Surgical correction of bilateral soft palate hypoplasia using soft palate hinged-flap and bilateral buccal mucosal rotation flaps in a dog

Abstract

A 3-month-old 13 kg intact female American pit bull dog was presented with a history of chronic sneezing, nasal discharge, oronasal reflux, and aspiration with food and water. Oral examination under general anesthesia revealed a shortened soft palate extended caudally from the hard palate. As a result, bilateral soft palate hypoplasia was diagnosed. The dog was operated upon by using soft palate hinged-flap combined with bilateral buccal mucosal rotation flaps techniques. Ten days after surgery, the dog was eating well and the nasal discharge was resolved. Oral examination showed that the new soft palate had healed well. A follow-up after six months indicated that the dog was in good health and showed no signs of nasal discharge and eating or drinking difficulties. Thus, this case report describes the successful surgical correction of bilateral soft palate hypoplasia in the case of a dog by using soft palate hinged-flap combined with bilateral buccal mucosal rotation flaps techniques.