Overbite - YorkieTalk.com Forums

SquishyWishyWoo · 07-17-2008, 03:46 PM

Hi, I am Squishy's Mom. She is 10 weeks old, weighs 2lbs 8 oz She has been the perfect girl!!!! Today I took her to the vet and he said she has a severe overbite. He called it Parrot mouth!!! I was devistated! I live in a small community near Mt. Rainier in Washington State (our Vet is a Horse Vet) He said she was defective and we should not breed her. I paid quite a bit for her and did plan on breeding her, I did some research and could not find any info regarding "parrot mouth" except on equine sites. Then I started looking up overbite in Yorkies and found this message site. Everthing I have read so far says it is normal and can correct it self.....My husband measured it and it is about a 1/4 inch overbite....Is this something that should have been caught when her tail was docked, at her first Vet visit???? Should the breeder have told me? Was I scammed? Please share any info you might have, good bad or otherwise so we can prepare ourselves for what may be coming. Thanks so much! Squishy's Mom

linda44 · 07-17-2008, 04:28 PM

If the breeder paid any attention to her puppies she knew. And I have never heard of a yorkie growing out of an over bite. Your vet is correct you should not breed as it may be passed on to her puppies or the puppies puppies. I would talk to your breeder.

YorkieRose · 07-17-2008, 04:45 PM

Can you post a photo...? If she does have a severe overbite, the breeder would have known at an early age..perhaps as early as a week...and the vet would have certainly caught it at the well puppy visit before she came to you. I would speak to the breeder...

PS..a true overbite tends to get worsen as the adult teeth emerge....an under bite can improve as the adult teeth emerge...

amandawash · 07-17-2008, 04:45 PM

Of course the breeder recognized that. Unfortunately, this seems to be a daily occurance that people buy these puppies being told they are show or breeding quality and are nothing of the sort. Please don't breed her, but enjoy your baby as the most spoiled furbaby ever!!

C C Kent · 07-17-2008, 05:09 PM

An overbite of 1/4 in at ten weeks is a severe overbite, it probably will not get better. The standard allows for a straight bite or a scissor bite, anything other than that should be spayed. As a pet it probably won't be a problem for her but she definitely should not be bred.

I can't imagine a breeder honestly missing a flaw like this.

Unfortunately breeding quality means capable of reproduction to some people. You may take this girl back and they breed her without a second thought.

SquishyWishyWoo · 07-17-2008, 05:21 PM

Thanks ~

Here is a picture of the overbite....it's not very good. However it is very visable. The message I sent was one I wrote in May.....new to all this and could not quite figure out how to post. She still has the overbite and is 4 months old now. We really are enjoying her she really is a GOOD dog!!!!

YorkieRose · 07-17-2008, 05:26 PM

You are right..it is visable and I would nto rbeed her..if the breeder sold her to you as a breed prospect, I feel you are due a partial refund. If the breeder did not tell you about the bite, charging full price, I feel you are due a partial refund also.

SquishyWishyWoo · 07-17-2008, 08:34 PM

Ok.....So the Breeder claims that this is the only pup who has ever had a bite problem out of the 5 litters she has had. I searched today for her on the breeder page I found her on and she stated there that she has had a total of 42 pups....which can't be correct if the last two litters were only 4 pups each.....that would require 11.333333 pups for the other three litters??????:

Yeah OK..I am not sure what to do. I feel like I should make a complaint to someone....so no one else has to feel the way I did that day that I learned she had an overbite. It was such a shock to learn that my Baby Girl was defective.......I keep trying to tell myself that the standard is something to try and achive, That No dog really is 100% perfect.....but my baby is!!! overbite or not. Heck one of my kids needed Braces! She is perfect, we love her just the way she is, yet I feel sad that "some" may see her as less than. I guess in the end it really doesn't matter. As long as we think she is perfect, who cares what the mean old Vet said.....I never intended to show her I did plan on being a Yorkie Grandma though, It's funny.......cause a chipped piece of Medium green Fiesta is just fine with me, not sure why this bothers me soooooooo much. must be that I feel like I was purposley decieved. I know that there is a huge price range for yorkies.....don't know what drives the price. Squish has nice color, stand up ears all along, great temperment, So smart......really the dog of my dreams.....

