Your Dog's Misaligned Teeth

By Catherine V. Testaratti

There is a condition prone to puppies called malocclusion, which means that their bit does not fit right. This misalignment of the teeth is common and usually does not affect the dog's ability to eat. However, as the dog grows older, the condition can get worse or could correct itself.

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.

We have all heard of an overbite, underbite. You will notice this mostly when your dogs closes his mouth and his teeth do not meet which creates a gap. However, the scissor bite malocclusion is one that you will not see in the flat faced dog family.

The scissor bite is not something that you will find in all dogs. Boxers, Shih Tzus and Lhasa Apsos are some of the most common of the flat nose breed. Something you need to know when you are purchasing a purebred dog from this family.

Smaller gaps in puppies can usually correct themselves. If a dog is older than 10 months, then the gap is already set and you will need to seek the help of your vet to correct it. If it were not affecting the dogs eating or picking up, then I would not worry.

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.

Severe cases might require intervention as we have said. Typically these conditions do not ever affect the dogs ability to eat and will not require any medical procedure. As of late though, people are opting for doggy braces to correct their dog's alignment issues. What is next, contact lens?

Many dog owners consider their dog a big part of their family. Be sure that they are vaccinated regularly to keep them protected from disease. They deserve to live a long and happy life with the rest of the family. - 31851

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