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.
Ordinary tribulations that can occur from malocclusion are mouth injuries, wear on the teeth and fractures in the mouth. Depending on the severity of the malocclusion, its best if you have a vet check it out to recommend if you need medical intervention. Make sure that your dog is not experiencing difficulty eating due to their malocclusion.
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.
When adult teeth start coming in, this can cause the condition to worsen. Damage to the soft part of the mouth can occur and your vet might need to intervene. All your vet would need to do is extract a tooth or two to correct the problem.
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?
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.
Have an Animal that you Care For? Visit Catherine’s recommended Pet Supplies for Dogs online store that uses nature’s best ingredients. They have the most amazing Natural Organic Dog Shampoos available.
Tags: pets, cats, ragdollcats, catcare
