Understanding the Puppy Teething Process

Is your puppy in the chewing stage? There’s not a whole lot to do while your new pet is going through the process of teething. Knowing the details of teething is recommended for puppy owners, though. That way, you know exactly what your puppy is going through and you can tell your Bennington, NE vet immediately if anything seems wrong.

Newborn Puppies

Puppies are born with no teeth, just like human babies. They don’t need them at the early stage of life—your puppy suckles milk from their mother if the mother is available, or they’ll need to be hand-fed from a bottle if the mother isn’t around.

2-3 Weeks of Age

At two to three weeks of age, your puppy’s first baby teeth will start to appear. The smaller front teeth, the incisors, are typically the first to show up. The canine teeth are next—these are the four long fangs. The premolars are the last to appear. They come in behind the canines at the back of the mouth. By the end of the process, your puppy will have 28 baby teeth, which are known in medical terms as the deciduous teeth and are often called the “milk teeth.”

6 Weeks of Age

Around six weeks of age, all 28 baby teeth will usually have appeared in your pup’s mouth. Your puppy will be in the process of being weaned off of the mother’s milk or formula at this stage, and they’ll soon begin eating solid puppy food.

3-4 Months of Age

Around 12 to 16 weeks, your puppy’s baby teeth will begin to fall out. The adult teeth come in and simply push the deciduous teeth out of the way; you might notice the occasional baby tooth on the floor or near little Fido’s water or food bowls. Most often, though, your pup just swallows the baby teeth as they come out. That’s perfectly normal and doesn’t hurt your pet at all.

6 Months and Older

When your dog has reached six months of age, all 28 baby teeth will likely be gone and will be replaced by 42 adult teeth. Your puppy will now have molars in addition to the premolars, which are the largest teeth at the back of the mouth that are used for chewing and mashing food.

Do you want to know more about your puppy’s teething? We can help. Call your Bennington, NE veterinary clinic today.