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So you got a puppy. Congratulations (insert a meme of a dancing Snoopy here)! If this is your first dog, there’s quite a few things you need to learn as your furry bundle of joy grows. One of these changes is the teething process. Here are a few things you need to know about puppy teeth: When Does a Puppy’s Teeth Start to Come In?Just like humans, puppies are born without teeth. Puppy teeth, also known as milk teeth, start coming in around 3 to 4 weeks of age. If you’re buying from a breeder, your puppy will still be with his or her mother during the nursing process. By weeks 5 or 6, all of your pup’s milk teeth should have come in. Dogs have 28 baby teeth. This differs from humans, who have about 20 baby teeth. The teething process, though, is just as uncomfortable for pups as it is for human babies. You’ll most likely start seeing your puppy gnawing things as a way to alleviate the pain. It’s important to note that your puppy’s milk teeth are very sharp since he or she doesn’t have molars yet, so be careful not to get nicked when playing or roughhousing. When Does a Puppy’s Teeth Start to Fall Out?As your pup grows, his or her jaw grows, too. This causes the milk teeth to fall out and the adult teeth to grow behind them quickly after. This process usually begins around the 3- to 4-month mark when the incisors start to fall out. For your new pup, try our Super Smarty Hearties training treats — they’re soft and low calorie so even if you pup is teething they can still be rewarded for learning to sit! Moving on to canines – or the fangs – typically fall out around 4 to 6 months of age and the premolars fall out around 4 to 7 months of age. Finally, the molars come in approximately 5 to 7 months of age. By the time your pooch is 7 or 8 months old, he or she should have all 42 permanent teeth – 12 incisors, 4 canines, 16 premolars and 10 molars. Shop Treats: Super Smarty Hearties Dental Care Tips for PuppiesWhile a puppy’s milk teeth don’t last long enough to have any serious problems, it’s beneficial to get your pup into a dental hygiene regimen. Gently scrub your pup’s teeth with a soft cloth or puppy toothbrush. Don’t use toothpaste made for humans. Always use toothpaste that’s specialized for dogs. One thing you should never do during the teething period is pull out any teeth, no matter how loose they may be. This is because dogs have long roots, and pulling a loose tooth could cause them to break, leading to a potential bacterial infection. It’s best to just let them fall out naturally. Do Puppies Swallow Their Baby Teeth?You probably won’t find many of your pup’s loose teeth because, more often than not, they swallow them. Don’t fret about seeing the vet, though. Their teeth are so small that they’ll pass right through. “Seriously, when will my puppy stop teething?” said just about every dog parent. If your pup’s three or four months old, you might be wondering when they will quit nibbling on everything: their toys, your table, your shoes, your hand. You likely know that teething is a painful process for parent and baby alike — but what about your furry babies? Do puppies teethe like humans? When do puppies start teething? What are common puppy teething symptoms? How long do puppies’ teething last? And what, if anything, can pet parents do to help them through it? “Just like human babies, puppies go through teething. Some fly through it with no problem, while others fuss, drool and chew,” Debra M. Eldredge, DVM, in upstate New York says. Puppy teething, or the process of developing healthy teeth, is crucial to your dog’s health. Here’s what you need to know about your puppy’s teeth, from ways to help them self-soothe (without destroying your favorite shoes) to when to call a veterinarian. When Do Puppies Start Teething?“Puppies actually go through teething twice by the time they are a year old,” Dr. Eldredge says. Newborn puppies’ first teeth begin to appear around 2 to 3 weeks of age, she says. And you won’t have to work too hard to spot them. “The first teeth to appear are the incisors — the tiny teeth right in front,” she says. In total, puppies will develop 28 baby teeth (a.k.a. deciduous teeth, meaning they fall out). Because many puppies are adopted after weaning from their mother, usually around 7 or 8 weeks old, many pet parents don’t witness newborn dog teething. Don’t worry: There’s another round of teething to come. When Do Puppies Lose Their Teeth?At about 8 weeks of age, puppies will start to lose their deciduous teeth. Most pups have their full set of teeth by 8 months of age or so. In total, dogs develop 42 adult teeth. How Long Does Puppy Teething Last?How long puppy teething lasts depends on your particular puppy. Expect puppy teething to last until your pup is 6 to 8 months. Some dogs — especially small and brachycephalic breeds — might need help from a vet, if their baby teeth are resistant to falling out. So how can you tell if your puppy is teething? Once your pup is 3 or 4 months old, keep an eye out for these puppy teething symptoms:
Other puppy teething symptoms include:
