A puppy with a cleft palate had been advertised on Craigslist in Virginia. Barely six-weeks-old and weighing less than three pounds, his tiny life held on by a thread when Rescue Dogs Rock NYC stepped up to help. When the pup, dubbed Casper was rescued on Monday morning, he already presented with a discharge from his nose and mouth; since rushed to the emergency veterinarian, the puppy has been diagnosed with pneumonia.
“We know these puppies often don’t make it due to complications with eating and breathing, but we hope Casper will,” stated Stacey Silverstein, co-founder of the rescue organization. “Right now he’s on antibiotics and we know if he does make it, multiple surgeries will likely be in his future. There is no other option.”
A cleft palate is an abnormal opening in the roof of a dog’s mouth and is the result of the failure of the two sides of the palate coming together and fusing during embryonic development. The deformity results in an opening between the nasal passages and the mouth. Treatment is surgical repair of the defect, however most surgeons prefer to wait until the puppy is three to four months of age before operating.
According to PetMd, the symptoms of a cleft palate are:
- Runny nose
- Coughing
- Aspiration pneumonia (pneumonia caused by milk and food contents entering the cleft and infecting the lungs)
- Respiratory difficulty (caused by aspiration pneumonia)
- Difficulty sucking and nursing (for puppies)
- Slow growth
- Weight loss
- Lack of appetite
Follow Casper’s progress on Rescue Dogs Rock NYC Facebook page. To help, donations can be sent via [email protected] or www.rescuedogsrocknyc.org/donate/ or RDR NYC PO Box 101 NY, NY 10028.
(Photos of Casper with cleft palate courtesy of Rescue Dogs Rock NYC.)
Hope the surgery goes well
I wish Craigslist would STOP ALLOWING THE SALE OR ANY KIND OF advertisement for animals….. it is just a filthy shopping center for degenerates who want animals for horrible reasons!! PLEASE STOP THIS Craigslist!!!
I agree. Who would sell their living animal to a person that the have never met or know the conditions the animal will be put into. Regulations need to be enforced and laws passed on this very topic. Very sad!!
I think he’s PERFECT! ????
Thank you Rescue Dogs Rock NYC to the rescue of this little cutie Casper I believe he would have died otherwise. At least he has a chance and we send positive energy to his tiny little body. Stay strong little Casper fight it with all you can.
“Barely six-weeks-old and weighing less than three pounds” WTF is it with these kinds oh gee slipped my mind wont make them any $ so get ride of him! well at least little Casper was seen on C.L. on of may, yet there are 1000’s sadly are not
Glad he is on good hands.Hope he makes it.You people make all the difference to these beautiful babies.You folks take on some of the worst cases and provide the best care.Hats off to your organization.Thank you.
Keeping this precious baby Casper in our prayers. Bless Rescue Dogs Rock NYC, again you go above and beyond for these precious babies!
god bless and keep safe Casper
This person doesn’t bring Caper to the vets? WTH! Also I am appalled at people who uses Craigslist for selling or re homing their pets!
He’s adorable. Praying he gets fixed up and has a long life with a great family. So cute!
Great news you are a Hero