hard part in the roof of the mouth. Both conditions have varying degrees of severity affecting eating although some are so mild there are no problems at all.
I am a pediatric nurse and familiar with the repair of these conditions in humans. In dogs, I have no experience. I think I am just saying you need to see the dog, understand what the defect is, and perhaps obtain a vet`s perspective if you are in any doubt..
Thankfully it seems it's just
Thankfully it seems it's just a very small cleft lip (I wouldn't have noticed, but the show judges would have apparently), she's been completely checked out by one of the local bulldog specialists and is nice and healthy. We get to meet her this Sunday, and bring her home in a few weeks!
We have a male that is 4y/o now with...
cleft palate and lip. Our local vet did the surgical repair on his mouth-the roof of the mouth healed great, but his lip didn't come together as well. He is doing very well as far as eating-never any problems. He does drool alot-not sure if that is because of the cleft or just him??
I have heard that they can have heart defects also-not completely sure about that tho...
We are so greatful that we took a huge leap of faith when we took Cooper in-he is my little man and wouldn't give him up for anything:)
as you can see he is my little man!!!