Besides protecting the sofa legs from your puppy’s non stop chewing, there’s not a whole lot you can do while your new pet is going through the teething process. It is a good idea to know the details of teething, though. That way, you’ll know what your puppy is going through and when, and you can let your vet know right away if something seems wrong.
Newborn Puppies
Puppies are born with no teeth, just like with human babies. After all—your puppy will suckle milk from their mother if the mother is around; or, if the mother isn’t available, they’ll need to be hand-fed from a bottle, so they don’t need teeth at this stage.
2-3 Weeks of Age
At around two to three weeks of age, the puppy’s first baby teeth will start coming out of the gums. The incisors or smaller front teeth are usually the first to appear. Next will come the canine teeth —these are the four long fangs. The last to appear are your puppy’s premolars, and they come in near the back of the mouth, behind the canines. When all is said and done, your puppy will have 28 baby teeth, known as the deciduous teeth, which are also often referred to as the “milk teeth.”
6 Weeks of Age
All 28 baby teeth will probably have come in by the time your puppy is about six weeks old. Around this time, your pup will be in the process of getting weaned off of the mother’s formula or milk, and they’ll start eating solid puppy food.
3-4 Months of Age
Your puppy’s baby teeth will start falling out by the 12- to 16-week mark. Since the adult teeth come in and push the deciduous teeth out, you may occasionally see a baby tooth by your puppy’s water or food bowls or on the floor. Though, more often than not, your pup simply swallows the baby teeth as they come out, which is perfectly normal.
6 Months and Older
By the time your dog reaches six months old, all 28 baby teeth will likely be gone and replaced by 42 adult teeth. Your puppy will now have premolars and molars, which are the largest teeth, located at the back of the mouth, that help with chewing and mashing food.
Do you have questions about your puppy’s teething? We’re here to help. Call your vet clinic today.
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