Overbite may not be a serious condition for your dog. But deranged teeth can cause your dog to face gum injuries, bad breath and many other dental problems, including tooth decay. But happily, some ways exist to fix it before it worsens.

What Is a Dog Overbite?

A dog overbite is an inherited condition in which its lower jaw is extraordinarily shorter than its upper jaw. We can also call this condition overshot jaw. If not treated on time, the dog’s teeth can become inaccurately locked together as the dog bites, which can cause the teeth condition to become more severe and the jaw not to grow correctly.

In breeds like German shepherds, Russian wolfhounds, Dachshunds and Greyhounds, this problem is especially very common.

Treating a Dog with Overbite

Dental treatment of dogs is the first step in reducing the effects and pain of overbite. Commonly, a dog shows signs of an overbite as early as 8 to 12 weeks old, and when he is ten months old, his jaw alignment will lock permanently, and then it will be more challenging to treat the overbite.

Small overbites sometimes recover as the dog becomes mature, and brushing the dog’s teeth regularly will prevent the puppy overbite from worsening. If you see any signs of overbite in your dog, you should avoid tug-of-war games that can pressure your jaw and worsen deformation.

If your dog overbite becomes more severe, dental treatment must be taken to correct the misalignment. While this is unnecessary for small overbites, any treatment procedures may cause it to become worse than beneficial. But in severe cases, a veterinarian may recommend treatment. Some accessories like spacers, braces and other orthodontics can be applied to a dog’s teeth to correct the puppy overbite.

These accessories might only be needed for a few weeks and months because a dog’s mouth grows faster than a human’s, but if your dog has a severe overbite case, they might be necessary for up to two years.

6 Essential Guides for Managing and Caring for Dog with Overbites

You may wonder which options you have dog with over bite because it can cause them pain and discomfort. Here are six things you can do to treat your puppy overbite to improve its well-being.

1. Buy a Better Dog Bowl For Overbite Dog

Sometimes, you should’ve noticed that your dog finds it difficult to pick up food in his mouth if it has overbite. This problem appears because your dog has misaligned lower and upper jaws. The teeth also coincide, so your dog with overbite finds biting challenging.

You can use regular pet bowls to feed your dog, but eating will become more difficult as he eats. So you can use a tilted bowl for your dog overbite because it will change the angle from which your dog approaches the food or water. So when your dog with an overbite eats from the tilted bowl, it will allow them to stretch their neck and angle their head properly to access water and food more easily without discomforting their neck and jaw. A more relaxed pose can make the meal more enjoyable and reduce the discomfort.

2. Optimizing the Diet for Dogs with Overbites

You should give nutritious food to your dog with an overbite if your dog’s teeth are not aligned correctly. You can use nutrient-rich, high-quality food that will be easy for your mouth and jaw. If you want to feed your dog overbite, several preparations and care should be taken.

1. To make the crunchy kibble softer for your dog, add the hot water or broth and let it soak for a whole day. This greatly makes the process of feeding and living for your dog easy.

2. When the kibble is softened, mash it with the fork and discard any other pieces.

3. To make the meal more flavorful, pour a little hot liquid on it or heat it in the microwave before serving.

Our responsibility as pet owners is to ensure that our dogs eat an appropriate amount of nutritious food daily.

3. Ball Therapy Benefits for Overbite Dog

Dogs with misaligned teeth often undergo ball therapy, a procedure that dogs find amusing. They see the ball as a fun toy. When a dog bites on an object, it creates resistance and puts pressure on the teeth. The canines can be guided into a better position by applying the right amount of force. This prevents long-term problems and discomfort caused by improper alignment. When a dog has the right size and density of ball in its mouth, it can exert force on the lower canine.

Ball Therapy may correct the misaligned teeth of a dog with overbite if the ball of proper density and size is used consistently and rightly.

4. Maintaining Oral Health in Puppy Overbite

In most of the cases, the bite misalignments don’t need to be treated. As the dog ages, the dog overbite corrects themselves with time, and a dental cleaning routine can prevent the overbite from getting more serious.

To ensure your dog’s consistent oral hygiene, you should invest in dental care items, especially for dogs, such as toothbrushes, gels, sprays, etc.

5. Professional Dental Cleaning

It would be best to visit a dog dentist who provides proper oral care. They can tell you the ways to improve your dog overbite. They may advise you to take your dog for a professional dental cleaning.

A dental cleaning appointment involves an intensive exam, cleaning, and sharpening of your dog’s tooth. This enables the disposal of plaque and tartar, which may cause periodontal disease. The cleaning is accomplished simultaneously while your dog is asleep and under famous anaesthesia. Following an expert dental cleansing, it’s highly likely that the dog’s overbite may additionally have stepped forward because of decreased plaque and tartar. This makes it much easier to decide if extra treatment is wanted.

6. Creating a Treatment Plan for dog overbite

You should talk to your veterinarian if you are extremely concerned about your dog Overbite, he will tell you whether the treatment is necessary or not. If the treatment is needed, he will create a suitable treatment plan by checking whether the lower teeth affect the roof or palate of the mouth.

A treatment for creating a comfortable and functional bite for the dog overbite includes:

1. Lower canines and incisors must be extracted from young puppies to prevent discomfort and promote jaw development.

2. To tip the tooth outward, we can use an orthodontic tool called an “incline plane”.

3. To eliminate palate contact, it is possible to reduce the crown.

Final Thoughts

Unless the dog is in pain or suffering, most tooth alignment issues in dogs don’t need to be treated. As a good pet owner, you should improve your dog’s quality of life by getting him a more suitable bowl, making his food soft, and playing with a durable toy to inspire the proper alignment of teeth.

You can prevent the increase of plaque and tartar that could worsen the dog overbite through healthy oral hygiene.

 

FAQS

1. What is an Overbite in a Dog?

A Dog Overbite, also called “parrot mouth,” occurs in dogs even as the top jaw is considerably longer than the lower jaw. This affects the top teeth, overlapping the softer enamel excessively. It’s a shape of malocclusion, in which the alignment of the enamel and jaws is odd.

2. Can You Breed a Dog with an Overbite?

While a canine with an overbite can bodily breed, it’s usually no longer recommended. Dog Overbite may be hereditary, meaning there’s a danger of passing this trait to the offspring. Responsible breeding practices commonly avoid breeding dogs with massive dental or orthopaedic issues.

3. Why Does My Dog Have an Underbite?

A dog with an underbite, in which the lower teeth extend past the upper tooth, is mostly a breed-unique trait placed in brachycephalic breeds (like Bulldogs and ShihTzus). It also may be because of genetics, or much less normally, from external factors like harm or retained toddler teeth.

4. Should I Buy a Puppy with an Overbite?

Buying a dog with over bite requires careful attention. Minor dog overbite might not be purpose issues, but extreme instances can bring about consumption or dental problems. Always consult a veterinarian for a professional opinion on the pup’s fitness and destiny wishes.