Undershot Jaw - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Mark Montgomery · 12-15-2011, 09:05 AM

Hi folks, firstly let me say a massive hello to everyone (im new) and in the same sentence sorry if i have posted this in the wrong cat. Mod's of the site i'm not too sure if there is alread a thread on this topic, i did try to find one lol.
I have an 8mth old male yorkie pup called sparky who is really an adorable little man, and a fabulous addidion to our family. As he grows older i have noticed he has developed quite a bad undershot jaw (probably the width of my baby finger). It's not causing him any concern what so ever now but am worried it will as he grows older. I'm very inexperienced in pedigree dogs and have never came across this with any other puppy i have been in contact with. He also has two small "bald" spots on his head probably where horns would be if he could grow them lol.
Anyway, any help however small it maybe would be greatly received.
Thanks in advance for your responses.
Mark

Taryn0405 · 12-15-2011, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Montgomery

Hi folks, firstly let me say a massive hello to everyone (im new) and in the same sentence sorry if i have posted this in the wrong cat. Mod's of the site i'm not too sure if there is alread a thread on this topic, i did try to find one lol.
I have an 8mth old male yorkie pup called sparky who is really an adorable little man, and a fabulous addidion to our family. As he grows older i have noticed he has developed quite a bad undershot jaw (probably the width of my baby finger). It's not causing him any concern what so ever now but am worried it will as he grows older. I'm very inexperienced in pedigree dogs and have never came across this with any other puppy i have been in contact with. He also has two small "bald" spots on his head probably where horns would be if he could grow them lol.
Anyway, any help however small it maybe would be greatly received.
Thanks in advance for your responses.
Mark

My Mom's Cairn has a way, way undershot jaw. And alot of times when she looks at you, she'll have her bottom canine sticking out. We call her the wart hog!

But she's never had a problem with it. And if she didn't have the jaw, the breeder would have kept her for showing. So, I gues it all worked out as it should have.

With regards to the bald spots, I dont' know much about it. But I would just run it by your vet to make sure it's not a problem. Expecially consdering there's a huge list of things it could be.

Good luck with your new baby, and welcome!

Mark Montgomery · 12-15-2011, 09:24 AM

Hey, many thanks for the quick reply!! Awe "warthog" brilliant haha. We have started to call sparky "foxy" for obvious reasons lol. I read on a forum they are prone to baldness due to a reaction from their injection, but he is heading to the Vet's just incase. Thanks again.

Wrenee4 · 12-15-2011, 10:13 AM

Sounds like he has an underbite...the lower jaw does have hopes to grow when they are puppies to have an even bite. He still has a bit of time, but I would think it would've happened by now. If he has no problems with eating then it is just cosmetic. Usually baldness would be at the injection site for shots...so I dont have any idea for the top of the head unless he had his hair up and he rubbed it out? I would have it checked out for sure

Congrats on your new baby!!

Britster · 12-15-2011, 01:40 PM

Jackson had an overshot jaw, so the opposite problem of yours. I noticed it a week after I brought him home at 9 weeks old. All that hair covered it, I guess! It wasn't terrible but it was overshot enough to cause him surgery at 3yrs old.

What happened was one of his bottom canine tooth was poking him in his upper gums/palate since his jaw was aligned incorrectly. So it was causing a hole/indent to be made in the upper palate and eventually it would have gone through to the bone or affected his nasal cavity.

He went to a board certified veterinary dentist (our regular vet recommended us to them, as she could not do anything with it) and they ended up doing a vital pulpotomy on his canine tooth, almost like a filling for humans, they shaved down the tooth so it was no longer poking him and filled it. $1300 later.... he's out of pain! lol.

I don't think I've ever of has many issues with the undershot jaw -- some breeds it's pretty common, or even called for according to AKC (I think) so I guess I'm not much help!

kristalblue74 · 12-15-2011, 03:51 PM

Chewie also has a bit of an underbite, but it doesn't affect his normal life except to make him look like he's perpetually smirking at us! Maybe he is...

Alvindy · 12-15-2011, 04:43 PM

Norman has an underbite also. It makes him look like he's always 'smiling'

Mark Montgomery · 12-18-2011, 01:37 PM

Guys many thanks for you're kind responses.

12-15-2011, 09:05 AM	#1
Mark Montgomery YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: united kingdom Posts: 3	Undershot Jaw Hi folks, firstly let me say a massive hello to everyone (im new) and in the same sentence sorry if i have posted this in the wrong cat. Mod's of the site i'm not too sure if there is alread a thread on this topic, i did try to find one lol. I have an 8mth old male yorkie pup called sparky who is really an adorable little man, and a fabulous addidion to our family. As he grows older i have noticed he has developed quite a bad undershot jaw (probably the width of my baby finger). It's not causing him any concern what so ever now but am worried it will as he grows older. I'm very inexperienced in pedigree dogs and have never came across this with any other puppy i have been in contact with. He also has two small "bald" spots on his head probably where horns would be if he could grow them lol. Anyway, any help however small it maybe would be greatly received. Thanks in advance for your responses. Mark

12-15-2011, 10:13 AM	#4
Wrenee4 YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,048	Sounds like he has an underbite...the lower jaw does have hopes to grow when they are puppies to have an even bite. He still has a bit of time, but I would think it would've happened by now. If he has no problems with eating then it is just cosmetic. Usually baldness would be at the injection site for shots...so I dont have any idea for the top of the head unless he had his hair up and he rubbed it out? I would have it checked out for sure Congrats on your new baby!! __________________ ~Wendy~

12-15-2011, 01:40 PM	#5
Britster Action Jackson ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 17,815	Jackson had an overshot jaw, so the opposite problem of yours. I noticed it a week after I brought him home at 9 weeks old. All that hair covered it, I guess! It wasn't terrible but it was overshot enough to cause him surgery at 3yrs old. What happened was one of his bottom canine tooth was poking him in his upper gums/palate since his jaw was aligned incorrectly. So it was causing a hole/indent to be made in the upper palate and eventually it would have gone through to the bone or affected his nasal cavity. He went to a board certified veterinary dentist (our regular vet recommended us to them, as she could not do anything with it) and they ended up doing a vital pulpotomy on his canine tooth, almost like a filling for humans, they shaved down the tooth so it was no longer poking him and filled it. $1300 later.... he's out of pain! lol. I don't think I've ever of has many issues with the undershot jaw -- some breeds it's pretty common, or even called for according to AKC (I think) so I guess I'm not much help! __________________ ~ Brit & Lights! Camera! Jackson! CGC ETD TKP ~ Follow Jackson on Instagram: https://instagram.com/jacksontheterrier

12-15-2011, 03:51 PM	#6
kristalblue74 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: South Dakota Posts: 106	Chewie also has a bit of an underbite, but it doesn't affect his normal life except to make him look like he's perpetually smirking at us! Maybe he is... __________________ Kristal and Chewie, my favorite mini-Wookiee

12-15-2011, 09:24 AM	#3
Mark Montgomery YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: united kingdom Posts: 3	Hey, many thanks for the quick reply!! Awe "warthog" brilliant haha. We have started to call sparky "foxy" for obvious reasons lol. I read on a forum they are prone to baldness due to a reaction from their injection, but he is heading to the Vet's just incase. Thanks again.

12-15-2011, 04:43 PM	#7
Alvindy Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Oakville Posts: 216	Norman has an underbite also. It makes him look like he's always 'smiling'

12-18-2011, 01:37 PM	#8
Mark Montgomery YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: united kingdom Posts: 3	Guys many thanks for you're kind responses.