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Puppy underbite

796 Views 15 Replies 8 Participants Last post by  Lindar51
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Not seeing what you are referring to? Looks like a normal Boxer puppy and a very cute one at that!
Sorry. My first time using the forum. My vet told yesterday that my puppy has a slight underbite. Should I be considered or should I be asking more questions. She’s 9 weeks old. The puppy not the vet lol
Boxers are pretty much known for their underbites. From the way I understand it, boxers were originally bred to bite and hold game. The underbite (powerful lower jaw that protruded slightly past the upper jaw) was a desirable trait for doing this job. Very cute pup!
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Hmm, well if a Vet said that to me about my Boxer?? That would be the last time, that Vet would see my Boxer. Boxer's are brachycephalic, "Breed's."

A slight, underbite would not be worth mentioning? Here is the list of dog's with "underbites." More concerning would be if they don't know that? Then there is very little chance they know about Boxer's and "Acepromazine?"


If they ever have to put her under for surgery and they don't know about Boxer's and Ace? She might not "Wake Up." But for the record those that "Know," what they are doing can use ACE, on Boxer's but they use 30% less than normal.

Ace, is just the standard protocal for anesthesia. You should address this with your vet and two answer's are acceptable. "Yes I know but I know how to use it safely on Boxers or NO problem we will use something else for your Dog."

If they just say "Your being silly??" I'd find another vet. Welcome Aboard. :)
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Thank you !!!
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Your puppy is still very young their growth spurts happen and the head shape will shift and change widen at the top so don’t be too worried I’m sure it will be ok.
Hmm, well I seem to have lost/forgotten my link?? So, I'll try again and also add, "Got Bull Dog?? " :)

So I'll try again, 11 Breeds Of Dogs With UNDERBITES (+ Photos) - Oodle Life

And how those guy's missed the Johnson, type American Bull Dogs, I have no idea??

That looks like my girl ... if she gained about 40 pounds of muscles and was a little shorter. :)
An underbite is apart of our breed standard. Please don’t expect your vet to know everything about each breed. They were just simply stating your puppy has one…. As she should :)
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Ace, is just the standard protocal for anesthesia. You should address this with your vet and two answer's are acceptable. "Yes I know but I know how to use it safely on Boxers or NO problem we will use something else for your Dog."
Hmm, you know upon further reflection, I forgot to complement, the OP on a Job .. "Well Done!" They did there research! There"Vet," told them there dog has an under bite? And they said OK, well ... perhaps I'll go to a Boxer forum, and see what they say??

And I "missed that??" I "forgot about the OP," and went for the obvious ... a "Boxer has an under bite?? Well, yeah no crap, would be the obvious answer! :)

But ... think about it, how do lot's of us come to that answer? We either read alot or have had Boxers, several or one or two for years (if we are lucky) and 5,10,15,20 years or more of life "experience with Boxers!"

But ... wipe that out and go back to your first Boxer and the vet say's ... "Your dog has an under-bite?? And what do you think then?

The OP did ... "Exactly what I did," ... when I had my issues with my "First Working Line GSD," uh not, a "Boxer!"and I went online and looked for "Answers from trainers that dealt with dog's with serious issues," and if what they did made sense to me ... "I'd do that!"

And well ... I "modified as I saw fit, somethings I had done anyway, but put a spin on them. Human Aggression was my issue but ... I looked online for answers and then used my "Judgement," to determine what was best for me and my dog ... and it worked out fine!

But going way, way, way back ... before the "internet was a "thing??" The "Vet was the first point of point of contact for people with a new dog. But Vet's are "Not," Dog Trainers, they are not "Behaviorist," nor "Confirmation Experts." They are Health Care Experts, that is what they went to school for, "Medical Issues."

When I took my, "Struddell (White Boxer) , into a new vet, my first question ... "was have you worked on Boxer's?" And then of course, the "Ace," question. Now he may or may not have thought the "question was odd?" But he said ... "No problem, we can use something else. It went fine. " :)

But for the most part ... when people have dog behavioral "Issues?" They have no idea what is going on and who to contact? And there "typical, first point of contact ... would be there vet. This was a slightly different, as it was a "Conformation, thing," but my point is still valid ... they went to "who they know."

A "Good Vet," should be able to point a client, to a "Behaviorist, or a Dog Trainer, or "Confirmation's," (Dog Show Judge) I could not do that job cause to me ... "Every Boxer would look like a winner!") But most likely a local vet, has treated those trainers/owners dog's?

Those are all different discipline?? There is "overlap, between a "Behaviorist and a Dog Trainer?" And long story short ... I "thought, that I was, more of a ,Dog Trainer," than I a "Behaviorist?" But that is another story. :)

So (New) owners are gonna go first to someone they know and trust? So the Op did that first and then reached out to us. And I just went with the obvious (Boxers have an under-bite) and forgot to say ... "Job Well Done on your research!" And I think you and your new "Doggy are gonna do very well together ... "Welcome Aboard!" :)
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Didn't read the novel posted before me so dnt know if this was said. But... all you are assuming the VET is an idiot. Bet the vet could easily name all breeds w/an underbite. However if specifically mentioned. YES...you do need to ask more. Skeletal underbite in dogs may be more problematic then dental. An abnormal mouth bone structure may cause the canine teeth or maxillary incisors to make abnormal contact with the gums causing severe distress and damage to your pup’s teeth and gums. This could fasten the rapid onset of periodontal disease.
Well, yeah "I" am "assuming" the " Vet," is an idiot! The first question I asked my "vet" was
"Have, you have you worked with Boxers?" If the answer was "No." I was out of there! Others are free to do as they see fit! Is that short enough?
Skeletal malocclusion is hereditary and as already mentioned is prevalent in boxers and several short muzzled dogs, even chihuahuas. Perhaps this vet noticed an unusual underbite being more pronounced than what is considered normal for a boxer. I would think the vet just wants the owner to watch and look out for any detrimental effects. Personally I wouldn't worry about it in a young boxer but I would watch that it doesn't become a problem, which likely it will not.
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