In this article, we will look at everything you need to know about a Bichon Frise Underbite.
From what an underbite is, to how you can tell if your dog has an underbite, to how it can affect your Bichon, as well as possible correction measures.
Before we dive deeper into this article, you might be wondering what exactly an underbite is.
An underbite in dogs (also called Class 3 Malocclusion) is a condition where the lower jaw or teeth extends out farther than the upper jaw or teeth. This can be a common feature for many breeds of dogs but depending on the severity can cause problems with chewing and swallowing food.
Now that we’ve answered the question of what an underbite in dogs is, let’s look at the Bichon Frise underbite in more detail.
Table of Contents
Do Bichon Frises Have An Underbite?
As we’ve mentioned, an underbite in dogs is characterized by the lower jaw or teeth extending out farther than the upper jaw or teeth. This is referred to as a Type 3 Malocclusion.
To learn more about Canine Malocclusion, check out this article on Petmd.com: Dogs with Underbites: What Is Canine Malocclusion?
It is most common to see an underbite in smaller dog breeds that have short muzzles such as the English Bulldog, the Pug or the Shih Tzu.
With that being said, most dog breeds including the Bichon Frise can have an underbite.
With that in mind, you might be wondering how to identify if your dog has an underbite. Let’s take a closer look in the next section.
How To Tell If Your Dog Has An Underbite?
Being able to identify if your dog has an underbite can help to understand the additional caring requirements that may be needed to look after a dog with an underbite.
Depending on the severity of the underbite, the dog may find it difficult to chew or swallow food. With that in mind, it’s important to identify an underbite early in your dog’s life to ensure it’s treated correctly.
A dog that has an underbite will have their bottom row of teeth protrude out over their top lip. Your veterinarian can also identify this condition in your dog upon inspection.
Having an underbite is something that most dogs can live with. Some dogs that have an underbite have even become extremely famous across Instagram.
Take a look at this adorable article from PawCulture.com: 17 Dogs Who Have Mastered the Art of the Underbite
While your dog may have an underbite, it’s important to discern if they are in any pain or discomfort. With this in mind, your vet will likely recommend you to keep an eye on your dog’s eating behavior.
It’s a good idea to take note of any difficulty they might have when chewing or swallowing their food.
What Causes A Bichon Frise Underbite?
By this point, you might be wondering what causes a Bichon Frise underbite? This was something I did some research on to find out more.
The most common causes of dog underbites are dental issues or skeletal issues. Additionally, underbites can be inherited from a dog’s parents.
Let’s now look at each of these causes in more detail.
1 Dental Issues
Dental underbites are caused by misaligned teeth within a dog’s mouth.
This can occur when a dog’s baby teeth are still present when their permanent teeth start to grow. This causes crowding in the dog’s mouth and leads to the development of misaligned teeth resulting in an underbite.
2 Skeletal Issues
A more serious type of underbite is caused by a dog’s abnormal facial skeleton.
This abnormal jaw structure can result in teeth becoming heavily misaligned and can cause a more pronounced underbite.
Over time, this can lead to the dog’s teeth making contact with their gums resulting in severe pain or discomfort.
3 Inherited from Parents
An underbite can also be inherited from a dog’s parents.
This is especially true if one or more of the parents is a breed that commonly has an underbite. For example, the English Bulldog or the Pug.
Does An Underbite Affect A Dog?
Most dogs can live perfectly normal and happy lives with an underbite.
With that being said, it’s always important to monitor the condition to ensure your dog isn’t in any pain or discomfort.
Some symptoms to watch out for include:
- Difficulty chewing or swallowing food
- Damaged gums or other teeth
- Excessive tartar/plaque build up on teeth and gums
- Discomfort when trying to chew food
Regular check-ups with your vet will allow the condition to be monitored closely. Your vet will advise you on the best course of action depending on the severity of the underbite.
Dogs that have an underbite often benefit from soft dog food as opposed to a hard type of dog food like nuts. With that in mind, you may find that switching to a soft type of dog food may ease some of the difficulty your dog may have chewing their food.
As well as this, it’s a good idea to switch to soft chew toys also. Something with a textured fabric will be softer on your dog’s mouth but still enjoyable to chew on.
Can An Underbite Be Corrected In Puppies?
If you’ve identified that your puppy has an underbite, you might be wondering if it can be corrected early on in their life.
Your vet will be the best person to consult with on treatment options. They may advise on no treatment depending on the severity of the overbite. If it is not causing any pain or discomfort there is no need to correct the underbite.
In some cases, where advised, an underbite in puppies can be corrected through the use of braces. Alternatively, teeth removal or oral surgery are other options that your vet may recommend depending on the severity of the underbite.
How To Correct Your Bichon Frise’s Underbite
Correcting your dog’s underbite is something that should be considered with the help of your vet. They will be able to advise on the recommended course of treatment for your dog’s underbite.
In an ideal case, no treatment is recommended as your dog’s underbite isn’t causing any discomfort or risk of disease.
If this is the case, you’ll likely have to monitor your dog’s eating behavior and schedule regular check-ups with your vet to keep an eye on the underbite.
In the case that your dog’s underbite poses a health risk, your vet may advise one of several treatment options.
Treatment option for a dog’s underbite can include:
- Dog braces in puppies or suitable dogs
- Teeth removal & fillings to mitigate the underbite
- Oral surgery to correct the underbite
It’s worth noting that each of these treatment options can be quite expensive.
Also important to note is these types of procedures can be quite invasive so your dog will require plenty of time to recover afterward.
Conclusion
We were able to cover a lot of useful information in the course of this article. Let’s summarize before we finish:
- First, we answered the question: what is a Bichon Frise underbite?
- Next, we looked at if Bichon Frises can have an underbite.
- Next, we outlined the ways to identify if your dog has an underbite.
- After that, we discussed the causes a Bichon Frise underbite.
- Next, we looked at if an underbite can be corrected in puppies.
- Finally, we looked at potential ways to correct a dog’s underbite.
I hope you found this article helpful. If you found some value from reading this, please consider sharing it on social media as it will help others to find it.
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