Puppy teething - location of lower canines?? - Page 1

So my pup is 5.5 months and teething. Can someone pls educate me. The adult canines are growing well and the lowers are sprouting. The LOCATION of the "sprouts" of lower canines are actually IN LINE with and slightly on the INSIDE of the upper canines. Does that mean the pup is overshot or do the lower teeth actually grow up and curve around the upper canines? Her puppy teeth were located well and were slow to come out. One lower canine puppy tooth is being wiggled daily in an effort to get them out. I just want to know what "normal" is and if not normal, what can be done? Thanks in advance K

Try holding your pups jaws closed, if the top jaw is longer than the bottom then it is overshot. But it depends how much it is longer, a match stick width (or even a little more) would not be of concern as the bottom jaw sometimes grows slower. If it is alot more than that, then yes he/she may not have a correct bite. The bottom canines fit in a groove ahead of the top canines. Keep trying to get that puppy tooth out also as they can cause the adult teeth to not come in correctly. I honestly can't remember how they looked in pups while coming in, maybe someone else can help on that. But as adults it looks like the bottom is ahead of the top...

Thanks Trailrider. I am "hoping" that it is simply that the bottom jaw is growing a mite slower. I do know where it should end up but I can't determine whether this is normal growth. I am doing as much as I can to get rid of the lower canine. There was another thread that I created about the teeth but I wanted to ask a specific question about puppy tooth/jaw growth and didn't want it buried in another thread. Anyone with any other input? About normal placement when the adult teeth are just starting to come in? Thanks!

I have a had puppies in the past with Billy Bob looking teeth (buck teeth), once they matured and the bottom caught up with top row of teeth, everything looked fine and bite was good. It almost looks like once the bottom canines come up they start pulling/pushing the bottom jaw forward. I currently have a young male I have been watching this happen to during the past few months. It seams to be common for some puppies to look over shot for a period of time, I would say it should start correcting around 6 -10 mos. of age and possibly up until late puppy hood. Give it some time as overshot bites in young puppies can correct its self in time. This may take a considerable amount of time, so be patient.

He may need a retainer or braces...lol I am picturing a dog with wiring around his teeth and head…. poor puppy…lol

Thanks for the thoughts Badpuppy. (except for the last one, lol. She would be picked on by the neighbourhood dogs for sure)

The upper and lower canines should basically "fit" together when the mouth is closed. The lower in front creating the "sicssor" bite. I have seen a few cases like this over the years but have never seen one correct itself at 6 months of age. I would like to hear feedback from other people on this subject as an in-correct is troublesome to say the least.

overbites < post from the past http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/bulletins_read/36664.html

Badpuppy - thanks for the link. More info for me. I have a vet appt in a few days for an opinion and perhaps intervention on the lower one. I can't get a good handle on it although it is wiggling. Also getting hips prelim x-ray. Thanks K

You are welcome GOOD LUCK!!!!! Let us know how things go. Pup