I posted a topic a while ago about how my Westie puppy was having a few problems eating but we put it down to him being a picky eater.

I took him to the vets just for a routine check-up as he has been losing his baby teeth and getting his new ones and I just wanted to check everything was OK. It turns out that he has an undershot jaw, his lower jaw is shorter than his upper jaw.

This has caused problems with his teeth, his baby 'fang' teeth are still in place but his adult ones are now growing on the inside of them and because of the difference with his jaw lengths, the fang teeth will catch on his upper gum.

I now have to take him for an operation to remove the baby teeth and a bite plate will be fitted to his upper mouth to try and spread the teeth slightly and hopefully his lower teeth will not touch the gum anymore. If this does not work he will have to have his teeth shortened so as not to cause discomfort and damage to his upper gum.

Has anyone else experienced this problem and what was the outcome ? We also think that this if why he has been picky with his food, because he has been in discomfort.

Replys appreciated.

Thanks, Julie

Hi,
undershotness is common in our breed Bull Terriers. If your pup was a bull terrier I'd say have the baby teeth removed and then leave well alone. I have removed the baby fangs in our breed and generally the adult teeth move over on there own. Occasionally you do get inverted or instanding canines but only occasionally do they cause trouble.
Mouths do move as well as the pups head grows. I have seen many undershot Bull Terriers and they live to a good age and rarely have trouble eating. Some breeds are meant to be undershot, I know your pup isnt one of them but dont worry it isnt the end of the world.
The majority of our pups go through a picky stage with their food around teething time. Its perfectly normal. Human children have trouble during teething too!

i think you get lion jaw in your breed, look it up on the internet, a friends dog had this problem,

Hi Julie. If his upper jaw protrudes over the lower jaw, then he's overshot. Am I right in thinking that your lad is about 5 months old? If so, that's very young to consider a general anaesthetic to remove puppy canines. You may be able to help by giving them a little wiggle when you cuddle him, as often as you can manage each day. Westie teeth should be a regular scissor bite (upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth). Teeth do funny things as puppies grow and it maybe a good idea to ring your puppy's breeder, who may be able to reassure you about what is going on, or if not, will be aware of what that mating has produced as bad dentition is often hereditary.
Good luck and do let us know how you get on.

What you describe is overshot not undershot.......if your vet doesn't know the difference then I think I would change vets pretty promptly!

Hi

Sorry if I wrote the wrong thing, undershot instead of overshot. My vet actually referred me to a specialist to discuss this problem. I have been attending a different clinic to see a vet that is an eye and dental specialist, so I hope I am being advised correctly.

I too am worried about him being given the anaesthetic but I presume that it is not just to remove the teeth. He will be getting a 'bite plate' fitted to the roof of his mouth to assist with the growing of his teeth, it will be in place for approx 3 weeks. He also has a problem with a 'weepy' eye and have been told that he has a blocked tear duct that they will 'flush' out whilst he is asleep.

I have found with my pups that a lot of things happen when they are teething - mucky eyes, upset stomachs, ears that fly in all directions etc etc.

How overshot is your pup?

In Dobes although the standard calls for scissor bite (top teeth very closely overlapping the bottom teeth) in puppies it is better if they are slightly overshot (1/16 - 1/8") as the bottom jaw continues to grow after the top has stopped so a very close scissor bite in a pup could be a reverse or even an undershot bite as an adult.

Hope your pups "brace" works

Christine

Julie, I am a westie breeder, please do not let your vet do anything with your puppy until it is at least 9months old, my pup had what I thought was an overshot mouth, but, when all her baby teeth were out and the adult teeth came in her mouth was still slightly overshot, she is now 11 months old and has a perfect scissor bite, did the vet not explain to you that the under jaw still growns as the puppy grows and the mouth gets broader, just look at the size of puppy teeth compared to adult teeth. if you have any more problems please e mail me and I will try and help you,

Hi Irene,

I understand what you are saying about the jaw still having time to grow. The problem with my pup is that he does not have a scissor bite. At present, his lower canine teeth are actually hitting the gum on his upper jaw. With the teeth catching the Vet explained that this could be the reason for the overshot. The teeth are effectively locked together and stopping the lower jaw from growing forward. This is the reason why the bite plate has been fitted, to widen the teeth on the upper jaw to enable the lower teeth to sit on the inside and not cut the gum anymore. I think that is right!!!

He actually had his operation yesterday. I found it very hard to leave him but I had him home last night.

The Vet said they had to remove a number of deciduous teeth but everthing went ok. The bite plate is in but it is very small and will only stay in for about 3 weeks. He is on prescription diet food for 4-5 days and can't have any of his toys for a few days either until the plate is settled.

Bailey, my westie, likes to hide things all around the house, toys, food, treats. So it was awful last night because he could not have anything but this special food and we had removed all his toys and treats. He looked in his hiding places but everything was gone.

He is much more playful today and I hope this solves the problem. The vet did say that if this did not work and his teeth still catch his gum then in the future, once all his adult teeth are fully grown, only then would they consider shortening his canine teeth to stop causing trauma to the upper gum. Hopefully it will not come to that.

Thanks for all your replys.

Julie

Hi Everyone

Just to let you know, Bailey had a checkup at the vets (1 week after the Op) and the vet feels that everything is working OK. He did say that he had had to take a lot of the baby teeth out but you can already see an improvement in his bite. I just hope now that this will allow his lower jaw to carry on growing without any restrictions.

Back in two weeks and then the bite plate should come out of its own accord. I will let you know how things work out.

His eye is also fine, no more sticky eye or stained coat.

Thanks again

Julie

That's great news Julie - isn't it amazing what can be done for animals these days.

Fiona