Just like human babies, puppies are born without teeth. Their first set of baby teeth, also called milk teeth, begin to emerge at about 3 to 4 weeks of age. These teeth begin falling out between 4 to 5 months of age as the permanent adult teeth come in. By between 5 to 7 months old, most puppies have all their permanent teeth, but breeds can be quite different from each other.
Puppy Teething Timeline
Signs Your Puppy Is Teething
Many things are going to change in your puppy during teething. Some common signs include:
- Red, inflamed gums: It can cause mild gum irritation.
- Drooling and bad breath: Drooling more than usual, along with an unpleasant smell, is typical.
- Increased chewing behavior: More chewing is done to try and relieve the discomfort. Provide safe chew toys to help and discourage biting.
- Bleeding gums: This is normal in small amounts, and you'll probably see little specks of blood on their chew toys.
- Lost teeth: You may notice a tooth on the floor, but it's not uncommon for pups to swallow their own teeth, and this is harmless.
- Loss of appetite: Puppies eat less or slower due to discomfort from gums.
- Changes in behavior: Whining, fussiness, and being irritable might occur.
When to Visit the Vet
Teething is a natural process, but there are instances where veterinary assistance may be necessary:
- Fever monitoring: A slight fever is normal, but ensure it doesn’t become severe.
- Excessive bleeding: If your puppy’s gums bleed significantly, contact your vet immediately.
Schedule a dental checkup with your local vet before your puppy’s adult teeth are fully grown. This precaution ensures their dental development is on track.
What to Expect at a Dental Checkup
During a dental visit, your vet will look at your puppy for the following:
- Crooked teeth: Sometimes two competing teeth occupy the same space or a baby tooth is retained in place when an adult tooth breaks through.
- Jaw misalignment: Some breeds featuring shorter muzzles may also have naturally an underbite. However, marked overbites or underbites often require early management to avoid troubles with eating and chewing.
- Bad breath: Chronic bad breath might be a sign of infection.
- Broken or cracked teeth: Broken teeth will expose the nerves and be painful and open to infections.
- Bleeding or swollen gums: Although normal with teething, if the swelling is excessive, it may need looking into.
- Tartar buildup: Although rare in puppies, it can develop. Establishing your dental care routine early will prevent dental diseases from occurring later on in life.
Supporting Your Puppy During Teething
Puppies teethe twice: once for their milk teeth and again for their adult teeth. Although generally painless, it can put mild pressure on the jaws. To help your puppy:
- Use specially designed soft chew toys to soothe their gums.
- Redirect them to appropriate items to prevent destructive chewing. - - Introduce teeth cleaning with a toothbrush with toothpaste for dogs.
Teething is a normal and necessary part of a puppy's development. With a little care and attention, you can keep them comfortable and promote good dental health and growth.