Equine Internal Medicine Q&A 10
This question was provided by Manson Publishing as part of the OVAL Project. See more Equine Internal Medicine questions |
You are asked to examine a 10- day-old Coldblood filly. When sucking from the dam, the filly constantly loses milk through both nostrils. The foal appears otherwise to be clinically normal.
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What is your tentative diagnosis? | Cleft palate (palatoschisis). |
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How would you confirm the diagnosis? | Inspection of the mouth and/or endoscopic examination of the nasopharynx and soft palate. |
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What is the differential diagnosis? |
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What is the prognosis, and how could this foal be treated? | Although there have been a few favourable reports of the surgical repair of cleft palate, the prognosis is poor. Even if palatoplasty is successful, this will not restore athletic capability and the surgery is no more than a salvage procedure. |
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