Like humans, dogs are born without teeth. They get their milk teeth within three weeks. The process begins with the eruption of the front and canine teeth and the small canines. The milk teeth then fall out over a period of three months to make way for the permanent dog teeth. In the following article you will find out when your four-legged friend begins to change teeth and what to do when your four-legged friend has changed teeth.
When do puppies change their teeth?
The change of teeth in a puppy generally follows a fixed pattern. With the exception of the large molars, the puppies change all milk teeth and molars. Depending on the breed of animal, it varies when the milk components break through or are replaced by a permanent set of teeth. In general, master or mistress can stick to the scheme below:
Breakthrough milk dentitionNumber of milk teeth/molars
change
or
breakthrough
Number of permanent front teeth 3-4 weeks 123-5 months 12 canines 3-5 weeks 45-6 months 4 small molars 4-12 weeks 124-6 months 16 large molars none none 4-6 months 8-12
The «big dog teeth» grow under the milk teeth. As these teeth continue to grow underneath the baby teeth, the baby teeth themselves become looser and looser until they just cling to the gums and eventually fall out. The root of the milk tooth is completely dissolved if everything goes as it should. With normal teeth, there is no root in your puppy’s milk tooth. As a master or mistress, you can of course check this very well.
Symptoms change of teeth puppy
Puppies can keep their owners quite busy during the teething period. Your puppy will start chewing furniture or objects. During this time, it’s especially important to make your dog understand that biting is not okay. The habit of biting can be practiced very well in the time of the change of teeth. But what are the symptoms that indicate your puppy is beginning to change teeth?
- biting and snapping
Biting and snapping hands, feet or objects is “normal” during the period of the change of teeth. Of course, it is not your dog’s intention to continue this behavior throughout his life. So show understanding of the situation, but set a limit at some point. So a puppy that is in the middle of changing teeth and is biting is temporarily okay! - saliva
Many dogs produce a lot of saliva in their mouths, which is sometimes accompanied by a foul smell. It may be difficult, but learning how to properly brush your dog’s teeth is useful during this time. This way your dog will get used to it and at the same time it will help reduce the – sometimes unbearable – smell. During the change of teeth, movements such as holding the mouth and lubricating the teeth can be practiced. - diarrhea or vomiting
It doesn’t happen often, but sometimes it does happen that your puppy has diarrhea during the change of teeth. Stools are sometimes more irregular than normal. It can also happen that your puppy throws up suddenly during the period of changing teeth. - lop ears
Do you have a dog with pricked ears? During the period when your puppy is changing teeth, it sometimes happens that their ears start to droop. This has to do with the increased need for calcium. However, it is important to know that you, as the master or mistress, must not give your dog any additional calcium. This can lead to growth problems because a balanced diet already contains enough calcium.
Something is going wrong when the puppy changes teeth: too many teeth
Of course, you don’t want your puppy to have any problems with their teeth during the period of dentition. That’s why it’s important to check out your puppy from time to time. But how do you know if your puppy is having trouble changing teeth?
Your puppy’s milk teeth will stay in place with a bad change of teeth. The root does not dissolve in the process, which means that the adult teeth are already on top and this creates a lack of space in your puppy’s mouth. This problem is known as persisting baby teeth. The small space ensures that there can be deviations in the position of the adult teeth. You will also find that a lot of food debris or hair is left in your dog’s mouth. These residues can in turn be the cause of inflammation. All of this combined can be a very painful experience for your dog. Therefore, check regularly whether the change of teeth is going well.
Puppy’s milk tooth won’t come out: play it away together!
If such a stubborn milk tooth has still not fallen out after a week, while the adult tooth is already eagerly waiting to finally come through, the milk tooth should be removed as soon as possible. If the milk tooth is loose, the master can try to help your four-legged friend by playing with him. Play along with a towel, a tow, or something else your pup can bite his teeth into. This way you have the chance that the milk tooth will come off by itself. If it doesn’t, your pup likely needs to be taken to the vet.
Stuck baby teeth Puppy under anesthesia
A not so nice, but good alternative is the removal of the tooth under general anesthesia. In general, a milk (canine) tooth is firmly anchored in the jawbone. The long roots of these teeth make easy removal difficult. It is important for your puppy that the entire tooth, including the root, is removed. The veterinarian therefore puts your four-legged friend under general anesthesia, because a local anesthetic is unfortunately not enough to eliminate the pain in your puppy.
My Puppy Has Dental Problems: Now What?
Unfortunately, there are also puppies that are born with malformations in their mouths. Examining your puppy at the vet will include your puppy’s vaccinations, but will also check for dental problems and other issues. As well as visiting the vet for advice and possible treatment, here’s what to do or what to expect if your puppy has dental problems.