do dogs have baby teeth

Do Dogs Have Baby Teeth?

Puppies are cute and cuddly, sugar and spice, and everything nice. Just kidding.

While puppies are indeed cute and cuddly and can be sugar and spice and everything nice at times, there are times when your adorable bundle of fluff will remind you more of a Tasmanian devil than a gentle angel. Puppies, by nature, are rough and tumbling little balls of fur that constantly seem to be either eating something or thinking about eating something. But one of the weirdest points of a dog’s puppyhood? The span from when they are six weeks old to 8 weeks old and their teeth are falling out!

With human children, parents usually get some warning that their children’s teeth are going to fall out. Usually, the falling out of a tooth is predicated by your child asking you a million questions about the magical tooth fairy that is going to come and swap their tooth for cash in the night. When it comes to puppies, there are definite signs that they are approaching the point when their teeth will fall out, but the actual moment it happens is often missed.

Many pet owners wonder – Do Dogs Have Baby Teeth? Most puppy owners reveal that they only find out their puppy lost a tooth by either finding the tooth on the floor or embedded in a favorite toy, or by noticing a hole in their dog’s mouth. Now your puppy isn’t going to ask for a few quarters in exchange for his tooth, but he will still need some assistance as he transitions from his baby teeth to his adult canines.

Understanding Do Dogs Have Baby Teeth

All in all, puppies have a total of 28 deciduous teeth (what baby teeth are called) when they reach six weeks of age. When it comes to the order in which your puppy’s baby teeth come in, it goes as follows:

Your puppy’s baby teeth will begin falling out around four months of age. This process can continue up until your puppy reach seven months of age. The last teeth that a puppy loses are typically the canines; this will happen somewhere within their sixth month. You puppy’s adult teeth will begin to show as soon as their baby teeth fall out. Your puppy’s teeth will most likely come in the following order:

Incisors

Canines

Premolars

Molars

Signs of Teething in Dogs

For most puppies, symptoms associated with teething usually begin about 1 to 3 days before the tooth shows, and signs generally disappear as soon as the tooth breaks the skin. Many puppies don’t seem to be affected by teething at all. But some puppies can exhibit behaviors in an effort to relieve any discomfort they may be feeling from their new teeth coming in. Puppies often chew to help relieve the pressure in their gums, or in rare cases, puppies may be reluctant to eat and drink because their mouths hurt.

Do Dogs Have Baby Teeth: Understanding Teething Schedules

Teething is the worst between 12 and 20 weeks of age but it is noticed by most puppy owners around eight weeks, which is a common time to acquire a new puppy. By the time your puppy is about six months old – they will have all of their adult teeth. Here are some tips to help your puppy feel better while teething.

Teething is usually first noticed by most puppy owners around eight weeks. Luckily, by the time your puppy is about six months old – they will have all of their adult teeth, but here are some tips to help you and your puppy survive their teething phase:
Provide safe chew toys that are sturdy enough for continued play, but soft enough that they won’t damage your puppy’s new teeth. If you have a puppy who loves to chew try toys made out of fire hoses, they won’t damage your puppy’s teeth, but they’ll be strong enough the last for a couple of weeks for even the toughest chewers.

Try freezing your puppy’s treats to provide cool, soothing relief to your puppy’s inflamed gums. Try filling a Kong® treat dispensing beehive toy with peanut butter and banana and stick it in the freezer for an hour or so. Once frozen, give to your pup and watch as he stays entertained for hours.

As mentioned above, puzzle toys are often great ways to keep your puppy busy and occupied (and keep their mind off their teething). Examples of good puzzle toys include the Kong products and Buster Cubes. You can often fill these toys with treats such as a kibble of food, soft food, or peanut butter.

A tired puppy is a happy puppy. Keep your puppy active and busy, so they aren’t just focused on their mouths. Encourage them to run and play either out on a leash or in a secure enclosed area like a fenced in yard.

Tackle Your Puppy’s Teething With PetPlace

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