Elongated Soft Palate

When Mac was neutered, the vet wrote down in the notes that he has a mildly elongated soft palate. Then when we were going over the discharge paperwork the tech was telling me how hard of a time she had tubing him. What irritates me a little bit is that it's my understanding that the vet could have just trimmed it a little while he was already under anesthesia. I know he does the procedure because he's told me himself.
I've also been told that if it's taken care of in the early years, that it greatly reduces complications in the future. I'm concerned because he's having his eye surgery on 12/17, which of course means he'll have another breathing tube.
Leslye has recommended a vet in the area that is very experienced in the soft palate procedure, so maybe it's a blessing in disguise that my vet didn't do it.
I guess with these sorts of things I'm more for the "preventative" side of things, as opposed to a "wait and see" attitude.
Has anyone had experience with this procedure? Was it done by laser, and at what age?

Here is my take on ESP, take it for what it is worth....

THESE ARE PUGS!!! Pugs are one of the most difficult breeds to intubate, it does not mean that have ESP bad enough to have surgery, sometimes it means a tech that is not used to dealing with a brachycephalic breed. I think that most vets who diagnoise SN (Stenotic Nares), ESP, or ELS (Everted Laryngeal Saccules) are diagnoising a breed and not a problem. If you pug have a blue tounge, passes out from activity of any kind, or sleep on their backs (believe it or not that is a sign of ESP) then I think a specialist is called for.

I live in a very warm climate, and have pugs with VERY mashy faces...yes they make sounds when they breathe, but they are conditioned to deal with our evnironment and the florida heat. My vet also knows the breed inside and out and he would never in a million years suggest surgery. Vets annoy me with their "little procedure" tactics and quite frankly, they are pugs and with pugs come snoring, funny sounds, panting, and reverse sneezing, IMO none of those warrant surgery.

Sorry didn't mean to get on my soap box about this, but to say your PUPPY has ESP before his head has even grown to adult size or without showing signs of a serious medical condition is ludacris.

Thank you Sarina, I do appreciate your perspective.

I agree with Sarina. It is much more difficult for pugs than other breeds. just get a few opnions and do what you think is right.

Here is my experience. Let me begin by saying I totally agree with Sarina too. We had ESP surgery done on Lillie when she was 5 yrs old. Her breathing issues were so severe that my vet wouldn't even spay her. When she was 5 our vet noticed on an xray that she had thickening of her bronchial passages which he said indicated a problem that would probably cause health issues as she aged further. I found a great vet with Brenda (sepra's)) help. They lasered her palate, did her nares, a spay and dental all at once. I would only let a vet with tons of experience do my pugs' ESP surgery and only with laser. Lillie is 12 now and in great health aside from a weakening back end. She never needed medication for her breathing issues again after the surgery. She was on several medications before. She did have the classic blue tongue with activity and slept on her back like Sarina said. That is funny though I never associated her sleeping on her back with her breathing issues but it makes sense.

Our vet told us that Chester has ESP when he was a puppy, but he advised we wait to see if it's a problem as he grows up. He still has it but it hasn't affected his life at all. He's only had 2 surgeries in his life (neutering and an eye surgery) but no one ever told us they had any problems tubing him.

As others have said, unless your puppy has some pretty severe, life-altering symptoms resulting from ESP, my personal opinion is to wait as see if it becomes a problem as they grow up.

p.s. I second the laser method. There is a pug rescue down here who are close to militant about ESP -- whole different discussion, but I will say that they only use the laser surgery.

I want to thank everyone for sharing their opinions and experiences. There are so many things that can be learned from discussions like this, and I am truly grateful for it.
Admittedly, there are so many things that I was not educated about when I first was "pugged" so I never worried about them. Now that I'm aware of all of these issues, I want to hear all sides, and opinions, and experiences, so that I can be the best advocate for my pugs.

