Folic Acid & a Cleft Palate in Canine Pregnancies

A cleft palate is a condition where a puppy's mouth does not grow properly in the womb. This results in a hole in the pup's mouth, which can be mild to severe. Sometimes the hole is so severe that the pup has to be euthanized, but some pups have a condition so mild that they need no treatment.

  1. Function

    • Folic acid is also known as vitamin B9. Scientists use folic acid to refer to the artificial form of the naturally occurring form of the vitamin that dogs need. In nature, the vitamin comes in many different molecules, which are known as folates. Folic acid or folate is essential for cell division and is an important part of the creation of new genetic material. The vitamin also forms part of the nervous system and acts in the metabolism of certain protein building blocks.

    Development

    • The pup embryo spends its first month developing the individual organs and features of the pup, which then all start to fuse together. A lack of folic acid in this time can result in the parts of the pup's mouth not fusing together correctly, which results in a cleft palate.

    Nutrition

    • A pregnant dog which receives adequate nutrition during the beginning of its pregnancy is less at risk of cleft palate than dogs which are deficient in the vitamin, according to the American Kennel Club (AKC). Some brands of dog food fortify the food with folic acid for this reason, although the AKC states that a balanced dog food is generally sufficient for good health.

    At-Risk Breeds

    • The breeds with the highest risk of cleft palate are the brachycephalic dogs, which means the dogs with the short noses such as the Boston terrier or the boxer. According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, these breeds have up to a 30 percent chance of cleft palate. Spaniels such as the cocker spaniel and the Brittany spaniel are also at risk. Vets also see the condition in German shepherds, beagles, Labrador retrievers, schnauzers, Shetland sheepdogs and dachshunds.

    Complicating Causes

    • Drugs and chemicals can affect the ability of the dog to use folic acid from the diet, and therefore may be a potential cause of cleft palate. Dogs with intestinal problems may also not be able to make use of all the folate in their food. As well as these medical issues that directly relate to folate, too much vitamin A in the diet can also cause cleft palate. Liver supplements can contain high levels of vitamin A, which is why the AKC does not recommend that an owner add extra foodstuffs to a balanced dog food diet. The most common cause of cleft palates, however, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual, is genetic mutations. This form of cleft palate in pups cannot be controlled through diet, but breeders can prevent the genes from passing down generations if they do not breed from these dogs.