Dog handlers, especially those of small breeds, frequently go to their veterinary clinic with the following question: "why does my dog have baby teeth?". Well, this alteration known as persistence of deciduous teeth is usually caused by an incorrect eruption of the permanent teeth and requires short-term treatment to avoid future oral problems.
Are you wondering why your dog doesn't lose his teeth? If so, we recommend that you join us in the next article on our site where we will explain the possible causes and what to do.
When do a dog's baby teeth fall out?
You probably know that, just like humans, dogs have two dentitions:
- A deciduous or primary dentition, commonly known as a “baby dentition”, which is made up of 28 teeth.
- A permanent or definitive dentition, made up of 42 teeth.
The process of replacing the primary dentition with the definitive begins approximately in the third month of life and ends between the sixth and seventh monthof life of the animal. From this moment on, the persistence of milk teeth will be considered a pathological alteration. We talk about this process in this other article: "When do dogs change their teeth?".
Why isn't my dog losing his baby teeth?
When, after the usual time for tooth replacement, the baby teeth do not fall out and the permanent teeth erupt, there is a coexistence of both dentitions in the dog's oral cavity, which is known as persistence of deciduous teeth This change in tooth turnover can affect any breed of dog, although it is especially common in small and toy breedsThe teeth that are most frequently affected are the canines (fangs), followed by the incisors and the premolars, so if your dog does not lose the milk fangs, we will also be facing this situation.
The cause of the persistence of milk teeth is the incorrect eruption of the permanent teeth, which may be due to a:
- Growing the permanent tooth in the wrong direction: causing it to not put enough pressure on the root of the baby tooth and therefore not reabsorbed. Thus, a double set of teeth would be seen in the puppy or adult dog.
- Migration of the permanent tooth germ: the tooth germ is the set of cells that are formed in the embryonic period to give rise to the future permanent tooth. When this germ migrates to an abnormal position, it will not push the root of the milk tooth, which will prevent it from being reabsorbed.
- Dental agenesis: congenital absence of one or several teeth due to lack of formation of the tooth germ during the embryonic period. As there is no permanent tooth, it will not put pressure on the milk tooth and will not cause its resorption.
It should be mentioned that the persistence of deciduous teeth must be differentiated from polyodonticsIn polyodontia, a greater number of teeth are also observed in the oral cavity of dogs, but in this case it is not due to the persistence of milk teeth, but rather to the fact that there is a greater number of permanent teeth.
What to do when a dog does not lose its baby teeth?
The persistence of baby teeth predisposes to the appearance of various oral pathologies:
- Periodontal disease: the coexistence of both types of dentition favors the deposition of bacterial plaque and dental tartar, leading to periodontal disease premature in dogs, with gingivitis and periodontitis.
- Painful malocclusion: the persistence of the milk teeth prevents a correct placement of the permanent teeth, which causes an inadequate occlusion between the upper arch and the lower arch.
- Gingival, palatal and dental trauma: Improper placement of teeth causes repeated trauma that can injure the oral mucosa and teeth.
- Dental fractures: the inadequate contact of some teeth with others causes abnormal wear that weakens the teeth and predisposes them to fracture.
That is why, as soon as it is detected that the dog does not lose its milk teeth, an accurate diagnosis must be made by means of dental x-rays. After that, persistent pieces of milkmust be removed as soon as possible, under general anesthesia of the patient. These surgeries are often complicated due to the fact that the fracture of the root of the milk teeth and the injury of the permanent teeth are common. Therefore, it is essential that the extraction is carried out by a veterinarian specialized in canine dentistry.
Extraction of milk teeth in dogs should be done as soon as possible, as the chances of permanent teeth settling into the proper position decrease over time and treatment will be necessary of orthodontics In addition, the delay in extraction will gradually aggravate the consequences of the persistence of milk teeth.
Finally, it is important that you take into account the following recommendations. Until your dog completely replaces his teeth, it is important that you frequently explore his oral cavity to monitor his dental replacement and thus be able to detect prematurely any alteration of this process. If so, do not hesitate to go to your trusted veterinarian as soon as possible to find an early solution to the problem. Also, once the tooth replacement is complete, remember the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene in your dog, brushing every 2-3 days, with toothbrushes and specific toothpastes for dogs.
