What are you thinking about? Did you notice overbites or underbites of your Chihuahuas? Don’t worry; this article is for you. Read this until the end.
Chihuahuas get overbites and underbites. This is due to the type of breed, genetic disorders, infections, growth of the jaws, chewing, skeletal problems, and unequal evolution of jaws. Oral surgeries and braces are the best treatments you can have under the supervision of a veterinarian.
Let’s go deep into this issue. You are going to clarify all the doubts by reading this article. This is about your Chihuahua’s dental health.
Do Chihuahuas have overbites?
Yes, they can have overbites. First of all, let’s see what overbite is and how you can identify it. I will explain to you simply. Have you ever noticed that your dog’s lower jaw is much shorter than the upper jaw?
We recognize this condition as overbites. You can identify this condition just by observing your dog’s mouth. So, your Chihuahuas can have overbites.
As I have already mentioned, it is more or less genetic. But it doesn’t mean that every Chihuahua gets overbites. That doesn’t happen. If your Chihuahuas have overbites, the following few paragraphs of this article are very important to you.
What causes the Chihuahuas to have an overbite?
Overbites are possible due to a few reasons. Let me explain them one by one.
1. Genetic conditions.
It passes through the generations. If the mother dog or the father dog has overbites, their puppies will get overbites. Not all the puppies, but a few of them can turn out to be the puppies with overbites.
As it is genetic, it is unavoidable. But once you identify the condition, you can do proper treatments for this condition. Genetic factors are the most significant reasons behind overbites.
2. Some breeds are likely to get overbites.
When it comes to the type of breed, we talk about Chihuahuas. Yes, Chihuahuas are also a breed that is likely to get overbites. So, you should observe your dog closely.
If there’s anything wrong with the positioning of jaws, you can go for treatments as soon as possible. Apart from Chihuahuas, Collies, German Shepherds, and Shelties can have overbites.
3. Growth becomes a reason.
We all grow with time, and along with the growth, the positioning of the teeth changes. This happens due to the development of new teeth. Even humans face this problem. There are 42 teeth in a dog’s mouth.
It takes at least 6 months to erupt all the teeth of a dog. It is not a fast process. It takes time. Sometimes the structure of the set of teeth can be changed due to the eruption of new teeth.
4. Chewing is a cause of overbite.
Some dogs chew chewing toys excessively. When they are chewing, they chew it in many different ways. So, this leads to an overbite condition. Chewing can change the position of the teeth.
This does not happen overnight. If your dog practices this as a habit for a long time, your dog may have overbites. So don’t let him chew all the time.
I know dogs won’t bother you when they’re occupied with chewing. But now you know that it is one of the leading causes of overbites.
Do chihuahuas have underbites?
Chihuahuas often have underbites. What is an underbite? Let me explain to you. Simply it’s when the two jaws are not fit with each other. Your dog’s lower jaw will come front more than the upper jaw.
So, this condition is called an underbite. Chihuahuas get underbites more than they get overbites. But don’t worry, you can handle this.
What causes Chihuahuas to have underbites?
1. Genetic inheritance of underbite.
Usually, a dog’s upper and lower teeth should meet each other. But it didn’t happen due to genetic conditions.
If the parental dogs have underbites, it is possible to transfer them to the puppies. But in some cases, this can come from grandparents to grandsons.
2. Lack of space in the lower jaw
With the growth of new teeth, the lower jaw becomes less spacious. Sometimes it takes a long time for baby teeth to fall out. So permanent teeth start to grow over baby teeth.
It makes the lower unspacious. This causes underbites. This is something very ordinary and could happen to any Chihuahua.
3. Skeletal problems.
How do skeletal problems contribute to an underbite? Let’s see how it happens. The structure and position of the jaw always affect the underbites.
Sometimes the upper jaw can be shorter than the lower jaw. So, this positioning of jaws causes underbites.
4. Unequal growth of the upper jaw and lower jaw.
Sometimes the lower jaw grows faster than the upper jaw. Therefore, you will see your dog’s lower jaw has come forward than the upper jaw.
5. Chewing can be another reason for underbites.
As I have already said, dogs love to chew things. The wrong chewing angles can cause underbites. This especially affects puppies. They have delicate teeth.
Due to chewing, the position of teeth can be changed easily. If your dog loves to play tug of war, your dog may have underbites.
Don’t allow your dog to play tug of war using ropes, towels, and clothes. It can change the position of teeth.
Should you worry if your Chihuahua has overbites or underbites?
No, nothing to worry about. You don’t have time to worry. You should take action without wasting time worrying. There are a lot of treatments for overbite and underbite conditions.
So go for them, without worrying. Yes, I will let you know about those treatments in the paragraphs to come.
What should you do if your Chihuahua has overbite or underbite?
What should we do? This is important to you all. Read this carefully. Let’s discuss the treatments one by one.
