Just like human babies, animals have baby teeth that need to be replaced as they get older. This is true of puppies; it is a natural part of life, but it makes things no less scary when you notice your own pup losing his at random.
Many dog owners get concerned because they do not know what the appropriate time is for their pets to lose their baby teeth. There is a good reason to be concerned–if a dog loses his adult teeth, the results can be debilitating for the rest of his life. While implants are an option, they can be a hassle to take care of.
However, this is nothing to worry about if your puppy starts to lose his at the right age! Today, you are going to learn about the full puppy teething timeline:
- When baby teeth start to grow in
- When puppies are supposed to lose their baby/puppy teeth
- Signs that your pup is growing out of his chompers
When does a puppy’s baby teeth start to grow in?
Typically, a puppy’s first teeth start to grow in as early as two weeks, but some experience this a few weeks later. You will notice that they are beginning to sprout when your own pupper starts teething if you have him early enough. Be warned that this will be a frustrating experience, so you need to exercise a lot of patience at this time. When your puppy is teething, you will notice several of these things:
- The puppy is drooling.
- Spots of blood appear on his toys.
- The pup is chewing on other things that he probably should not be (more than usual).
If you are with your doggo when he begins to teethe, here is what you can do:
- Get him some teething toys. These will be soothing to the teeth and gums while giving him a safe outlet to chew something without it harming him or your possessions. (If you need to know where to get one, look here.)
For more tips on surviving the puppy teething phase, check out this list of tips!
When does a puppy’s baby teeth begin to fall out?
If your pup is like most other dogs, he should begin to shed his baby dog teeth/primary teeth at around four months of age. At this point, he should have a total of 28 baby teeth. Gently check inside your dog’s mouth. If he has less or more than normal, you should see a vet as this could be a sign of other medical issues in young puppies.
What to look for when your pup’s baby teeth are being replaced
As Fido’s baby teeth fall out, they are being replaced by adult canine teeth. At the end of this phase, he should have 42 adult teeth in total! In between these two results, you should look for signs that your precious pup is growing out of his old chompers!
- You might find tiny little sharp teeth on the floor as you pass by. This is normal; it isn’t like a puppy can put his teeth under a pillow and wait for the Tooth Fairy! He will just leave them where they lie and continue to go about business as usual.
- Your puppy will be in some teething pain when their puppy teeth are almost ready to fall out. Again, that is normal. Just like babies get fussy throughout the teething phase, puppies will be, too. He may bite on random objects (or your fingers) more than usual, paw or lick at his jaw, or whine for attention. Give him soothing toys to chew on, or some peanut butter to suck on. If the pain seems to be out of proportion to the pain he should be experiencing, go to a vet. Something else may be going on that you can’t see.
What You Can Do
When you recognize the signs that your puppy is losing his baby teeth, you can do a couple of things to help and to prepare him for the future:
- Keep those teething toys around. He will still need them to ease the pain.
- Go to the vet to have the puppy’s progress checked on by a professional. They can tell you if the process is going smoothly or if there is anything to be concerned about.
- Gently touch his gums. While he is losing his baby teeth, it is a great time to get him used to the future with the reality of more vet checkups and exams. Be careful; the remaining baby teeth are sharp and can cut if you are not cautious.
What to do when your puppy is not losing teeth on time
Okay, so your pup is not losing his teeth when he should or like he should be. In this case, the first thing you do is go to your regular veterinarian. Always do that when in doubt! From there, they will be able to help you find the underlying cause of the delay. Of course, the pup could just be a late bloomer, but something else may be at play. This includes:
- Double teeth. When the baby teeth are being pushed out, the adult teeth can sometimes grow in right behind them. This is normal except for when the baby tooth does not fall out. When this happens, your puppy may need to have his tooth manually extracted. That is no fun, but it’s necessary if you want his teeth to be healthy later on.
Don’t worry too much; most of the time, a pup’s adult teeth will come in without any complications! Even if they do, a vet can help and get you back on track in no time.
How to keep a dog’s adult teeth healthy
Now that your puppy’s adult teeth have come in splendidly, you have to make sure that they stay in his head! After all, there is no third set to fall back on. The best thing you can do for your dog is ensure that his chompers are nice and strong. This means that you should have them cleaned regularly.
You can do it yourself, but letting a vet have your puppy’s teeth cleaned will produce the best results.
Now you are properly prepared for any of the terrible teething woes that puppy’s face and you know how to prevent disaster once those teeth finally push through! The next stages of Fido’s life will be a walk in the park compared to this. Good luck!
Bringing a new family addition into the home is extremely exciting! Becoming a new puppy parent comes with a ton of new joys, challenges and responsibilities. PupBox was created to help new puppy parents like yourself, by providing all of the toys, treats, accessories and training information you need, when you need it. CLICK HERE to learn more about PupBox.
And remember, puppyhood is fast and is gone before you know it. Make sure to savor the time when your pup is young, and take lots of pictures along the way!
