A TOOTHY WEST Highland terrier has had his gnashers fitted with an orthodontic brace by vets at Dundee’s PDSA PetAid hospital to correct a rare doggy dental disorder.

Dundee woman Dorothy Ghollam (55) took her pet terrier Freddie to the PDSA when he started to yelp in pain whenever his head was touched.

He was diagnosed with craniomandibular osteopathy—a very painful and fairly unusual condition that causes an excess of bone along the jaw.

After treatment, Freddie recovered but the condition appeared to have caused one of his canine teeth to deviate, which could have grown in to the roof of his mouth causing severe discomfort.

In order to re-position the tooth, Freddie—named after dentally endowed Queen singer Freddie Mercury—was given a pink brace, which resembles a gum shield.

PDSA Veterinary Surgeon Sue Somers said, “We explained to Dorothy that PDSA could fit Freddie with an orthodontic brace.

“When Freddie closes his mouth, the brace slowly pushes his tooth into a more normal position.

“Freddie is able to eat and behave in a normal way but most importantly, he isn’t in any in pain.”

Since wearing his cheerfully pink brace, Freddie’s outlook on life has completely changed.

Dorothy said, “Freddie has returned to his old self. He is cheerful and happy again and just loves to play.

“He is eating well, and is going from strength to strength.

“Freddie’s even started barking along to Queen songs again, something which stopped when his tooth problem first started.”

Freddie is due to have his brace removed in a few weeks’ time and, as he has responded so well to the treatment, PDSA vets expect him to make a full recovery.