Show Teeth...

[~Helen~]

I've just got back from the vet and she noticed that Josie (blue pedigree pup, 8 weeks old) has a double-crowned incisor. (w00t) Hadn't noticed it myself!

The vet said when her adult teeth come that tooth may or may not be also double-crowned, but that if it was then Josie wouldn't get very far in shows.

Now, I don't mind this because we got Josie as a family pet, but I just thought I'd ask about it. What do you all think about double crowns? Are they common?

cheers, Helen.

 

[aslan]

Do you mean a tooth which appears to be two teeth but when you look at the gum line it is actually one tooth? I think they might be more common than many would care to admit to Helena. I've seen a couple in my time. But personally, if the dog still has a scissor bite I don't see how a double crowned tooth would affect it's ability to catch its prey, or eat its food so I wouldn't penalize it, especially if the rest of the dog is beautiful. Does the UK standard call for a full dentition of 42 teeth or just a scissor bite?

 

[dessie]

Doubt very much if anyone will notice, especiallyif, as Lana says, she has a correct scissor bite. I know several Whippets who have either 'double' teeth or even 7 incisors.

 

[Karen]

I also doubt if many would notice but it should not be encouraged in a breeding program because I think it could lead to other things if doubled up on.

 

[whipowill]

I had a whippet pup years ago who had a double crowned tooth like that. It was one of his baby teeth. When the adult teeth came through there were two perfectly formrd teeth. But don't know if every one is that lucky.

I would wait and see what happens when her adult teeth come through.

 

[dawn]

Hi Helena

What the vet says is rubbish!

I had a dog who had two double teeth as a pup and only one came through as a double when his adult teeth came through, I did a lot of winning at all levels of showing with this dog. I had one judge at a Champ show who was fasinated enough about the tooth to come and speak to me afterwards This judge give him a 1st out of a class of 22 dogs. Most dont even notice it.

It is a lot more common than a lot of people like to admit, having said that I agree with Karen

it should not be encouraged in a breeding program because I think it could lead to other things if doubled up on.

As long as his bite is OK dont worry about it

 

[~Helen~]

Do you mean a tooth which appears to be two teeth but when you look at the gum line it is actually one tooth?

I've been trying to work out which, but it's very difficult. The gum-line looks like one tooth but the actual tooth/teeth has a dividing line all the way up which does kink the gumline so it could be one - or it could be two! :wacko:

Anyway, thank goodness it won't matter - you can never rule out being bitten by the showing bug and I would hate to think that avenue had been totally closed off before I even got there. However she is a family pet, above all.

 

[aslan]

You would need an x-ray to find out whether it's one tooth split into two or two teeth joined into one - they'd need to look at the root/s.

I've been told by a dog dental vet that it's called gemination (sp?) and that most often in baby puppies it will not occur when the new teeth come through, but of course sometimes it does. I've also been told that it's not hereditary.