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  Discussion on Overbite/Parrot Mouth
Author Message
Member:
Dlmyers1

Posted on Monday, Sep 13, 2004 - 5:15 pm:

Hi, Dr. O.

I hope I am putting these questions in the right place.

I have a mare that foaled about 5 weeks ago. She had a filly that was about 2 weeks early with an overbite - about 1/2". This mare has been bred to this stallion on several occasions and never resulted in a foal with this problem before. Neither parent has the problem.

The filly is nursing, eating hay and grain really well. She is gaining weight and growing like a weed.

I can't find much information on overbites or parrot mouth. So I have a few questions for you:

1. Will the gap get bigger as this filly matures?

2. Is there anything that can be done for her medically?

3. Since this breeding combination has always created really good foals, would you take the chance and breed them again?

4. This filly has wonderful, old stock TWH bloodlines. Should she be used as a broodmare when she is older? I am leaning towards not registering her because I am worried about genetics and passing this on.

5. Will the overbite/parrot mouth cause problems with a bit when she comes of riding age - if nothing can be done for her?

Thank you for any help.

Donna Myers


Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 14, 2004 - 8:30 am:

Hello Donna,
1. Most get smaller. The exception is if the defect promotes widening by having the lower teeth pushing on the backs of the upper. Regular dental care can prevent this.
2. Not practically. If money is not a problem you can have "braces" put on.
3. Yes, as long as you can not find other cases related to this mare or stallion.
4. No.
5. Not if she receives regular dental care that removes any "high spots" that develop from lack of wear from opposing teeth.
DrO
Member:
Cowgrl

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 14, 2004 - 11:21 am:

Hi Donna,
I have a quarter horse with an overbite and it doesn't affect him at all. The vet gives a little extra attention to his incisors when he has mouth work done by filing them so they meet a little closer and that's about it. He doesn't have any trouble eating and bitting is not a problem.

I don't think you have anything to worry about with your new little girl.

Happy Trails
Holly
Member:
Deggert

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 14, 2004 - 1:58 pm:

Hi Donna
I know where you are coming from on the teeth issues and panicing. Like Dr. O said, usually they get smaller. I have had them born with their gums perfectly in alignment then by 2 weeks they had an overbite of 1/2 gums to full gums. ( good explanation!!) I freaked of course because both parents had a normal bite. They totally cleared up in a few months although one horse was finally perfect at 2. I know my frustration years ago is I could not find any conclusive genetic info on this especially when both parents were normal. But in the long run all my foals that started straight ended straight and one that was undershot at birth straightened by the time his front teeth erupted. Hope this helps, hang in there she will probably be just fine.
Member:
notch

Posted on Friday, May 16, 2008 - 5:45 pm:

I sold a colt at age 9mo and did not notice a parrot mouth. I was sent a email from the owner and now at age 1yr they have told me has a 1" overbite. Is it odd for it to grow that much and show up that late in age" I never noticed anything. They will not send a photo and do not want their money back so do not see any reason they would not be telling me the truth other than they do not want me to breed the dam again. She has a perfect mouth and so does the sire. What are the chances of her having another one?
Member:
ekaufman

Posted on Friday, May 16, 2008 - 6:24 pm:

Hi Tamela,

You will get more responses if you start a new discussion rather than piggybacking on an old one.

If it were me, I'd mail the new owners a single use disposable camera with a postage-paid return envelope and ask them to take a bunch of photos and mail it back. I'd tell them that you need the info to maintain quality in your program and thank them very much etc. etc..

I have never seen a parrot-mouthed horse that did not also have other conformational problems that would have made me hesitate to repeat the cross, if I had produced the horse. Of course, I haven't seen many, so this is just an opinion. If they would take those photos, you could look at the whole horse and draw some unemotional conclusions about his quality.

It takes two horses to make another horse, so IF you conclude there are problems with this colt, then you need to research both sire and dam to determine whether there are other instances of problems. I assume you did this anyway in preparation for the first breeding, but it's worth repeating.

I personally would not repeat a cross that produced any significant deformity-- too many horses in the world to make weird ones on purpose...
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