How to Help Your Teething PuppyTeething is an unavoidable rite of passage for puppies, but you can make things a little easier for your little friend. 1) Provide Puppy Teething ToysPuppies love to chew! Your best bet is to help them do it safely. Just be sure you’re in the room when it happens: These toys for a teething puppy should only be used under your supervision, as sharp puppy teeth can rip off small chunks that your pup may then swallow. Try these puppy teething toys:
Avoid:
“The best way to help your pup at this time is to provide some safe chew items,” Dr. Eldredge says. “Soft rubber and plastic dental rings and chews can be excellent.” As for plushies: “Puppy teething toys should be tough enough to withstand hard chewing, which means that plush toys aren’t a good option,” says Victoria Schade, CPDT-KA, author, dog trainer and owner of Frolic Pup in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Schade recommends KONG toys for puppies going through teething — KONG Puppy Rubber is custom designed for a growing puppy’s baby teeth. “You can’t go wrong with a KONG Puppy dog toy!” she says. “KONG rubber toys are usually my go-to suggestion for dogs of all ages, but particularly puppies because it’s a safe and fun busy toy.” She also recs KONG’s Puppy Teething Stick: “The grooves on the teething stick make it easy for them to get a quick payoff.” Alternatively, calm puppy teething discomfort with the KONG Puppy Goodie Bone with Rope, another option for emerging teeth. Schade says this toy “is a great option for co-play between pet parent and puppy.” If you're looking for a budget friendly bundle that has toys and some tasty treats as well, a Puppy Goody Box comes with handpicked products for your puppy. You’ll also want to mind your hands: Many puppies at this age are learning bite inhibition. Chewy toys are a great replacement for puppies who just want to nip at anything — including your skin. 2) Try Freezing Treats and ToysCold treats can ease the swelling and pain of tender teething gums. While ice cubes may be too rough on their teeth, frozen carrots cut into small, chewable chunks, are an easy solution. Another option: Freeze your puppy’s toys. KONG Puppy Easy Treat is gentle on sensitive stomachs. It also helps pet parents fill up their pup’s KONG mess-free, with a nozzle that pours chicken liver-flavored treat paste right into the toy. 3) Puppy-proof Your HomeYour puppy wants to chew everything — including your shoes, sofa and lots of other things that will be aggravating to replace. Here are a few simple strategies from our experts to try:
4) Practice Proper Dental CareFor now, you can skip the dog tooth brushing. (Yes, you should brush your dog’s teeth. More on this here.) Instead, pet parents can start familiarizing their pups with elements of tooth brushing without actually scrubbing their (super-sensitive!) new teeth by lightly touching the teeth with a toothbrush or putting dog toothpaste, such as TropiClean Fresh Breath Puppy Clean Teeth Gel, in their mouth. This will help put your pup on the road to good dental health, avoiding trouble like periodontal disease. When to Call Your VetFor most puppies, teething is mildly uncomfortable — but routine. Sometimes, though, a call to the vet might be necessary. You’ll want to watch for these signs of teething troubles. If you spot these issues, give your vet a call.
Toy breeds in particular seem prone to “double teeth,” says Dr. Eldredge. “The retained baby teeth can cause problems for the developing adult teeth,” she says. “They may totally block the eruption of the adult tooth, leading to a very sore and swollen gum area.” A vet might suggest deciduous tooth removal happens at the same time as a dog’s spay or neuter procedure since they both require general anesthesia. As a pet parent, you can help during this transition by providing appropriate dog toys, introducing dental health habits, and watching out for signs of trouble. And if your couch or your favorite shoes become a casualty of puppy teething, well, they weren’t nearly as cute as your adorable pup anyway. Should I be worried about my puppy losing teeth?Is this normal? Yes, it is normal for puppies to lose their baby teeth, just like children lose theirs. Pups have 28 sharp little puppy (deciduous) teeth that begin to erupt at about a month old and are all present by two months. By 4 months, the roots of the deciduous teeth begin to resorb (dissolve).
Are puppies in pain when losing teeth?When a puppy is about 3-to-4-months-old, puppy teeth begin to fall out to make room for 42 adult teeth. (That's about 10 more teeth than people have.) This process can be awfully painful for your pup — his gums will be sore.
Do puppies lose teeth at 5 months?Dogs start losing their baby teeth, starting with the incisor teeth (small teeth in the front of the mouth) at three and a half months of age. The canine, or fangs, fall out at about five to six months of age, followed by the premolars and molar teeth. The eruption of new teeth ends at ten to eleven months of age.
What to do When puppies lose their teeth?In general, the best thing you can do to help your puppy with the teething process is to provide it with plenty of toys to chew on. Chewing helps puppies deal with teething, and if you don't provide them with appropriate items, they'll turn to shoes, pillows, and furniture for chewing.
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