“Dog teeth are a lot like humans. Our baby teeth fall out, and dental care is important!”
Uhh, where is the tooth fairy?
Understand your dog’s dental development
Top: Combination of missing teeth, baby teeth, and emerging adult teeth Bottom: Adult Teeth (canines partially in - they are chompers now!)
Timeline and expectations for your puppy
Birth - puppy is born without teeth
Weeks 2 to 4 - puppy should still be with the mother and should be nursing
Weeks 5 to 6 - all 28 puppy teeth should have arrived, and puppies should be learning to eat soft puppy food
Weeks 8 to 16 - puppy teeth begin to fall out, as adult teeth are starting to emerge
6 months - puppy should have all 42 adult teeth by now, and if not, let the vet know
Don’t worry if your puppy doesn’t follow these timelines. They are general timeframes, and every dog is different. If you are really worried, consult your vet!
What’s the order of teeth falling out?
Incisors, the 6 small teeth on top and bottom between the canines, typically fall out first
Canines, the sharp fangs, will fall out after
Pre-molars exit next
Adult molars start to come in around 4 months - puppies don’t have molars, they just grow in
Can’t find your puppy’s teeth? Completely normal!
It is actually quite difficult to find a puppy tooth. Usually they are chewing on something, and they swallow it in the process. We only found two - a canine and a pre-molar.
How do I care for my dog’s teeth?
Soak kibble in water prior to feeding or give wet food if your teething puppy is having difficulty eating
Brush the teeth with dog toothpaste and tooth brush
Check often for smelly breath or tooth decay
What is the difference between puppy and adult teeth?
Puppy teeth, commonly called milk teeth, are small, jagged, and razor sharp. Adult teeth, commonly called pearly whites, are bigger in size (length and width). Once your puppy has lost a few teeth, you can easily teeth the difference between the two.
Why is it important to lose puppy teeth by 6 months?
Your puppy may require surgery if they do not have all of their adult teeth by then. Consult with your vet. Our vet hospital does not perform puppy neutering or spaying until they all adult teeth are in. This way, the puppy only has to go under anesthesia once for dental, microchipping, and neutering/spaying.
Separate procedures can be not only dangerous for your dog, but the bills add up.
Why is my puppy nipping? How do I stop it?
Always keep hard chew toys handy so you can replace the toy with your arm
When your puppy or dog bites, say “ouch!” and say it with exaggeration and high pitched voice to show it hurts
If “ouch!” doesn’t work, keep your arm limp so your dog recognizes your arm or legs are not toys
Apply some frozen butter on your wrist to prevent biting (apparently dogs do not like butter!!)
Train your dog to stop biting - any time they stop the behavior, give them a reward