The Basics of Puppy Teething
Teething is a natural, albeit sometimes trying, part of your puppy's growth and development. It's a period filled with chewed furniture, nipped fingers, and of course, those irresistible puppy eyes that make it all forgivable.
Understanding the basics of puppy teething will help you navigate this crucial phase with greater ease and fewer casualties (think: your favourite pair of shoes). Let's dive in!
When Does Teething Start?
The teething process usually begins when puppies are around 3 weeks of age. Before this, your puppy doesn't have any teeth because they are primarily nursing from their mother. But as they start to require solid food, their baby teeth begin to erupt to help them chew.
Do dogs lose their baby teeth?
Yes. Generally, all the baby teeth (also known as deciduous teeth) have erupted by 6-8 weeks of age and then begin to fall out at around 12 weeks of age to be replaced by the adult (permanent) teeth.
Where did my dog's baby teeth go?
In preparation for the baby tooth to be shed, the roots of the baby tooth are resorbed, leaving the crown of the tooth to fall out. In many instances, you won't find this baby tooth crown, as many dogs will harmlessly swallow it during a meal, or it may be lost while chewing on a toy. You may notice a small amount of bleeding from the gums (or perhaps a few spots of blood on their toys) when the tooth falls out, however the amount should be very minimal.
In general, all the deciduous teeth should have been shed and the permanent teeth erupted by 6-7 months of age.
Typically, the period between 3 and 6 months of age is when the most intense behaviours associated with teething are noticed.
How Many Teeth Do Puppies Have?
Puppies are born toothless but eventually develop two sets of teeth over their lifetime.
Set One: The Deciduous Teeth
Puppies have 28 deciduous teeth, also known as baby teeth or primary teeth. These teeth are generally sharp and pointed, making it easier for your pup to chew soft foods. Puppies do not have deciduous first premolars or molars, hence the difference in the number of puppy teeth compared to adult teeth.
Set Two: The Adult Teeth
Adult dogs end up with a total of 42 teeth, far more than the baby set. These are permanent teeth that should last your dog their lifetime if properly cared for. Dogs have 3 incisors, 1 canine, 4 premolars and 3 molars on each side of the lower (mandibular) jaw and 3 incisors, 1 canine, 4 premolars but only 2 molars on each side of the top (maxillary) jaw.
Each set has different types of teeth with specialised functions:
- Incisors: These are the small teeth at the front of the mouth, used for nibbling, scraping and grooming
- Canines: These are the pointed, longer teeth also known as fangs, primarily used for tearing food
- Premolars: These are situated behind the canines and along the sides of the mouth. These are used for shearing and grinding food. Dogs have 4 permanent premolars on each side of the top and bottom jaws, however, they do not have deciduous first premolars, so puppies have only 3 premolars on each side of the top and bottom jaws.
- Molars: These are not present in puppies but are in adult dogs. They are located at the back of the mouth and are used for crushing and grinding.
Timeline of Puppy Teething
Understanding the timeline will give you a framework for managing your puppy's teething phase. Here's what you can generally expect:
- 3 Weeks: Baby incisors and canines start to erupt
- 4-6 Weeks: Baby premolars erupt
- 6-12 Weeks: All 28 baby teeth have usually erupted
- 3-6 Months: Baby teeth start to fall out and adult incisors and canines begin to come in
- 5-7 Months: Adult molars come in at the back of the mouth
- 6 Months: Most dogs have a full set of 42 adult teeth by this time
While teething can be a painful process for puppies, it's also a period where they learn a lot about their environment.
Chewing helps them understand their world, so make sure to provide appropriate chewing outlets to keep them - and your belongings - safe.