Metal Mouth Message Board

It looks like we're not the only ones getting braces:





Seeing dogs with braces brings new meaning to 'impacted canines', doesn't it!!

Is it necessary to put braces on a dog? That seems cruel.

Sometimes they can't chew right. I think I remember reading somewhere that dogs only get them for a short time, like a few months.

Do they still have to wear retainers?

Here's the article I read: http://www.cyberpet.com/dogs/articles/l ... ackets.htm

Now that just seems wrong to me I'm afraid. I've never heard anything like it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ah sorry to say but that's awful! Is it really necessary, is it for proper medical reasons or just silly owners who have to have perfect dogs, like the people who have their dogs tails docked or surgically shape their ears.

Some people have too much money, and not enough brains.

Wow, that's really something. I am just picturing the way our lab takes her front paw and scratches her mouth if she's gotten into the briars. I don't see braces staying on. And my little schnoodle, there is no way she would put up with it. She's so high strung, and she is always trying to eat our (long haired) cat. And I would think brushing their teeth would be a holy nightmare!

And since they don't seem to chew their food anyway, what is the point?

IMO

I am pretty sure that the pics you posted are from an orthodontic journal... professional publication... much of the orthodontic research in this country is done on dogs. Unfortunately those pics are probably pics of laboratory dogs, that were euthanized after the experiments.

I discovered this when I was exploring braces- I'm a med student and have access to the professional journals and I was absolutely horrified to see the dog experimentation pics.

Actually dogs can get braces for medical and cosmitic reasons... for example if you have a perfect show dog except the bite...you can fix it...kinda illegal but if you do it before you show the dog and the judge doesnt know then ohwell..
also if the teeth are really messed up and they cant bite properly to chew they can use them.

I know this because i worked at a vet/kennel in high school and we had this dog that had them and she boarded there. it was interesting.

they put them on while they are under anesthia, and tightenings as well. She had them for i think about 6 months...thats all. then her bite was pretty!

She didnt react badly towards them either...she acted like they werent even there.

that's just wierd, I'd never do that to my dog (if I had one)

I would normally think this is funny except that I have a kitten with the worst teeth I have ever seen.

We got him at 7 weeks and his adult teeth erupted before his baby teeth fell out. Our vet told us to give it a month and eventually they did fall out. Unfortunately now, at 8 months old,his fangs are all crooked and starting to dig into gums.

Not sure what we are going to do about him...it also seems funny that we both have crooked teeth

Alyssa

Well as someone else said earlier in the thread, dogs rarely chew their food anyway, mine just swallows stuff whole, so seems really pointless.

Holy crap! That is just insane. What a waste of money, IMO. And the discomfort for the poor thing! I remember when I heard of doggie depressants and other meds and was amazed. This certainly tops that.

What will they think of next?