Pet Care

with Oliver Wilkinson of Charlton Kings Vet Centre The puppy with a cleft palate

A cleft palate is an abnormal opening in the roof of the mouth that allows a communication between the mouth and the nasal passages. It’s quite a common occurrence in puppies.

Externally, these puppies look quite normal, but the defect is obvious when the mouth is opened. Although the severity of the defect can vary, it generally carries a poor prognosis, with most puppies being euthanised or dying within a few weeks of birth (from aspirating/inhaling milk or food into their lungs). In theory, it is possible to carry out surgery, but the puppy needs to be 4-6 months old to be able to undergo the procedure and few ever reach that age.

I’ve been a vet for over 25 years and I’ve never seen a puppy survive to be able to have surgery. That is, until recently. A young Labrador puppy came into our clinic with a large cleft palate. He had amazingly defied all the odds and was actually thriving at four months of age. He was suffering from recurring nasal infections but had managed to escape developing fatal pneumonia when he had been suckling.

He was big enough for us to consider corrective surgery, so we started planning what we could do for him. I was aware of the technical surgery that was required, although I had never had cause to perform it. I spoke to a surgical colleague who specialised in head and neck surgery, and although even he saw very few cases, I managed to get some good tips. Feeling confident, we booked in the Labrador puppy.

On the day of the surgery I was able to closely examine the puppy’s mouth and discovered the cleft was even bigger than we had first thought. It appeared to be just about correctable and, with no other options available to us, we proceeded with the tricky reconstruction of the roof of his mouth. When I finally finished operating, the defect had disappeared and I felt optimistic about how it had gone.

There were still a few nervous weeks waiting to see whether the repair would hold, but after three weeks the palate had healed perfectly and we could relax with the puppy likely to go on to live a normal and, hopefully, healthy life.

Such cases are very rewarding, even if they do only come around once every 25 years.

Dragon Vets Charlton Kings is fully equipped with a sterile operating theatre, digital radiography, ultrasonography and laboratory equipment. Drop in and have a look around. You will see many of the same friendly faces from our main surgery at Dragon Vets Cheltenham. You can book your visits and pick up pet supplies, food or medications at either surgery if it’ s more convenient.

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Prestbury Park, New Barn Lane, Cheltenham GL50 4SH T: 01242 580324 www.dragonvet.co.uk 24 HOUR EMERGENCY ~ 01242 522022

Cheltenham-based specialist business lawyers Sherbornes Solicitors have announced the promotion of two longstanding employees – Trula Brunsdon and Matt Lennon will now form part of the firm’s senior management team.

Trula and Matt have been with the company for 10 and 6 years respectively and will work alongside existing Directors, Darren Sherborne and Simon Birks. ‘No-nonsense, practical legal advice’

Darren, who founded the business 11 years ago, commented: “I have always been a firm believer in promoting from within. I’m delighted to announce these promotions which are very well deserved and will put the business in an extremely strong position going forward. The reputation that both Trula and Matt have developed over the last few years in providing no-nonsense, practical legal advice to our clients has made it an easy decision to bring their skills into the management of the firm.”

Trula specialises in employment law and has built up a wealth of experience advising both employers and employees across numerous sectors. This has proved invaluable in understanding both sides of the employment law fence and helping secure the best outcomes for her clients. She said: “I’m absolutely delighted with this news. I love working with the team and am excited about the future – we’ve grown strongly in recent years and have ambitious plans.”

Matt advises companies across a number of industry sectors on corporate law matters with a particular focus on business sales and purchases – several of these being some of Gloucestershire’s largest companies. He commented: “We’ve grown organically, often through referrals and recommendation, and as our clients have won new business. We are very proud of what we have already achieved and plan to build on this success further”.

These significant promotions mark an exciting stage in the development of Sherbornes. Simon said: “I’m confident this decision to promote two valued and respected lawyers will help ensure we continue to go from strength to strength as a firm as clients continue to receive the quality level of support and advice they expect from us.”

From left: Simon Birks, Trula Brunsdon, Matt Lennon and Darren Sherborne.