DNA research brings us closer to a solution for husky overbite

PhD student Christina Kijan of the Expert Center for Veterinary Genetics (Utrecht University) is working on a solution for overbite in huskies. She spoke about this at a congress in Sweden and is getting help from the sled dog community.

In the Siberian Husky, several family lines are known in which overbites are more common. In an overbite, the upper jaw is too long in relation to the lower jaw. When the lower canines pierce the palate, it can cause discomfort and pain. Pedigree research has shown that the cause is genetic.

Research made possible by a prize

Earlier this year, Kijan won the Doc Lombard Student Research Award from the International Sled Dog Veterinary Medical Association (ISDVMA) with her proposal for research on overbite (class II malocclusion) in huskies. The money from the award allowed her to expand her research into the genetic cause.

Kijan discovered that the genetic predisposition is most likely caused by a combination of several genetic defects (polygenetic). Through analysis, genetic regions have been found that appear to have a relationship with the syndrome. This represents an important step in the research. As a follow-up, she will further investigate these genetic areas to identify the specific DNA defects, with the goal of eventually developing a DNA test.

Sled dog Valhalla

Kijan spoke about this recently at the ISDVMA congress in Kiruna in northern Sweden, a sled dog Valhalla. The many veterinarians and paraveterinarians at the congress responded very enthusiastically. Many turned out to know huskies with overbites and expressed that they would send in DNA samples from these animals for Kijan's further research.

Such collaborations are essential for genetic research, says Kijan: “I could never have done this research without the tremendous support of breeders, dog owners, donors and the ISDVMA. This is truly a collaborative effort, with everyone playing a crucial role. Together, we are taking genetic research on overbites in sled dogs to the next level.”