When do puppies lose their baby teeth?a month-by-month calendar from temporary to permanent teeth

Puppy teething calendar, month by month

The ages below are average figures from the Merck Veterinary Manual. A difference of a few weeks is usually not a problem. What matters more is that the temporary tooth makes way once the permanent one appears next to it.

How many teeth there should be and where they sit is shown on the interactive chart in the article how many teeth dogs and cats have.

1. 01

   3–4 weeks

   The first temporary teeth erupt: the canines and the third (outermost) incisors.

2. 02

   4–6 weeks

   The remaining temporary incisors and the temporary premolars come through. By about 6 weeks a puppy has 28 thin, sharp teeth.

3. 03

   4–5 months

   The temporary incisors fall out and the permanent ones erupt in their place. The first premolars and first molars appear at the same time — they have no temporary predecessors.

4. 04

   5–6 months

   The canines and premolars change and the second molars erupt. This is the time to keep a close eye on the canines: the temporary canine should fall out once the permanent one appears next to it.

5. 05

   6–7 months

   The third molars erupt in the lower jaw. By 7 months a dog usually has all 42 permanent teeth.

What is normal while the teeth change

Losing baby teeth is a normal physiological process. The root of the temporary tooth is gradually resorbed, the tooth loosens and falls out, and the permanent tooth comes through in its place. During this time you may notice that:

• your puppy chews more and mouths hands, objects and furniture;
• the gums where teeth are changing look slightly red or puffy;
• there is a small drop of blood on a toy or the bowl;
• you find small temporary teeth on the floor — hollow 'caps' with hardly any root;
• for a day or two your puppy is more careful with hard pieces of food.

Many temporary teeth are never found: puppies swallow them with their food. This is usually harmless — the small tooth passes naturally.

Heavy or prolonged bleeding, swelling, refusing food or lethargy are not normal for teething. These signs need an examination.

Red flags: when teething does not go to plan

The key rule: there should never be two of the same tooth in one place at the same time. If the permanent tooth is already coming through and the temporary one is still holding on, it is no longer a case of 'let's wait' — it is a reason for a check-up.

• A temporary tooth next to a permanent one. Most often these are the canines — double canines in a puppy. The temporary tooth can push the permanent one out of position, and plaque collects between them. More on the Retained temporary teeth page.
• Teeth injuring the palate or gums. If the lower canines press into the palate, sores or dents appear on it. This is painful, so the bite is assessed as early as possible — as in the case of a Maltipoo puppy.
• A permanent tooth is missing by 6–7 months. The tooth may not have developed or may have stayed in the bone — this is checked on dental radiographs. I explain why it matters in the article on an unerupted tooth in a dog.
• A broken temporary tooth. Temporary teeth are thin and break more easily than permanent ones. If you can see a pink or dark dot at the fracture, the pulp is exposed and infection can reach the root tip, right next to where the permanent tooth is developing. Such a tooth should not be left 'until it is replaced'.
• A temporary tooth has been loose for weeks but does not fall out, or the gum around it is swollen.

Small breeds: why their baby teeth are retained more often

Retained temporary teeth occur in dogs of any size, but they are seen more often in small and toy breeds — Yorkshire Terriers, Chihuahuas, Toy Poodles, Pomeranians, Maltipoos. This does not mean every such puppy will have the problem, but owners should watch the canines especially closely at 5–6 months.

A tendency to retain temporary teeth is often inherited, so it is worth asking the breeder whether the puppy's parents had the same problem.

What to give a teething puppy to chew

The urge to chew is natural at this age, and it is better to channel it towards safe objects than to forbid it.

• Soft rubber puppy toys of a suitable size — ones that bend in your hands and take a fingernail mark.
• A chilled toy: many puppies like chewing a toy that has been in the fridge (not the freezer).
• Rope toys — only under supervision, so your puppy does not swallow the threads.

Do not give hard bones, antlers, hooves, hard nylon toys or ice cubes. Temporary teeth are thin, and newly erupted permanent teeth still have a wide pulp and thin walls. More in the article on which chews can break a dog's tooth.

While the teeth are changing, avoid rough tug-of-war games: a sudden jerk can injure the gums and loose teeth.

When to take your puppy to a veterinary dentist

A good time to check the bite is at 4–6 months, when the incisors and canines are changing. But if you notice two teeth in one place or sores on the palate, do not wait: in these situations it is better to decide as early as possible. What an examination for young animals includes is described on the Dentistry for puppies and kittens page.

If a temporary tooth needs to come out, it is extracted when clinically indicated, under inhalational anaesthesia with monitoring, after pre-anaesthetic tests. A dental radiograph is taken before the extraction to assess the root of the temporary tooth and the position of the permanent one.

How much a puppy bite check costs

Tooth change and the bite can be assessed at an in-clinic consultation. If you are not in Kyiv, start with an online consultation: send photos of the teeth from the front and both sides with the lip lifted.

Frequently asked questions