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Small dogs are more likely to have an extra row of teeth like sharks

Some pet dogs retain their baby teeth, creating two rows that resemble the mouth of a shark. A new analysis shows that the condition is more prevalent in smaller breeds and obese dogs

By Christa Lesté-Lasserre

13 February 2024

Persistent deciduous teeth, also known as “shark teeth”

nadisja/Getty Images

Seven per cent of pet dogs – mostly small, “toy” breeds – have doubled-up teeth, reminiscent of sharks’ mouths. The condition, known as persistent deciduous teeth, occurs when the dog’s baby teeth remain fixed in the jaw, close to the adult teeth, instead of falling out, creating rows of teeth similar to those seen in sharks.

To investigate these “shark teeth”, Corrin Wallis at Waltham Petcare Science Institute in Leicestershire, UK, and her colleagues examined the records of 2.8 million purebred dogs in…

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