Dental Malocclusion in Dogs

Category: Oral & Dental
Breeds documented: 3
Published sources: 6

Overview

An uneven bite develops when individual teeth sit in the wrong position or the upper and lower jaws do not line up properly. This can be inherited, although injury during growth can also affect alignment. Some unusual bites cause no discomfort, while others trap teeth against each other or push sharp teeth into the roof of the mouth.

Signs to watch for

Upper and lower teeth meeting unevenly
A lower jaw appearing longer or shorter than the upper jaw
Teeth pressing into the roof of the mouth

Bite problems can become apparent during puppy growth and the change to adult teeth.

When to get help Book a veterinary visit when teeth appear misaligned or the mouth seems painful.

Diagnosis and tests

The vet evaluates how all the teeth fit together and checks whether an individual tooth or the supporting jaw is out of position. The examination also establishes whether the bite is causing injury or discomfort, which helps determine whether correction is needed.

Breeds with documented risk

3 breeds

By breed size

1 Small
2 Medium

Pyrenean ShepherdMedium · Herding Group
Cesky TerrierSmall · Terrier Group
PorcelaineMedium · Foundation Stock Service

Inheritance

Not yet known
None of the sources we use states how this is inherited in dogs yet.

We've gathered what published sources say about this condition, so you can talk it through with your vet. It isn't veterinary advice: you and your vet know your dog best.