If the permanent teeth are lingually displaced the pup is usually older than 24 weeks. The trauma caused by the teeth on the soft tissues can be considerable with pain as a consequence. During testing, we noticed that some dogs without a strong herding reflex didn’t understand herding balls. This is our favoured option and involves reducing the height of the lower canines to that of the adjacent incisors. This is best done with erupting permanent mandibular canines. When done at this time the canines are actively moving through the bone and can be deviated from their course. This is usually around 5 months of age. Once the teeth are at their final eruption height the ability to move them starts to reduce. It then becomes a much bigger job to do. You should encourage your dog to play with the ball in their mouth as often as you can. It has been shown that performing this behaviour for fifteen minute intervals three times daily is effective. The longer the forces act, the better the result. First, let’s start with a discussion of normal occlusion and malocclusions. Normally, when the mouth is closed, the mandibular incisors are behind the maxillary incisors, while the mandibular canine tooth is behind the maxillary third incisor and in front of the maxillary canine. There is interdigitation of the premolar cusps of the maxilla and mandible, resulting in a resemblance of pinking shears. The maxillary premolars and molars are positioned lateral to the mandibular premolars due to the anisognathic widths of the maxilla and mandible in the dog and cat.

Ball Therapy involves the use of a removable, passive-force orthodontic appliance in the form of an appropriately sized pliable ball toy or a Kong® Classic™ toy. The concept is amazingly simple. The owners encourage the dog to hold/carry the ‘appliance’ as much as possible, holding it in the mouth just behind the canine teeth. The presence of the ball will apply a gentle force on the lower canines out towards the lips and encourage these teeth to tip into proper position as they are erupting. Case Selection and Timing Dogs who meet the criteria are encouraged to play with a solid rubber toy with round or ovoid shape, such as a rubber ball or Kong-style toy for a minimum of three 15-minute sessions per day, although more frequent sessions of longer duration may be helpful. A practical way to ensure play with the toy is to toss it and have the dog retrieve it repeatedly. The type of ball or toy is important. The solid rubber construction of a ball or Kong is important—avoid a hollow ball to provide weight necessary to move the teeth to the desired location. Though it needs to have some weight, hard toys are discouraged to avoid tooth fractures. Do not use tennis balls, which may cause tooth abrasion. The ball/toy ideally should fit between the cusps of the mandibular canine teeth to promote labioversion ( i.e. movement in the direction of the lips). If too large, the ball/toy may result in intrusion instead of the desired labioversion. It is important to realise and inform the owner that any of our domesticated pets can have very functional dentition after the loss of any tooth or teeth. I rarely recommend Ball Therapy for the primary (baby) teeth, preferring to extract those temporary teeth for various reasons. But occasionally we will see a pup whose lower primary canines are just very slightly out of place and for those, Ball Therapy could work. Ready to diversify your stash with classic rubber balls, squeakies, spikes, lights, and more? Let’s play ball!Furballz also sports a fuzzy, plush exterior that some dogs love to cuddle. Other dogs may eat the fuzz, so keep an eye on them while playing.

Typically, puppies are seen at 8, 12 and 16 weeks for vaccines and then not again until 6 months for spay/neuter and so the best window of opportunity may be missed with this schedule. I always recommend that puppies also be examined at 5 months of age for a dental development evaluation. If, at this visit, there is concern that the adult mandibular canines are erupting base-narrow, a few weeks of ball therapy may just help the problem resolve without any further intervention. Figure 1: Photographs of a lingually displaced lower left canine tooth in a Labradoodle at 5.5 months of age and then after a month of Ball Therapy. This is just the sort of case that is ideally suited for Ball Therapy in that the jaw length relationship was good and there was a clear path and suitable space to accommodate the crown of the lower canine as it tipped labially. What to Use Reviewers note it’s better for smaller dogs as it only comes in one size. While it’s not a great choice for deep-pile carpets, it tends to work well on most home surfaces. My only complaint is that the Push-n-Play is not suitable for indoor use. This heavy plastic herding ball is like a bowling ball as it rolls around your floor, crashing into chair legs and off walls. Outdoor play only.

Orthodontic treatment

Treat dispensing toys are designed for interactive play with your pooch. They have openings which you can stuff with treats, which they can roll around, lift up, and try and free. These provide both mental and physical stimulation.