Developmental Abnormalities of the Canine Skull.

Abstract

Fox, M. W., The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine. Developmental Abnormalities of the Canine Skull. Prognathism of the upper jaw and partial agnathia of the lower jaw and related disorders including dental anomalies, palatitis, and otocephaly are described. Similarly, secondary or concurrent anomalies associated with brachygnathism are discussed where an excess of soft tissue in proportion to the size of the upper jaw and facial (brachyfacial) area may cause a variety of clinical conditions. The higher incidence of neoplasia of the CNS in brachycephalic dogs may be related to reduction in cranial capacity in proportion to brain volume and pressure changes are less easily compensated in the brachygnathic breeds.