Question about doggy "underbite"

[Bama Belle]

Our sweet "Belle" went for her second round of shots and worming this week. This is the first time my husband and I saw the vet since we got Belle after she had received her first round. The vet checked her out briefly before giving her the shots and he commented that she would need braces because she had an "underbite". Seems her top teeth close behind her bottom teeth. Hopefully he was kidding about the braces, but Jim and I wondered if this was common in Boxers or is Belle among the few to have this "condition"? Belle is pure bred and registered and we paid big bucks for her. We love her regardless, but if anyone can enlighten us about this "underbite", I'd certainly appreciate it.
P.S. This is an awesome site. Thanks for the help!

 

[magoo's_mama]

This is not the first post I have seen where someones vet told them they're dogs underbite was incorrect I am amazed there are so many vets that would know nothing about the breed. They're supposed to have an underbite, So I assume your baby is totally normal.

 

[jray]

Find another vet! Obviously they have no knowledge of the breed. Boxers are suposed to have an undershot jaw. Your baby is perfectly fine! Plus, braces on a dog?? Please!


From the AKC web site:
...Bite--The Boxer bite is undershot; the lower jaw protrudes beyond the upper and curves slightly upward. The incisor teeth of the lower jaw are in a straight line, with the canines preferably up front in the same line to give the jaw the greatest possible width. The upper line of incisors is slightly convex with the corner upper incisors fitting snugly back of the lower canine teeth on each side.

 

[gmacleod]

ROFL! Yes, boxers are supposed to be undershot - as are all the bully breeds. The lower jaw should extend beyond the upper jaw by about 1 pencil-width. But perhaps she's excessively undershot, and it's causing her problems - is that what your vet means?

Here's a link to the American Boxer Club's illustrated standard. Perhaps you might like to print that out and show it to your vet. That would enable you and him to figure out whether there's a problem or not http://americanboxerclub.org/illstand5.html

 

[Bama Belle]

DUH -- I feel so DUMB!!

The replies to my post were very knowledgeable to say the least. My husband and I are in our mid 50's and this is the first "puppy" we've ever had as well as the first Boxer we've ever had. I bookmarked the American Boxer Club website and will be reading all I can find about Boxers.

Now my dilemma is whether the vet was kidding and I took him seriously or whether he honestly didn't know Boxers were supposed to be undershot. This vet is where the breeder took the puppies for their worming and shots so I decided to go back there to get the remaining series of puppy shots before switching to the vet I use for Millie. Maybe I should go ahead and switch.

Thanks again for the information and forgive me for being so stupid about my precious Belle. I promise to do better and start my reading ASAP.

 

[magoo's_mama]

Don't ever feel dumb for asking questions that's how we learn and that's how I learned about my boxer too. This is a great place to come to ask!!

 

[Iaboy]

Amen with getting another vet. Our first vet stated the same thing and always pushed this and that. He stated Max needed to have surgery as his underbite was wrong. So we found another vet and he stated that his underbite was correct almost perfect for the breed. So go to another vet.

 

[bulaskel]

under bite

well our beautiful bula turns 1 in 10 days yippee!!!!!!!!
his new little brother (connor, our beautiful son ) is 4 weeks old today yippee!!!!!!
bula seems to have an under bite as well but at times it appears his top lip sits between his bite is this common or should i be worried.
also when is the best time to wean him off puppy food onto adult food.

 

[boxer]

Sounds as though Bula may have a slightly excessive underbite - gmacleod's post above explains how undershot he should be. But if it isn't causing him any problems, then there's nothing to worry about.

As for the puppy food, most people (who use it at all) switch to adult food by 4-6 months. I would say that a year old is about the absolute maximum, so switching him now would be a good idea.

 

[kassa]

Don't feel dumb, your vet should if they were serious.
Even if this were another breed I have NEVER heard or seen of a dog having braces has anyone else?

There have always been rumors in show circles about certain dogs having orthodontic work done -- not so much in boxers where, short of checking to see if they're undershot and/or wry, the judges don't pay much attention.

In some breeds, the judges must COUNT the teeth, and alignment is critical, enough that somebody with a beautiful dog with a few crooked teeth might be tempted to do a little "adjusting." It's completely against the rules, but there have always been rumors.