I have had 3 pugs that have had it done.
Teddy (SEPRA rescue) he had it done before he came to me. He was turning blue and boarderline loosing consciousness. He also had his nares done at the same time. We was 9 yrs old. I think that all the years he spent out in the elements probably caused him to breath poorly and probably contributed to an exaggerate ESP. I think of this as an environmental contributor.

Baby Girl (SEPRA rescue) had it done and her nares when her stent was placed. She spent years coughing which put additional stress on her entire breathing system. I think of this as a genetic/breeding contributor.

Lola (got her when she as 1.5) she has always been a really heavy breather and we have monitored her over the years, but last summer I thought that we were going to loose her. We were at an outdoor event that was held in October and wasn't even that hot. It took her almost an hour to get her breathing back to normal. She had it done 2x. The vet just barely trimmed it the first time, but she was still having problems so she trimmed a little more. She is like a different pug, she still has a pug sound, but at least she can go outside now.

This is just my experience with ESP.

Becky,

I know the vet I used in Illinois always placed the tube and not the tech. With pugs, she would almost always use a smaller tube due to most having either more narrow tracheas or some other problem. It might be worth talking to surgeon who is going to be doing his eye surgery and see what they say.

I am going to have to check and see who actually tubes the dogs with my two vets that I use now since we moved. I have to tell you that I would be a bit pissed knowing that it was not the vet. Maybe I got spoiled with Dr G in Illinois since she always drew their blood, gave them all their shots, etc.... while in the room with me. I have noticed that down here, they want to take them in the back area which I have said no once before.

I have been told that Kimchi needs ESP surgery. She HAS has something akin to a seizure or passed out when she has been super excited. It has only happened a few time and not recently. I have decided to wait and see with her. If this is what the problem is, then I'm sure it will become apparent. At this point, she does pretty good for a high-strung girl and the more comfortable she is with her surroundings, the less excited she becomes.

I was told Thurston needed it as well when he was 7 months old. I waited and I'm glad I did. He's fine.

One of the frustrating things about diagnosing ESP is that the dog needs to be under anesthesia for a vet to thoroughly check it, making an exam almost as dangerous.

Okay, the other side of the coin here.

Pearl had her ESP and nares done when she was spayed. I guess I was talked into it by my vet who said both might be an issue later on and I just went with it. If she hadn't had them done while being spayed I would definitely not have bothered and waited to see if she grew out of it. On the flip-side though I have peace of mind that all those issues have been dealt with. The vet also had a good look at her trachea and it was completely normal.

I do agree though that a conservative "wait and see" approach is best in the greater majority of cases. If there IS a problem however, it is best to get it done sooner rather than later as years of stress on the areas involved dramatically lessens the chance of a good outcome.

With Lanie, I did what Rona did. My vet told me early on Lanie would most likely need her nares done. As a pup she struggled when she was really running around the yard. I went ahead and let him do her nares with her spay. I figured that way she wouldn't have to be put under, on down the road, just to have her nares done.

Just wanted to pop in and let you know that I talked to our vet today about who tubes the pugs when he does surgery. Chester finally needs a dental (the first and probably last of his life) and he's got a nasty ear infection that has been on and off for years that needs a good cleaning while he's sedated. Anyway, our vet said that he always tubes the dogs himself and never lets a vet tech do it. Just thought I'd let you know. He wasn't the least bit surprised or insulted by my questioning so certainly ask your vet or the next vet who tubes the dogs.

Thanks Kendie, I will be sure to ask!

Our second pug, Samson had to have the surgery when he was only 10 months old. I knew when we were taking him home form the breeders that he had a problem.. he was so bad he couldn't run or play as a puppy should. Our local vet took a look when she neutered him, and confirmed he had a VERY elongated palate.

We scheduled him for laser surgery in Seattle, great surgeon there, and laser was not available in W. Canada at the time. He said that Sam had already some tracheal damage, which he mostly repaired, so good thing we didn't wait any longer. We immediately saw a change in breathing, activity etc. That said, I would not have then, or now, done the surgery without significant signs of breathing problems. I agree with Sarina and others that vets are often not experienced with pug surgery, and misinterpret normal pug breathing with ESP.