My puppy has a canine overbite. Is it serious or a future problem?

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.

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.

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!

Congratulations on your new puppy!!! To answer your question, no they are not expected to out grow the underbite. The underbite will always be present and does not generally get worse. Most dogs with underbites don’t experience many problems. The main issue I see in practice is if the teeth align and rub again each other or create a wound within the gums or hard palate. I hope you find this helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! An overbite or underbite is genetic and can be passed to future offspring. It is usually not recommended to breed these pets since this is not a desired trait and does not improve the breeding lineage. That being said, most people will still use these pets as breeders despite the malocclusion. The bite can cause abnormal wear on the enamel of the teeth or chewing problems depending on how severe. Also, some genetic problems don’t show up until a pet is older (like hip dysplasia). The decision is still yours whether or not you want to use her for breeding. Kisses to Abby!

Thanks for the picture, it's very helpful. I see what you mean about Lyla's teeth. Tooth problems like this do not correct themselves over time; in fact, they can get worse. In saying that, it doesn't look like her jaw is too over shot but this is something that should be checked out by a vet. I would give her vet a call to make her an appointment. Best of luck.

I honestly would try to wait and see on this one. There is a chance this won't pose any major concerns for Bear, especially if you are diligent with brushing his teeth and getting him regular dental cleanings. Even though the teeth can dig into the bottom jaw quite a bit, Bear may compensate for this himself and not cause any injuries here. I hope that this helps you in your decision making moving forward. Best wishes and take care.