Do Dogs Lose Teeth? (Puppies Teeth Development)

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Do dogs lose teeth? Similar to human babies, newborn dogs are born toothless. They also undergo the teething process, and these baby teeth will also get lost, and adult teeth will arrive. Once your dog has a set of permanent teeth, taking care of them is essential to keep them healthy and strong. So, if your dog loses their teeth, they can also get dentures like people’s dental treatment option. Keep reading to learn about dog’s teeth development and the common reasons for them to lose their pearly whites.

 

Puppies Teeth Development

When puppies are around fourteen days old, their first arrangement of teeth starts to emerge. This first set of teeth, called needle, milk, or deciduous teeth, begins with incisors. In humans, these dental treatmentare known as baby teeth. After that, canine teeth arrive, and lastly, premolars fill out the total arrangement of puppy teeth.

When puppies are 8 to 10 weeks old, they will have a mouth loaded with 28 teeth, ideal for changing from fluid to solid foods. Your little dog will actually be prepared for this change, and so will Momma Dog. As the puppies develop more sharp teeth, the less likely Mom will be to endure nursing them.

 

When Do Puppy Starts Losing Baby Teeth

This early arrangement of sharp puppy teeth will start to drop out when the little dog is between 4 and a half years old. The development period changes by breed. Some smaller puppies will, in general, clutch their baby teeth longer. However, when most dogs are 7 to 8 months old, they will have replaced their first arrangement of teeth for a bunch of 42 permanent adult dog teeth.

While exchanging puppy teeth for the adult form, pups encounter teething, actually like human babies. Since little doggies explore the world through their mouths, it is essential to puppy-proof everything.

Since a dog has two sets of teeth that go back and forth inside a somewhat brief time frame, your little dog will appear as though he is teething continually. Hence, make sure to give a lot of soft and flexible, doggy-fitting items for your little guy to bite on. It is better to give your puppy dental chew toys as an approach to channel doggy’s need to bite instead of making them chew the legs of your kitchen chair. Providing an appropriate toy to replace damaging chewing is an ideal method to change your pet’s behavior. In any case, the main thing to know about getting teeth is that your little dog needs chew toys.

 

Monitoring Your Teething Puppy

As your puppy sheds his deciduous teeth, you might think that dog’s baby teeth are constantly in your home. But most of the time, your little pet will swallow them with his food. In some cases, you will even see an adult tooth getting through the gum and pushing the baby tooth out. Other times, when deciduous teeth refuse to leave, that is the time you should go to the vet for help. They will remove retained teeth, so it does not inhibit the development of the adult teeth beneath. In addition, avoid pulling a baby tooth on your own. This is because they can have long roots that could sever in the gum and cause issues.

 

Causes of Tooth Loss in Older Dogs

Trauma and periodontal disease are the two main reasons for tooth loss in older dogs.

 

Dental Trauma

Trauma, such as an accident, can cause dental issues that can prompt tooth loss. However, even less serious concerns can cause problems in a dog’s oral health, such as hard treats like bones and antlers.

 

Dental Disease

The American Veterinary Association indicates that 85% of older dogs generally have gum disease, leading to dental abscesses and other significant issues whenever left untreated. Know that dental abscesses, a probable cause of dog snoring, can cause decay that tooth extraction can later solve. In any case, since countless such dogs have gum disease, it is fundamental that you notice it early on.

 

Symptoms of Periodontal Disease

Though you cannot reverse gum disease, you can treat it and keep it from worsening. If left untreated, this issue can cause a host of health problems for your dog. Regardless of whether your pet does not have missing teeth yet, there are some warning indications. Here are some common signs you should look out for:

  • Bad breathDo dogs lose teeth
  • Too much pawing at the mouth or scouring the mouth against objects
  • Loose teeth
  • Loss of hunger or trouble chewing
  • Swollen or bleeding gums
  • Swelling around the mouth
  • Lethargy
  • Discoloration or bumps on the gums
  • Behavioral changes

 

Treatment

Similar to people, your dog’s dental health needs maintenance, as well. Your veterinary dentist will take a progression of X-rays to know the seriousness of your dog’s gum disease and develop a treatment plan.

If extensive treatment is necessary, your dog will receive anesthesia so that the vet can perform a deep dental cleaning and scaling process. This technique eliminates plaque and tartar from every tooth, including pockets of bacteria from underneath the gum line.

After treatment, keeping up with your dog’s dental hygiene can help forestall a recurrence of bacterial development, preventing future dental problems.

 

Good Hygiene For Adult Dogs

Your dog requires proper oral hygiene very much as you do. That implies cleaning their teeth every single day using toothpaste approved by your dogs. Also, use a toothbrush suitable for your dogs. Toothbrushes are ideal for loosening up plaque and preventing tartar buildup from your dog’s mouth. However, using your finger is a good alternative if your pet tucks tail and hides at seeing a toothbrush.

Keeping plaque and tartar buildup from happening is crucial to your dog’s overall dental health. This is because plaque and tartar buildup is one of the primary sources of periodontal disease. In any case, if you clean your pet’s mouth consistently and still notice indications of tooth loss, visit your vet to determine the underlying issue.

 

References:

Hello New Teeth! What You Need to Know About Your Teething Puppy.

https://www.dailypaws.com/dogs-puppies/health-care/puppy-care/when-do-puppies-lose-their-baby-teeth

Dog Owners’ Perspectives on Canine Dental Health—A Questionnaire Study in Sweden.

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2020.00298/full

Periodontal (Gum) Disease in Dogs.

https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/mouth/c_multi_periodontal_disease

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