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Puppy Baby TeethThis page looks at puppy baby teeth (deciduous teeth), the problem of "retained deciduous teeth", and how to give canine dental care to puppies.
When Do Puppies Start Teething?
Puppies are born without any teeth. When they reach about 4 weeks of age, the first puppy baby teeth (sometimes referred to as "milk teeth", or deciduous teeth) start to break
through the gumline - a process referred to as "erupting".
Most puppies are undergoing some form of continued teething, either erupting or replacing the baby teeth, until they are about seven to nine months of age. The exact end to
teething varies considerably with each individual puppy.
During the teething period, the gums of the puppies are raw and sore, causing the puppies to chew on everything, probably in an attempt to relieve the irritation. It is
therefore important to provide them with lots of chew toys and treats for teething to make them more comfortable (and to save your furniture and shoes!). There are also useful
natural remedies such as herbs and homeopathic remedies that soothe the teething pain. Visit our page on
Dog Teething Pain Relief for more information.
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How Many Teeth Do Puppies and Dogs Have?Puppies have a total of 28 baby teeth by the time they reach 45 days of age. The first puppy baby teeth to erupt are the canine teeth and incisors, followed by the premolars. Puppies do not have molars. Adult dogs generally have 42 permanent teeth, but some breeds have more or fewer. For example, doberman pinchers have fewer teeth, whereas spaniels and greyhounds tend to have more teeth. TopWhen Do Puppies Lose their Baby Teeth?When puppies are 2 to 3 months old, they start to lose their baby teeth and permanent teeth start to erupt. Most breeds will have all their permanent teeth at 6 to 7 months of age. Larger breeds tend to erupt earlier than smaller breeds. The first permanent teeth to come out are the incisors. They are then followed by the canines, premolars, and molars. Specifically, the following shows the approximate order of eruption of the permanent teeth:
What is Meant by "Retained Deciduous Teeth"?
When a puppy gets to be 2 to 3 months old, permanent teeth start to erupt. Normally, each puppy baby tooth root will be absorbed by the adult tooth. This causes the baby
tooth to loosen and fall out as the permanent tooth erupts.
However, sometimes this resorption process does not work properly. For example, a permanent tooth does not erupt immediately under the baby tooth, and as such the
baby tooth does not fall out. This is commonly referred to as a "retained deciduous tooth", and usually occurs with the incisors or upper canine teeth.
When the permanent tooth does finally erupt, the baby tooth is still there. As two teeth are trying to occupy the same area, the new permanent tooth usually erupts at an
abnormal angle or in an abnormal position, causing an abnormal "bite" or "malocclusion".
As you can imagine, retained deciduous teeth can cause health problems to a puppy. For example, the abnormal teeth alignment can interfere with the normal growth and
development of the jaw bones. The mis-aligned teeth may contact the roof of the mouth causing injury and pain, and may also cause difficulty eating. Retained deciduous
teeth may also die and abscess, causing mouth infections to develop.
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How are Retained Deciduous Teeth Treated?Retained deciduous teeth should be extracted to prevent serious malocclusion problems from occurring. If retained teeth are removed at an early stage, the permanent teeth can usually move into their normal positions. As anesthesia is required for extraction of retained deciduous teeth, they are usually removed during spaying or neutering. TopHow Should We Care for Puppy Baby Teeth?If you have a teething puppy, it is important to check the puppy's mouth every week until about seven to eight months of age to ensure that the teeth are growing normally. If you find any retained teeth, or if you suspect your puppy has an abnormal bite, consult a veterinarian for an oral examination immediately. Canine dental care is extremely important to your dog's whole body health. Therefore, get into the habit of brushing your dog's teeth early. Start when your dog is still a puppy. You may want to first use a finger brush or even gauze to clean your puppy's teeth, and then eventually move on to a toothbrush. Brushing regularly (3-4 times a week) will prevent early gingivitis and periodontal disease later in your dog's life.Related Topics Canine Dental Care Effects of Canine Dental Problems Canine Teeth Cleaning Dog Teething Pain Relief TOP of Puppy Baby Teeth |
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