A video of an owner helping a puppy with a cleft palate feel “normal” brought the internet to tears.
Kaya’s dog recently welcomed a litter of nine puppies, but difficulty struck when one of the pups, Saint, was born with a cleft palate. An article from MedVet stated that this congenital birth defect occurs when there is an opening in the lip, roof of the mouth or soft tissue in the back. The lack of a proper seal between the mouth and nasal cavity can cause problems in eating, drinking and breathing.
Kaya told Newsweek via TikTok that Saint does not have a cleft lip, but he does have a cleft palate, meaning the hole is only in the roof of his mouth. Puppies with cleft palates do not survive long due to associated health risks. The high costs and variable success rate of surgery lead these canines to being euthanized, an article from Colorado State University stated.
But despite the low survival rate, Kaya’s pup defied all odds. She knew the importance of making him feel like a “normal” puppy, which is why she decided to let Saint nurse with his siblings, or at least pretend.
She shared in the September 12 TikTok video posted to the account @sainty.bo.bainty, which reached over 3.7 million views, how she helps the pup feel normal. He rested on his mother, along with the other puppies who were feeding. Kaya let Saint nibble on a pacifier, mimicking what it might feel like if he were to be getting milk from his mother and making him feel “part of the pack.”
“It’s definitely one of the most difficult things I’ve ever encountered,” she said. “He’s unable to drink from his mother because he could risk aspirating, and he is unable to make suction due to the hole in his mouth.”
Because of Saint’s cleft palate, he struggles getting as much milk as the rest of the litter, leading him to be about a quarter of the size of the other pups, Kaya said. He cannot regulate his own temperature. He also cannot sleep with his mother and siblings because he is too small. He risks being squished, as well as aspiration.
It became a learning curve for Kaya as she navigated raising a cleft palate puppy, but she said she finally got the hang of it. Plus, she found a community for support.
“I created Saint’s page because I want to bring awareness about this birth defect and encourage anyone else who comes across it to try and save the puppy instead of putting it down,” she said.
TikTok viewers’ hearts melted at Kaya’s dedication to making Saint feel as normal as possible, with people calling it a “brilliant move.”
“My heart can’t take it. Thank you for everything you’re doing for him,” one person said.
Another added: “So happy he has you to help him feel like his siblings.”