Puppy teeth information & help

Video: German Shepherd Puppy Losing Baby Teeth Teething Incisors

Your one-stop source of puppy teeth information is right here.

Want to know when a puppys` baby teeth start to grow in?

Or what age he will be when he starts losing them?

Need help with a pup who`s in the throes of teething, or advice on how to keep those tiny pearly whites clean & shiny? 

Video: How to age a puppy. Teeth of a 5.5-month-old puppy

Well, it`s all here and more.

Luckily, your little guy will grow his puppy teeth without your help - and he`ll lose them and grow his adult teeth in pretty much the same way.

But during the teething process you`ll both feel better if you know what to do about loose teeth and sore gums.

Plus, once he has a full set of shiny, new `choppers`, you`ll want access to the tips and information that will help you keep his mouth clean and healthy.

That way little Fido won`t have to suffer the pain of tooth decay or gum disease later on.

Puppy Teeth Information & FAQ`s

I often get asked about the age at which puppy`s begin to get those little pearly-whites... and how old they are when they start to exchange those baby teeth for adult ones.

So here are some answers to the most frequently asked questions:

When will my puppy have teeth?

Newborn puppies are born with their tiny teeth buried below the gums, but within 2 - 3 weeks those needle-sharp points begin to push their way upwards and break through the gum line.

The first ones to appear are the `Incisors` (which are the tiny ones right at the front of his mouth), there are 12 of these, 6 in the top jaw and 6 in the bottom.

Next are the 4 `Canines` (these are the long `fangs`), there are 2 in the top and 2 in the bottom. These come through at about 4 weeks old.

Finally, the 12 Pre-molars which are the big `double` teeth in the back of his mouth. There are 3 top and 3 bottom on each side of his jaw. These are usually all in place by 8 weeks of age.

This makes a total of 28 `baby teeth` (aka `milk` or `deciduous` teeth), the image on the right shows how all of this looks and will help you identify your puppy`s teeth properly.

Although these teeth are very small, they`re also very SHARP... and puppy nipping hurts!

It`s important to make sure that you work to discourage your pup from biting or mouthing on people, because it does hurt right now - but when he gets his adult teeth in it`s going to hurt even more and be much harder to stop as it will already have become a habit.

When will my puppy lose his teeth?

Do puppy teeth fall out? The simple answer to this is YES they do, and losing them usually happens in a specific order, and at a similar time, in most puppies.

The big breeds do develop at a different rate from the smaller ones andthere can be a fair amount of variation between puppies in terms ofexactly when teething begins, and ends.

This isn`t just isolated to breed-specific differences either, every puppy is unique and no two will grow and mature at exactly the same rate.

This time-frame below is a guideline only and fits an `average` puppy, your little pup may be faster, or slower, one is not better than the other!

He will eventually have his `grown up` teeth and there`s no need to try to hurry it along.

3 to 4 Months: The Incisors are the first to come loose and begin to fall out, being replaced by the adult teeth as they do so.

4 - 5 Months: The Premolars and the Canines will usually start to push out the baby teeth during this time. The Canines may show up first, but usually these upper `fangs` are the very last teeth to grow in fully.

6 -7 Months: All the permanent teeth should be in place by this age, but occasionally it can take a little longer.

Adult dogs usually have 42 adult (or permanent) teeth.

Why does my puppy have a `double set` of teeth?

Sometimes the incoming adult teeth aren`t successful in totally dislodging the baby ones who are already in place.

When this happens there may be a period of days, or even weeks, when your pup has a double `set` or a double `row` in some places. This is actually pretty normal and not something to worry about too much.