Before going to treatments, you should understand whether your dog needs it or not. There is no necessity to treat all the underbites and overbites. If the dog is uncomfortable due to the underbite or overbite, you need medical support.
If he can eat or chew without any difficulty, you do not worry about it. Some dogs can’t eat or swallow due to underbites and overbites. Therefore, you need to understand the condition of your dog.
How you will find out if the dog is uncomfortable due to underbite or overbite. So, I thought to tell you some symptoms
If you notice blood in a dog’s saliva, your dog may be suffering from an underbite or overbite condition. This is due to the constant teeth touch on the gum and mouth.
Does he reduce eating hard food? If the dog refuses hard food, he may feel difficult to chew due to his dental condition.
1. First, meet your veterinarian.
He will arrange an extensive dental checkup for your dog when you visit him. This will help you sort out all the dental problems of your dog. Then you can get a clear idea about your dog’s underbite or overbite condition.
2. Go for braces
Your veterinarian will suggest this. Yes, there are braces for dogs. Are you surprised? Don’t be surprised. We all know that humans wear braces when they have structural problems with their teeth.
Similarly, this technique can be tried on dogs. This is very effective. If you are going for braces, you need to adjust them often.
So, make sure you choose a convenient medical center. In some cases, veterinarians remove two or three teeth before braces. So, it can be a little painful.
3. Oral surgery.
We call this “overbite correction surgery.” This can cure the overbites. Depending on the scale of an overbite, you can go for this. If the overbite cannot address the braces, this is the best option for the dog.
Do we need an oral surgeon for this? We do not require oral surgeons. You need a board-certified veterinarian for this. Veterinarians are trained for this kind of oral surgery.
I know, now you are thinking about the side effects of surgery. Are these surgeries safe? Let’s find out whether these surgeries are safe or not. The surgeon will make your dog immobilize before the surgery.
So, he will not feel the pain. Then even after the surgery, the doctor will closely examine your dog until he gets to recover. So, the surgery is very safe if you are getting the help of a qualified veterinarian.
Will your dog feel pain after the surgery?
Yes, he will feel it, but don’t worry. The doctor will give him some anesthesia to reduce pain. After the surgery, your dog’s mouth will swell a little. So, he will get some anti-inflammation medicines too. This is all about oral surgeries.
Things to be aware of.
If you are going for oral surgery, be careful.
1. Feed the dog with liquid-based food after the surgery.
Why liquid-based? Let me explain to you. After surgery on the mouth, your dog can’t eat hard food. It is impossible. If you feed him hard food, the wound will become infected.
So, make sure you provide him with liquid-based food for at least 2 days after surgery. So, keep in mind to get advice from the veterinarian.
2. Don’t allow your dog to play with chew toys after the surgery.
Dogs love to play with chew toys. After surgery, it is not safe to chew toys. It can create wounds. Wounds can infect bacteria. So don’t take this simple.
The best thing is to keep chew toys away from the dog. Keep them away for a week or two.
3. Don’t let him drink unclean water.
Dogs drink water from drains, paddles, and unclean places. I know you can’t monitor a dog as a child. But try to monitor the dog within the first week after the surgery. Keep him away from unclean places.
Don’t allow him to walk outside with other dogs. If your dog’s wound infects, he will be in great trouble. So, ensure you keep an eye on him.
4. Don’t try to change the structure of his teeth, just to fix the outward appearance.
Maybe you feel uncomfortable when you see your dog’s underbite or overbite condition. You can’t go for treatments as you can’t accept the dental diseases of your dog.
In most cases, owners go for treatments because they see it as insecurity. Don’t be ashamed of your dog’s teeth. If the dog needs treatment as he can’t chew or eat, you can go for it.
5. Ensure you seek help from a qualified veterinarian.
This is very important. When you are sick, you find the best specialist in the area. You check whether he is an MBBS holder or not.
Just like that, you should be very careful when selecting a veterinarian for your Chihuahuas. The veterinarian should be board-certified.
6. Brush your Chihuahuas’ teeth twice a day.
If your dog has underbite or overbite, you need to take care of your dog’s teeth more than others. Make sure you use a brush designed for dogs. Then you should select a good toothpaste that is designed for dogs.
We can buy them in different flavors. Select the favorite taste of your dog. Dogs don’t prefer to brush their teeth, but they will love to brush with their favorite toothpaste.
7. Go for monthly dental checkups.
We all go for monthly dental checkups. Do you have that kind of plan for your dog? Probably not. So, schedule dental checkups for your dog. It can prevent many dental issues, including overbites and underbites.
Monthly dental checkups help your dog’s overall health. So, I highly recommend it to all dog owners.
Suggested Reading: Why do Chihuahuas sleep under covers?
Conclusion.
We always think about our dog’s external appearance. That’s why we are worrying about an underbite or overbite. Don’t worry about it unless it is a difficulty for your dog. We have come to the end of this article. You are all done. Now you are ready to deal with your Chihuahuas’ underbites or overbites.
