Surgical Management of the Tight Lip Syndrome in the Shar Pei Dog

Abstract

The lower lip in some Shar Pei puppies curls up over the mandible, causing lingual displacement of the incisor and canine teeth and may result in interference with the natural growth of the mandible. Surgical correction of this defect at the proper age can allow the mandible to grow normally and avoid development of an uncomfortable mouth. Two methods of correction are described. Cheiloplasty has been used by the author on 99 puppies over a 10 year period, only two of which were returned for additional surgery because the result was inadequate; the cheiloplasty procedure was repeated in these two dogs. Excision of an elliptical section of the skin of the chin was performed once during the same 10 year period.