Ladymom · 07-17-2008, 08:49 PM

If your breeder has 42 puppies for sale at one time you probably dealt with a broker, not a breeder. Besides the obvious problem with her bite, Squishy may have other genetic issues she could pass along to her offspring. Since many genetic problems don't surface for years, it isn't safe to breed a dog with an unknown background.

I know she is your dream dog so she is perfect in your eyes no matter what the vet may say. Get her spayed and just enjoy her as a wonderful pet.

Here is some information about parrot mouth and other bite problems in dogs:

Malocclusion: Misalignment of Teeth in Dogs

Carsons Mommy · 07-17-2008, 08:53 PM

That looks just like Carson's overbite... he has never had ANY problems at all eating, ect. Altough I wouldn't breed her.. I don't think she will have any problems

SquishyWishyWoo · 07-17-2008, 09:04 PM

She does not have 42 for sale.....I may have written that wrong, she has had 42 total since she started. I went to her house and met the parents and her siblings. She is a great dog. I am glad to hear that others have the same problem and are doing just fine. the Vet says other than the overbite she is healthy and will make a great Pet....

C C Kent · 07-18-2008, 04:42 AM

I think describing her as defective is harsh and unnecessary. As a pet goes she is just fine and may be the best companion you have ever had. Be as proud of her as you would be of any loyal friend, regardless of appearance.

The standard for breeding is very high, and should be. The fact that she didn't make it puts her in the majority of puppies born every year.

07-17-2008, 03:46 PM	#1
SquishyWishyWoo YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: May 2008 Location: Buckley Posts: 5	Overbite Hi, I am Squishy's Mom. She is 10 weeks old, weighs 2lbs 8 oz She has been the perfect girl!!!! Today I took her to the vet and he said she has a severe overbite. He called it Parrot mouth!!! I was devistated! I live in a small community near Mt. Rainier in Washington State (our Vet is a Horse Vet) He said she was defective and we should not breed her. I paid quite a bit for her and did plan on breeding her, I did some research and could not find any info regarding "parrot mouth" except on equine sites. Then I started looking up overbite in Yorkies and found this message site. Everthing I have read so far says it is normal and can correct it self.....My husband measured it and it is about a 1/4 inch overbite....Is this something that should have been caught when her tail was docked, at her first Vet visit???? Should the breeder have told me? Was I scammed? Please share any info you might have, good bad or otherwise so we can prepare ourselves for what may be coming. Thanks so much! Squishy's Mom

07-17-2008, 04:45 PM	#3
YorkieRose YT 4000 Club Member Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 7,207	Bite Can you post a photo...? If she does have a severe overbite, the breeder would have known at an early age..perhaps as early as a week...and the vet would have certainly caught it at the well puppy visit before she came to you. I would speak to the breeder... PS..a true overbite tends to get worsen as the adult teeth emerge....an under bite can improve as the adult teeth emerge... __________________ Pat, Kate, Becca and Pinkkee Prim Last edited by YorkieRose; 07-17-2008 at 04:46 PM.

07-17-2008, 04:45 PM	#4
amandawash YT Addict Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Middleton, Idaho Posts: 495	Of course the breeder recognized that. Unfortunately, this seems to be a daily occurance that people buy these puppies being told they are show or breeding quality and are nothing of the sort. Please don't breed her, but enjoy your baby as the most spoiled furbaby ever!! __________________ Amanda & Ranger

07-17-2008, 05:09 PM	#5
C C Kent YT Addict Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Missouri Ozarks Posts: 288	An overbite of 1/4 in at ten weeks is a severe overbite, it probably will not get better. The standard allows for a straight bite or a scissor bite, anything other than that should be spayed. As a pet it probably won't be a problem for her but she definitely should not be bred. I can't imagine a breeder honestly missing a flaw like this. Unfortunately breeding quality means capable of reproduction to some people. You may take this girl back and they breed her without a second thought. Last edited by C C Kent; 07-17-2008 at 05:12 PM.

