Symptoms of Malocclusion of Teeth in Dogs
Sometimes called salmon jaw, two of the signs of a dog with teeth misalignment are either an overbite or a protruding lower jaw. The dog may also not be able to close its mouth or appear to always have the slightly open mouth of a fish.
Dogs with upper jaws that protrude over the lower jaw may take on the appearance of a parrot with the beak.
Other symptoms of a misaligned jaw include:
At approximately 10 months, a dog should have its full set of adult teeth. The ideal dogs teeth look like scissors once theyve properly grown in, into a zigzag line.
There are several different types of malocclusion that may be diagnosed by the veterinarian; these include:
As mentioned above, a dogs bite will set at 10 months old. At this point, there is no chance that the improvement of malocclusions, such as an overbite or underbite, will happen on its own. Unbeknownst to some pet parents, there is a chance that your pets misalignment can worsen on its own. This is correlated to the fact that the permanent teeth are much larger than the baby, puppy, or “milk teeth.” When this happens your veterinarian will most likely suggest teeth extractions to make room for the incoming or already set teeth.
Treatment of Malocclusion of Teeth in Dogs
For dogs that have teeth misalignment but can bite, chew and swallow without any problems, there may be no need for treatment. In dogs that experience the teeth or jaw alignment due to genetics, not much can be done to “correct” it outside of neutering or spaying the animal so future puppies will not have the same problem.
However, for dogs that experience pain, the first resolution will more often than not be to remove deciduous teeth, which are notoriously linked to oral discomfort and diseases in dogs past the age of 10 months. Veterinarians will encourage pet owners to pay special attention to the pattern of their dogs teeth during the puppy stages to avoid long-lasting issues.
If a dog is experiencing unusual behavior (heavy gulping, salivation and constantly rubbing at its own face), its in pain or, at least, irritated. If foreign objects are the cause, those will be removed immediately once an X-ray identifies it.
Braces may be necessary to save good teeth from being extracted unnecessarily, especially if missing teeth are leading to other oral complications. The size of the braces will heavily depend on the shape and the size of the dog’s mouth and face.
Worried about the cost of Teeth Misalignment treatment?
Pet Insurance covers the cost of many common pet health conditions. Prepare for the unexpected by getting a quote from top pet insurance providers.
How do I stop my dogs teeth from breaking?
Aggressive chewing on hard objects (rocks, fencing, etc.) or on hard treats (cow hooves, bones and hard nylon toys) are the primary cause. To prevent broken teeth and destructive chewing, dental experts recommend regular exercise and special doc-approved toys to distract them from the bad ones.