We all would love for our poodles to be in the best shape possible when it comes to their physical health as well as their dental health. You may check your poodle and notice that he has an underbite. So, what should you do if your poodle has an underbite?
So, can poodles have an underbite? Yes it is possible for poodles to have an underbite. If it is a case where the bottom jaw is protruding and the bottom teeth are showing, then it’s a sign that your poodle may have canine malocclusion, which is a medical term for a canine underbite. It’s very common in some breeds of dog and in some cases medical attention is needed.
If you notice that your poodle have an underbite, you might be worrying and wondering what to do in the moment, but you don’t need to panic. In this informative article, we will be explaining everything you need to know about underbite in poodles and how to properly treat it.
Should You Worry About Your Poodle Underbite?
As I’ve mentioned earlier, underbite is quite common in a lot of dog breeds, and poodle is no exception from this list. If your poodle is a purebred or miniature breed, then the chance of having an underbite is relatively high. However, if your dog is a victim, there is no need to cause an alarm. This is very common and is known to be entirely harmless.
There are many poodles around that currently have underbite that is so mild it’s extremely hard to tell. There is also a high chance that you have seen many poodles with an underbite without even knowing they have one.
If your poodle is having a hard time eating, then it may be time to seek help and get the underbite checked out. However, if your dog is in good spirits, eating has he should and isn’t showing any sign of sickness, then there is no need to worry because they are doing fine. This means that you don’t have to worry; however, if you are still worried about your little one, a visit to the veterinarian office is not a bad idea after all.
What Causes Underbites in Poodle?
There are two things that usually causes underbites in poodles: skeletal or dental.
- Skeletal malocclusion – this usually occurs when a dog has an abnormal facial or skull structure. What this means is that upper or lower jaws do not fit together properly, nor do the teeth and this is what leads to an underbite. This is known to be the reason for underbites kn pedigree.
- Dental malocclusion – on the other hand, this usually happens when a dog has a normal facial skeletal structure, but seem to have a few more teeth that are abnormally positioned. It’s a case where the teeth look crooked, angled or jagged.
It is said that both dental and skeletal malocclusion causes are somewhat intentional breeding practices. At times, it might be a result of genetics. With that being said, dogs with flat faces and short muzzles is at a more higher risk. Puppies that have a infection or injuries can also lead to a development issues which causes an underbite to take place.
How Will an Underbite Affect My Poodle?
The good news is that most cases of canine malocclusion is not known to be severe and it’s not that obvious either. It is said that most dog owners find this feature attractive. When it comes to bulldog breed, this is known to be one of the most distinguishing feature on their face. However, it is not very common among poodles.
It all depends on how severe the underbite is, if it is severe there might be some issues that surface. However, if your dog is capable of grooming and eating on their own, then they shouldn’t experience too many problems.
Though teeths that aren’t aligned properly can cause your dog to be uncomfortable and even damage to their soft tissues and gums. This can even lead to an infection, nasal disease and pain. If left untreated an infection may get worse and can also lead to organ failure.
It is very important to look out for any signs that your dog is struggling with an underbite. Here are few signs you can look out for:
- Unable to chew toys
- Unable to close mouth properly
- Having problem eating and drinking
- Difficulty breathing
- Not allowing you to touch their face
- Sleeping more frequently
- Blood in their saliva
You should take the time out to check for these symptoms. It is safe to say that as long as your poodle underbite isn’t severe, your dog should be able to live a very healthy life. If you are still worried, what you can do is check with your veterinarian to put your mind at rest.
Can My Poodle Underbite be Fixed? What Can I Do?
If you discovered that your poodle has an underbite, then what you should do is take your dog to the vet. At this point, they will determine the severity of the underbite and what you can do to treat it. The treatment will be determined base on the severity. However, more unlikely you will not need any treatment.
If the underbite is mild and there is no need to treat it, I still recommend keeping on eye out in case any changes take place. If you notice anything unusual, you should bring your poodle back to the vet.
In terms of treatment, there are many different methods you can try. If it’s a mild case, the vet may suggest that you stop giving your dog chew toys or hard food. However, if it is a more severe case, you may need a few more effective treatments.
Here are a few treatments your vet may recommend doing depending on your case:
- Canine braces is one thing that your veterinarian may consider getting for your poodle and as you can see braces aren’t only for humans. Dogs can also get braces to fix there severe underbite.
- Tooth extraction is also another treatment that your poodle may have to receive if they has an infected tooth or a tooth that is causing severe pain. If it’s a case where one of poodle tooth is grinding against another or even pressing on the gums, the vet may have to take it out in order for the pain to stop.
- These types of treatments will more likely be carried out by an animal dentist specialist or orthodontist. Even though this may be uncomfortable for your dog, it will certainly help and prevent your dog from future infections.
- In order to get these surgeries done, you’ll have to pay around $1800-$5000. This covers a lot of stuff including anesthesia, surgery and weekly visits to the vet.
Poodle Puppies With an Underbite
Your considering on adapting a poodle pup but they have an underbite. Now you are wondering what to do before bringing the pup home.
The first thing you should keep in mind that most dogs with underbite are still adorable.
You should first consider the vet bills and think about the health problems the pup might face in the future.
The good news is that dog’s teeths alignment are usually permanent from 10 months old. Before then, the underbite may treat itself.
Though your poodle health is very important, you shouldn’t let an underbite stop you from bringing home the perfect pup.
Conclusion
You shouldn’t worry, if you notice any signs of an underbite with your poodle, what you can do is visit your vet. It’s best to know a lot of people have dogs with underbite and never know because it doesn’t cause any problems.
It is safe to say that you won’t have any problem with your poodle having an underbite unless your goal is to turn your dog into a show dog.
Even though dogs with underbite may cost you more in the future, it’s no big deal as they need as much love and caring as any other dogs.