Sometimes dogs lose their teeth. There are times when this is a totaly normal part of life, and there are times when it is not. Read on to learn more about how to tell the difference with your dog.
Just like human babies, dog babies are born entirely without teeth. When puppies are born, they drink milk from their moms, so they do not need chompers just yet.
Unlike their human counterparts, who have to wait a little longer, a puppers deciduous (baby) teeth start to come in around 4 to 6 weeks of age. Who isn’t familiar with those super sharp little teeth those adorable puppies get?
A few weeks later, around 3 to 6 months of age, those sharp little suckers start to fall out to make room for doggos permanent teeth. During this time, you might find a stray little tooth beside their food bowl or laying around the house. Don’t worry; this is totally normal.
Sometimes the little guys even swallow their baby teeth. That’s also totally normal
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR
There are some things you want to watch out for when the puppy starts to go through these processes. First off, keep a close eye on what’s going on in there. It’s a good idea to get the puppy used to having people feel around in there anyway, and it’s a great opportunity to check things out, as well.
If you notice that the baby teeth don’t appear to be falling out, that could be a problem. Sometimes those little baby teeth don’t want to pop out of there on their own. If you notice a smaller tooth still residing beside the larger adult tooth, take the puppy to the vet as soon as possible as the smaller tooth could damage the larger tooth attempting to come in.
Trauma to the mouth of any age dog can be a cause for tooth loss. If your dog gets hit with an object or a car, that could cause one or more of its teeth to fall out. On top of that, sometimes dogs chew on things that are just too hard for them, like a toy or a rock (I have seen that one myself) and that can cause tooth loss as well.
PERIODONTAL DISEASE
Periodontal disease, or gum disease, is yet another possible cause of tooth loss in dogs.
“Tooth loss is caused by bacteria that develops into plaque and tartar,” says Missy Tasky, DVM, owner of Gentle Touch Animal Hospital in Denver, Colorado.
Just like in humans, when plaque builds up near the gumline on dogs, it allows bacteria to enter in there which eventually damages the support structure of the teeth themselves.
“This leads to loss of bone and mobility of the tooth,” Dr. Tasky explains.
Periodontal disease can not only have adverse effects on their teeth but also their health as well. It’s important to keep up with your dog’s dental hygiene in order to prevent this from happening. Don’t worry, that’s not hard either.
There are all sorts of products to help you keep little Fido’s toofers clean and healthy. There are brushes and toothpaste, bones, special toys, and even doggy dental specialists in case you decide that you would rather just not.
If your dog’s teeth do fall out, don’t panic. Dogs can go on just fine while missing a stray tooth or two. There are many that lose every tooth they have and continue to eat dry food. That doesn’t mean you should slack off on their dental hygiene, though.
For the doggos best health, though, it’s always best to hold on to as many chompers as you can, no matter what.
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