Jan 8, 2007 6:15 pm US/Eastern
Does Your Dog Need Braces?
(KDKA)
Americans spend between $800 and $1,500 dollars a year on their dogs.
Now there's something new that could end up taking an even bigger bite out of a dog owner's wallet dog orthodontics!
Is this something your dog needs?
"Why would we put braces on a dog? Not to make the dog feel better, but to solve problems that would be otherwise traumatic for the dog," said Veterinary Dentist Dr. Daniel T. Carmichael.
Serious dental problems are leading more pet owners to consider braces but they can add up to serious bucks costing up to $2,000.
Not that long ago, no one had even heard of doggy braces, so why are so many more pet owners giving their dogs 'metal mouths'?
"It's only been recently I think, when we, as veterinarians, have realized that orthodontic problems can be treated," added Dr. Carmichael.
He says new research and people's preference for purebreds are fueling the heavy metal movement.
"Of the 160 breeds of dogs that the AKC recognizes, about half of those dogs normally have something that we would call a malocclusion or not a perfect bite," said Dr. Carmichael.
Of course, not all of those imperfections require dental work.
Dr. Carmichael says some bite problems can be corrected by having the dog chew regularly on a rubber ball -- at a cost of just $5.
If your dog does get orthodontics, the good news is usually the procedures are completed in just four to six weeks.
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