Occiput or Smart Bone - Worried

[denise rumbaugh]

I'm concerned about a bone on my Aussiedoodle's head.  It's called the occiput bone or smart bone and it really wasn't noticeable when he was a puppy. Now at 18 mths it protrudes more and I'm wondering if this is normal.  He seems normal in every way, eats great, begs, plays. Can anyone shed some light on this?

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Yep, its normal.  When he was a pup, that bone was soft cartridge that had not become hard or fused yet.  These bones are soft, not fused, and are able to move slightly to pass through the birth canal. 

Of course, just like humans, puppies have soft bone in their skulls to be able to pass through that tiny birth canal.

As we get older those soft bone becomes hard and fuse together.  Dogs have a pointy protrusion.  

In Anatomy and Physiology, one of our assignments was to go home and feel our dogs head because we could feel it better on a dog, versus a human skull. 

It's really really normal.

If you feel that it is not, just ask your vet to check it on your next visit. 

[denise rumbaugh]

I had dachshunds and although they have that protruding bone, it just didn't seem as prominent as Jaces.  I have noticed it there before but just wondered tonight if that was normal.  

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Our Sophie had a very pronounced one.  When she would go on her Therapy Visits to the Veteran's Home there was one gentleman who always said "Yep, it is still there.  You are so Smart Sophie".  I saw in the paper not too long ago where he had passed away and I couldn't help but think that he was up in Heaven checking Sophie to see if she was still a smart girl!  

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

That is such a sweet story.

[Jill, Woody & Maxi]

A very sweet story, indeed!

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

I like thinking that Sophie met him with a big doodle smile. Sweet story.

[denise rumbaugh]

Awww!  That is so sweet!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Awww....what a nice story!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Sweet  :)

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

I have to say that Finn has the pointiest skull, ever. I never noticed this on my other dogs. I'm not sure how smart he is,  but I used to tell the kids it was where the lab genes met the poodle genes (and whatever the heck other genes there are in there).  A doodle "knot."

[denise rumbaugh]

lol!  I was just wondering because it just sticks out now more than ever.