It’s not unusual to see a pup’s tooth pop out. It’s very common for dogs to lose their first set of teeth, just like human children. A puppy’s first set of teeth are called “milk teeth.” Dogs get their first set of teeth when they are about three weeks old. Most puppies have all their baby teeth by the time they are eight weeks old. The technical name for their baby teeth is “deciduous teeth.”

Do Pups Lose their Baby Teeth?

Most dogs have 28 baby teeth which eventually fall out to be replaced by adult teeth. Dogs will end up with more adult teeth than baby teeth. In fact, most breeds will have 42 permanent teeth by the time they are an adult. Take good care of your dog’s teeth by using PawerLab dog wipes.

When Do Dogs Lose Baby Teeth?

Just like humans, dog’s baby teeth will fall out on their own. They may come out while they are chewing on a toy. The adult teeth sort of push their way in. The loss of your dog’s baby teeth and growth of the adult teeth occurs in stages.

Each dog breed is a little bit different, but you can expect it to go something like this:

·         3-4 Months: pups lose front baby teeth, or incisors.

·         4-6 Months: dogs lose canines, which are their “fangs.”

·         5-6 Months: dogs lose back teeth, or premolars and molars.

As your dog’s new teeth start coming in, they may show some signs that they are teething. Some dogs start licking things, chewing on things more, or drooling more than usual.

What if My Dog’s Baby Teeth Don’t Fall Out?

In some instances, baby teeth and adult teeth don’t follow the process they are supposed to. If their baby teeth don’t fall out, they can end up with a condition called retained deciduous teeth. This is not serious and not a life-threatening condition. It just means a baby tooth or two waited a little longer than usual to fall out. If your pup hasn’t steadily lost all of their baby teeth by the time they reach six months of age, you may need to take them to the vet for intervention.

Retaining baby teeth can make their mouths become too overcrowded, since the adult teeth are trying to come in at the same time. Their teeth may become misaligned, or they may have trouble chewing or closing their mouths. It can put them at greater risk of tooth decay or gum disease.

What To Do!

Don’t worry if your dog doesn’t follow the timeline for losing teeth perfectly. You can ask your vet about it during your next veterinarian visit. They can help you know if there is anything concerning. And they can remove any stubborn baby teeth if they need to.

About the Author: Hazel

Hazel is the head engineer at Pawer Lab. He develops and tests the latest pup-focused inventions for Pawer Lab. He is passionate about enjoying the small things in life. The border collie’s hobbies include riding in the car, stalking the mailman, and fetching tennis balls.