Charlotte Foster
At some point, like all mammals, puppies lose their baby teeth, and the permanent canine teeth break through. As a rule, the change of teeth in dogs is relatively unproblematic, but sometimes you have to visit the veterinarian during this time because of acute symptoms. In any case, it is important that you support your puppy during this phase and check their teeth regularly.
The teeth of the puppy and its development
Dogs are born toothless, but milk teeth breakthrough as early as the third week. Puppy milk teeth consist of 28 teeth. It has two canines, six molars, and six incisors, located in both the upper and lower jaws. Depending on the breed, the dog retains these deciduous teeth for around the third month of life. After that, the milk teeth fall out over a period of around three months, and the 42 teeth of the final set of teeth breakthrough. In larger dog breeds, the change of teeth usually occurs earlier than in smaller dogs.
How do I know my puppy is teething?
If your little puppy suddenly starts nibbling on furniture, tugging at your clothes, or chewing the sofa cushion from the age of three months, this is also bad behavior that you should correct – but often these behaviors are also a sign of the change of teeth because the gums can be quite itchy when you change teeth. The dog massages this by chewing something. You help your four-legged friend if you provide him with chews that he can legitimately use to satisfy his urge to chew – and at the same time protect your furniture. With a bit of luck, you’ll find a milk tooth on the ground or at the sleeping place that you can keep as a souvenir. Puppies often lick their teeth to loosen and get rid of their teeth. This is also a signal for the change of teeth.
You should keep this in mind when changing teeth in your dog
When your furry friend is teething, it’s important that you regularly check their teeth to make sure everything is okay. Ideally, you should have gotten the puppy used to letting you open their teeth before the puppy changes teeth. Otherwise, now is a good time for this exercise, which is essential for dental care, but also for visiting the vet. Signs that something went wrong in the transition from baby teeth to permanent dentition include the puppy’s restless sleeping, refusing to eat, or acting unusually restless. In these cases, you can use the teeth check to determine whether the puppy is suffering from an infection and whether the teeth are breaking through properly.
How to make it easier for your puppy to change teeth
Even if the change of teeth in the puppy is usually unproblematic, you can do a lot to help him in this sometimes unpleasant phase. It is very important not to play with the puppy during this time or encourage it to fetch, as this can lead to pain or teeth being broken off by force. It is better to provide him with suitable chew toys, such as toys made of natural rubber. Since the change of teeth can be associated with inflammation and pain, it helps to soak the dry food a little.
You should also make sure that your four-legged companion is sufficiently supplied with calcium because the important bone-building block promotes dental health. However, high-quality puppy food usually contains enough of this. The change of teeth in dogs is not comparable to that of our human babies, but you can still help your animal family member by regularly checking their teeth.