My puppy has an overbite. What are the risks of tooth extraction?

An overbite could cause serious damage to the hard palate if the malocclusion is severe and the bottom teeth cause damage to the top of the mouth. Sometimes deciduous and adult baby teeth need to be extracted with an overbite, and sometimes certain types of physical therapy can help the adult teeth grow in appropriately so that they don't require extraction. If you would be unable or unwilling to invest in dental care, including potential advanced dental care with a specialist you may want to look for another puppy since it would be very difficult to know the extent of the dental issues without having a vet examine the pup.

An over bite can be a problem depending on the alignment of the lower jaw. If the lower canines come in contact with the hard pallet, then that can cause a problem. This can be fixed however by removing the lower teeth or shortening and capping them. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Slight underbites and overbites do not cause any major issue in terms of eating, drinking, chewing on a bone or grinding teeth. If you are concerned, there are veterinary dentists. You would have to ask your veterinarian if there is one in your area and get a referral. In my 17 years of practice, I have seen dogs with severe under bites do just fine! But I have heard of veterinary dental braces which would need a veterinary dentist. I do not recommend putting any dog through that unless it was absolutely necessary though.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Bear. Yes, the baby teeth will need to be extracted as they will destroy the attachment of the adult teeth if left in place. The staining on the hairs near his eyes is normal for his breed. It is due to tears coming from his eyes. As long as the whites of the eyes are not red and he isn't squinting, then it is just a cosmetic problem. To recieve a health certificate for travel, he will need to see a veterinarian approved by the USDA for a physical exam. If he is deemed healthy, then the health certificate will be written. I hope this information helps!

I think the best thing you can do is see if the breeder will let you take the puppy to the vet to have this checked out for yourself. The vet will be able to tell you if there will be problems in the future or not. Should the breeder not allow this (and I would ask to do it when the puppy is a bit older, around four weeks), then do not get the puppy. Any reputable breeder would allow a potential owner to do a vet check. I hope this helps!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Pippa. Every puppy grows and develops at a different rate. At this age, I would recommend monitoring her. If her facial conformation continues to rapidly change, then you will need to discuss it with her veterinarian. If any of her teeth are causing pain by contacting the opposite gum tissue, then intervention by.a veterinary dentist may be necessary. Most puppies will be fine. An underbite is generally less worrisome then an overbite where the lower canine teeth can contact the hard palate. I hope this information helps!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your dog. I agree that the upper canines have come in at an odd angle. You can also consider seeking a second opinion with a veterinary dentist. This may provide you with other options aside from extraction. There may be more advanced options to correct her mouth. Some dogs can even be fitted with braces similar to people! I hope this information helps.