Dog teeth: when do they change, symptoms and tips

Dogs at birth, like humans, do not have teeth. During the first weeks of life, around the second and third, the first milk or deciduous teeth appear; although it will not be until three months when the puppies begin the change of teeth and the definitive ones appear. In general, it can be established that a dog already has all its adult teeth by seven or eight months of life.

In what order do their teeth come in?

Puppies have between 28 and 32 milk teeth: incisors, canines, and premolars. It should be noted that until they have their permanent teeth, they will not have molars. The order of appearance of the first teeth will be:

1. incisors . They are the first to appear.
2. Canines . After a few weeks the milk canines come out.
3. Premolars . The last premolars can take up to 8 weeks.

At this point, it is necessary to make a small precision since not all races are the same. For example, it can happen that in large dogs the teeth come out earlier than in smaller breeds.

At the time the pet changes its teeth, it will go from the initial 28 or milk teeth to the 42 permanent teeth. In general, although there are exceptions in certain breeds, the adult teeth will be divided into 22 teeth in the lower jaw and 20 in the upper jaw:

• 6 incisors in the mandible and 6 in the maxilla, a total of 12.
• 4 canines, two above and two below.
• 16 premolars, 8 in the mandible and 8 in the maxilla.
• 6 molars in the mandible and 4 in the maxilla.

Symptoms of tooth change

As in babies, the process of changing teeth is somewhat annoying in our best friends and usually coincides with a puppy’s exploration stage. It will be very common to find chewed objects since the puppy uses its mouth to relate to the environment.

At this time of tooth change, we must bear in mind that many puppies swallow the milk ones, so nothing happens if we do not find loose teeth at home. It is something usual that does not pose any danger to our pets.

Among the most common symptoms that can alert the owner that their pet is changing teeth, the following stand out:

• Mild moans and a less active state . It may be that at specific times the puppy is more depressed than usual, which is a normal symptom of the discomfort caused by the fall and the birth of new teeth. If the symptoms worsen or last a long time, it is advisable to go to the veterinarian.
• Small blood stains . It is normal that if a tooth falls out and you chew on any object, a small trace of blood remains. It should be verified that the tooth has fallen out and that the bleeding is normal. Otherwise, go to the vet.
• Check that the new teeth are born well . In this phase we must be aware of the changes that occur in the teeth of the puppies, to correct any problem that arises, such as, for example, that a permanent tooth is born without the milk one having fallen out. In these cases, it is advisable to go to the veterinarian to extract the milk tooth and make room for the definitive one.

Dental care during the change of teeth

To facilitate this change, the puppy can be offered a series of guidelines that will help him in this phase, and, in addition, he will acquire some habits that will be very useful when he is an adult.

• Teething toys fit for their teeth . It is important that he has toys that are suitable for chewing and that he gets used to just nibbling on his teethers.
• Check the mouth . It is advisable to carry out routine check-ups to check that everything is going well and detect any problem in advance: excessive bleeding, teeth that do not fall out, discomfort, etc.
• Denture cleaning . There are different products on the market to carry out a correct canine oral cleaning. Getting used to brushing from a young age is the best option.

How do a dog’s teeth wear down?

The permanent teeth tend to wear out from use, as in the rest of the species. The first teeth to wear down will be the lower central incisors, and then the upper central incisors.

• lower central incisors . They are the first to wear, it begins at seven and a half months and each year a different incisor is worn. At about three and a half years, the fleur-de-lis disappears from the incisor right next to the canine.
• Upper central incisors. From the age of three and a half, wear begins, like the inferior ones, one a year.

From the age of three, dogs’ teeth begin to turn yellow and tartar appears. It is convenient that in these ages products are used that help to fight the tartar of the teeth. In addition, in some cases, the accumulation of tartar maybe before this age.

Over the years it is normal for some teeth to move and end up falling out, especially in smaller breeds.

As you can see, the teeth of puppies undergo different changes throughout the life of their animal. So that no problem arises, it is important to check and control your teeth, and in case of any abnormal change, go to a professional center. Only in this way we can prevent major complications.