My puppy is at this very moment of writing this article going through the teething stage and is nearly six months old. Most puppies will go through the same process. Let me run through what I have learned from my puppies teething process.
Puppies will start teething from three weeks old when their baby teeth start breaking through the gums and will last until around eight months old when all the adult teeth have replaced the baby ones.
Puppy Teething Stages By Age
- Three weeks of age – a puppies baby teeth start coming through. The first baby teeth are the front incisors, followed by the canines. The canines are the pointed teeth next to the incisors. Then the premolars, which are on the side of each jaw.
- A puppy will have a complete set of 28 razor-sharp baby teeth by six to eight weeks old.
- Four months onward, a puppy will start, one by one, to lose their baby teeth and begin to replace them with adult teeth. This time they will include molars at the back as added extra teeth.
- A dog should have a complete set of 42 adult teeth by eight months old.
Recommended Read: Training Treats For Puppies 8 Weeks Plus (Simple, Cheap, Homemade, Choke Free & Healthy)
Dog Teeth Cleaning Survey
I recently asked dog owners to complete an anonymous survey, and out of the 20 dog owners that filled it in, only 30% of them clean their dog’s teeth daily. 40% relied on dental chews, and the other 30% didn’t do anything to help with dental care.
Just like us, dogs can get tooth decay and gum disease. These teeth need to last until old age and never be replaced again. That is why it’s essential to look after your dog’s teeth by cleaning them. I use a finger toothbrush and some dog toothpaste to keep my dog’s teeth and gums healthy.
Dental Care For Dogs
- Brushing your dog’s teeth every day is the best way to ensure good dental hygiene.
- Giving them dental chews will help reduce plaque.
- You can’t provide them with sugary food items because it will give them health issues and damage their teeth.
- Make sure to take your dog to see the vet every once in a while to check its teeth.
How To Tell If Your Puppy Is Teething
- Missing teeth is usually a good indication
- Finding teeth dotted around is also a good giveaway
- Biting hands and chewing on hard items around the house
- Slow eating their food
- Finding blood on toys
- Whining
- Bleeding gums
- Swollen gums
- Drolling
There is a slightly swollen red gum in the image below. You can see a new adult tooth that is nearly through. This is nothing to worry about.
Peak Teething Time
The highest peak is the most discomfort for your puppy, when they start to lose the teeth and replace them with adult teeth, which is four to eight months old, the highest peak being six months old, this is the age when the most is happening inside their mouth.
I certainly believe this to be the case as my previous puppy have all shown more discomfort and slight behaviour issues around this time.
My puppy is now six months old, and only yesterday, I collected two from the carpet. “See Below”
Can I keep my puppies teeth?
Yes, you can keep your puppy’s teeth. I have found six of my puppy’s teeth so far, keeping them in an airtight container.
When do puppies teeth start to fall out?
On average, puppy teeth start to fall out when the puppy is four months old. However, some puppies may have their teeth fall out earlier or later.
How long does it take for puppies’ teeth to grow back?
Puppy teeth fall out, and new ones grow back in. It usually takes about a week for the new tooth to grow and become entirely replaced.
How can I help my puppy when they are teething?
When a puppy is teething, it can be uncomfortable. Your puppy might chew on things in the house or bite at your hands more. Ways to help your puppy are to be a little easy on them, use positive reinforcement and give them a hard toy that will prevent them from chewing other things in the house.
How many teeth does a puppy have?
A puppy has 28 temporary teeth. These are razor-sharp and will fall out as the puppy grows into an adult dog.
Why are puppy teeth sharp?
Puppy teeth are sharp because they have not yet developed the strong bite force of adult dogs. Puppies use their sharp teeth to tear apart meat, which is what they would eat in the wild.
How many teeth do adult dogs have?
An adult dog has 42 teeth that will last its whole life.
Why can’t I find my puppies teeth?
You may not be finding your puppy’s teeth because they were lost when they were outside or in the garden. They might have been hoovered up, and puppies sometimes swallow their teeth. That doesn’t mean that they aren’t going through the teeth stages.
