Dog teeth: teething, dental problems, and care
Dog teeth
A dog’s teeth play an important role in its health. Just like people, dogs can develop plaque and tartar, which can lead to pain and serious health problems. By taking good care of the teeth and having them checked regularly, your dog stays healthy and pain-free.
Puppy teeth and teething
A puppy is born toothless. Around 3 weeks the first milk teeth appear and by 12 weeks usually all milk teeth are present. Between 13 and 21 weeks the puppy starts teething: first the incisors, then the canines, and finally the molars.
Around 7 months, most puppies have an adult set of teeth, consisting of 42 teeth:
12 incisors
4 canines
16 premolars
10 molars
The importance of healthy teeth
Dogs can develop plaque and tartar, especially in small breeds. This can lead to gum disease (gingivitis), pain, and eating problems. Severe gingivitis can cause:
Bleeding gums
Loss of teeth
Infections in the heart and kidneys due to bacteria entering the bloodstream
Therefore, have your dog’s teeth checked by the vet at least once a year and have tartar removed if necessary.
Dental problems in dogs
Dogs can also suffer from:
Broken teeth, for example due to hard objects such as stones
Double canines (persistent milk canines) during teething
With broken teeth, the root canal can become exposed, causing inflammation or abscesses. The most common treatment is extracting the broken tooth.
Double canines can lead to an abnormal bite and faster tartar buildup. If a milk canine does not fall out on its own, extraction by the vet is recommended.
Dental care
You can maintain your dog’s teeth yourself by:
Brushing teeth with a special dog toothbrush and toothpaste
Giving chew toys and chews to reduce plaque
Make sure your dog doesn’t swallow large pieces of the chew. If there is a lot of tartar, the vet will perform a professional dental cleaning under anesthesia, including polishing and possibly extracting affected teeth.
Dental care in the shelter
In the shelter, we ensure that animals go to their new owners in the best possible condition. This means that dogs and cats receive dental treatment before being rehomed if necessary. Older animals especially often need a dental cleaning or extractions.
