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Your Dog’s Misaligned Teeth

If your dog’s teeth do not align right, its called malocclusion, which mean the fit of the bite is not right. This condition usually starts as the puppies teeth start coming in. As the dog grows to adulthood, the condition can get better or worsen.

Puppies have very sharp teeth and by the time they are 6 months old, they will have about 28 teeth. Into adulthood, your dog will have 42 teeth. Puppies are notorious for those sharp pointy teeth so it is best to monitor your small child’s playtime with the puppy to avoid any accidents.

This condition has minimal risks to your dog but can cause some discomfort and infection if it is a severe case. Usually malocclusion affects the dog’s ability to chew or pick up the food. Causes of this disorder are mouth injuries and wear on the teeth.

The most common malocclusions are overbite or underbite. This occurs when the mouth is closed and the teeth do not meet creating a gap. Many breeds have this problem naturally and do not have any issues; however, the flat face family of dogs will not have the scissor bite.

When you are looking for a pure breed dog there are certain characteristics that are common to their breed. The scissor bite is one of those malocclusions that is not common in the flat nosed dogs like Boxers, Shih Tsuz and Lhasa Apsos’. If the dog has a scissor bite, then you might not be getting a purebred.

When the upper jaw is longer than the lower one, it creates an overbite. When the mouth is closed, a gap is formed between the upper and lower incisors. In puppies, if the gap is not to large, it can sometimes fix itself usually by 10-months.

Your dog’s overbite may worsen as the permanent teeth come in because they are larger and can damage the soft parts of the mouth. Teeth extractions are sometimes necessary. Just check with your vet if you are concerned or notice that the dog is not eating.

You may want to consult a specialist for those severe cases. I bet you never thought you would hear this; yes in recent years, braces are being made for puppies to help in the realignment of their teeth. What will they think of next, doggy contacts to change their eye color?

I do certainly feel that we are responsible for making our pet’s life a good one. Be diligent in the care of your dog. Regular checkups and vaccinations can increase the life of your dog and keep them healthy and happy.

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