puppy dogs, like babies, don't have teeth at birth. Occasionally some newborn pups have one or two semi-developed pieces of milk. During breastfeeding, the little ones should feed exclusively on breast milk that they suck from their mother's breasts.
During the first weeks of life, they will experience the development of their first teeth, which will be temporary. That's when " milk teeth" appear. Subsequently, these temporary pieces will fall to give rise to the birth of permanent teeth. The permanent dentition will accompany the dog throughout life.
The change of teeth in dogs is similar to that experienced by humans in childhood. However, the organism of the dogs is different, therefore the time is also different.
In this article on our site we will explain when do dogs get teeth, explaining the approximate age of tooth development, but we will also offer you some tips so you know how to relieve tooth pain in dogs, among others.
Teething of puppies and adult dogs
A puppy's provisional dentition can be considered complete when it consists of 28 dental pieces, which are popularly known as "teeth of milk". This first dentition is composed of 4 canines (2 upper and 2 lower), 12 incisors (6 lower and 6 upper) and 12 premolars (6 lower and 6 upper).
Temporary pieces differ from permanent pieces not only because of their composition, but also because of their appearance, since they are thinner and squarer.
This first change of teeth in dogs is a fundamental part of the feeding transition and of the physiological adaptations that puppies experience during weaning period, when your body prepares to stop consuming breast milk and start feeding itself.
Milk teeth are necessary so that the puppy can begin to try some solid foodsand gradually adapt to the diet that she will maintain throughout adulthood. However, they will need to wear and/or fall out to allow proper development of the permanent teeth, which are appropriate for the feeding habits and digestive needs of the animal.
The adult dog's permanent dentition consists of 42 teeth, by the time its teeth are fully developed.
Baby teeth in dogs
Every dog's body is unique and exhibits a unique metabolism, so there is no set date or age for a puppy's baby teeth to start growing. However, the provisional pieces usually begin to develop between 15 and 21 days of life At this time puppies also begin to open their eyes, ears, walk and explore the environment.
During this period, we observe the appearance of the canines and upper milk incisors. A few days later, between the 21st and 30th day of the puppy's life, we will see the growth of the lower incisors and fangs. It will be essential that during this stage the guardians check the puppy's mouth to ensure the development of the teeth and identify any complications promptly.
In addition, visits to the vet will be essential not only to certify the change in the puppy's teeth, but also to follow the vaccination schedule and carry out the first deworming, which are essential care to prevent the development of common diseases in dogs and combat infestations by internal or external parasites.
The change of teeth in dogs
From the 3 months of life of the puppy, the wear of the milk teeth begins to occur, a phenomenon that is known as " rasamiento". Again, it is important to note that each dog's body requires its own time to begin this process. A few weeks later, when the dog is approximately 4 months old, we will be able to observe the birth of the upper and lower central incisors.
In the eighth month of life the puppy will experience the definite changeof fangs and incisors. In general, this second change of the dog's teeth can last from 3 to 9 months of age, depending on the breed or size. However, the permanent teeth may continue to develop until the dog's first year of life
Relieve tooth pain in dogs
The change of teeth in dogs is a natural process. Usually, the only symptom that a puppy is changing its teeth is the desire to bite caused by the discomfort generated during the eruption of the teeth in the gums. Eventually, the puppy may also feel slight pain or show slightly swollen gums as his teeth grow.
Do you want to know how to relieve toothache in dogs? Ideally, offer her age-appropriate teethers or soft toys. Remember that hard toys and bones are not recommended for dogs under 10 months of age, as they can damage their gums and compromise the proper development of their teeth.
You can also refrigerate toys to help reduce swelling.
In addition, it will be essential that you check your dog's mouth daily for any problems during this process. The most common complication in the change of teeth of the dog occurs when the provisional piece fails to detach correctly from the gum, thus preventing the permanent tooth from developing correctly.
When this happens, the puppy usually has more intense pain and there may be a shift in the dog's teeth, which leads to difficulties chewing its food and consequent digestive problems. Wounds and inflammation of the gums (gingivitis) can also occur due to improper growth of the teeth.
Therefore, if you notice that your dog is not teething or you notice that it is in a lot of pain or wounds during this process, don't hesitate to consult a veterinarianIn many cases, a small surgical intervention may be necessary to detach the temporary tooth and allow the permanent tooth to fully develop.
How to know the age of a dog by its teeth?
Did you know that it is possible to estimate a puppy's age by looking at its teeth? As you have seen, the dentition of furry animals undergoes a series of changes as the animal grows and develops. Therefore, if we pay attention to a dog's teeth, we can roughly calculate its age.
For example, if a puppy is less than 15 days old, it most likely will not have any teeth yet. But if about 3 weeks have passed after birth, we will already see the fangs and upper milk incisors, which will be finer and squarer than the permanent ones. By the time he's about to complete his first month of life, this pup will also have some incisors and milk fangs in his lower jaw.
On the other hand, if the puppy is about to complete 4 months of life, we will observe the eruption of the central incisors in both jaws, indicating that their permanent dentition has already begun to appear. And if it has reached 9 or 10 months of life, all the permanent pieces should already be present, even if they are still developing.
By first year of age, the permanent dentition should be complete, with very white teeth, without the presence of tartar. At this age, their incisors will no longer be as square as baby teeth and will have rounded edges, being known as "fleur de lis".