07-17-2008, 05:26 PM	#7
YorkieRose YT 4000 Club Member Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 7,207	bite You are right..it is visable and I would nto rbeed her..if the breeder sold her to you as a breed prospect, I feel you are due a partial refund. If the breeder did not tell you about the bite, charging full price, I feel you are due a partial refund also. __________________ Pat, Kate, Becca and Pinkkee Prim

07-17-2008, 04:28 PM	#2
linda44 Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: napa Posts: 1,611	If the breeder paid any attention to her puppies she knew. And I have never heard of a yorkie growing out of an over bite. Your vet is correct you should not breed as it may be passed on to her puppies or the puppies puppies. I would talk to your breeder.

07-17-2008, 08:34 PM	#8
SquishyWishyWoo YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: May 2008 Location: Buckley Posts: 5	overbite distress Ok.....So the Breeder claims that this is the only pup who has ever had a bite problem out of the 5 litters she has had. I searched today for her on the breeder page I found her on and she stated there that she has had a total of 42 pups....which can't be correct if the last two litters were only 4 pups each.....that would require 11.333333 pups for the other three litters??????: Yeah OK..I am not sure what to do. I feel like I should make a complaint to someone....so no one else has to feel the way I did that day that I learned she had an overbite. It was such a shock to learn that my Baby Girl was defective.......I keep trying to tell myself that the standard is something to try and achive, That No dog really is 100% perfect.....but my baby is!!! overbite or not. Heck one of my kids needed Braces! She is perfect, we love her just the way she is, yet I feel sad that "some" may see her as less than. I guess in the end it really doesn't matter. As long as we think she is perfect, who cares what the mean old Vet said.....I never intended to show her I did plan on being a Yorkie Grandma though, It's funny.......cause a chipped piece of Medium green Fiesta is just fine with me, not sure why this bothers me soooooooo much. must be that I feel like I was purposley decieved. I know that there is a huge price range for yorkies.....don't know what drives the price. Squish has nice color, stand up ears all along, great temperment, So smart......really the dog of my dreams.....

07-17-2008, 08:49 PM	#9
Ladymom Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 2,581	If your breeder has 42 puppies for sale at one time you probably dealt with a broker, not a breeder. Besides the obvious problem with her bite, Squishy may have other genetic issues she could pass along to her offspring. Since many genetic problems don't surface for years, it isn't safe to breed a dog with an unknown background. I know she is your dream dog so she is perfect in your eyes no matter what the vet may say. Get her spayed and just enjoy her as a wonderful pet. Here is some information about parrot mouth and other bite problems in dogs: Malocclusion: Misalignment of Teeth in Dogs __________________ http://www.myladysdogbows.com/ High Quality Handmade Bows for the Pampered Pooch

07-17-2008, 08:53 PM	#10
Carsons Mommy Mom 2 Carson & Bailey Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Ft. Mitchell, KY Posts: 627	That looks just like Carson's overbite... he has never had ANY problems at all eating, ect. Altough I wouldn't breed her.. I don't think she will have any problems __________________ Rachael Carson and Bailey

07-17-2008, 09:04 PM	#11
SquishyWishyWoo YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: May 2008 Location: Buckley Posts: 5	She does not have 42 for sale.....I may have written that wrong, she has had 42 total since she started. I went to her house and met the parents and her siblings. She is a great dog. I am glad to hear that others have the same problem and are doing just fine. the Vet says other than the overbite she is healthy and will make a great Pet....

07-18-2008, 04:42 AM	#12
C C Kent YT Addict Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Missouri Ozarks Posts: 288	I think describing her as defective is harsh and unnecessary. As a pet goes she is just fine and may be the best companion you have ever had. Be as proud of her as you would be of any loyal friend, regardless of appearance. The standard for breeding is very high, and should be. The fact that she didn't make it puts her in the majority of puppies born every year.