Before answering this question, let me share the importance of a dog’s dental health. You should pay attention to your dog’s dental health as you do to yours. Moreover, take care of your dog’s teeth on a daily basis because pets can’t do this for themselves. So, now let’s come to the question, how many teeth do dogs have?
Have you ever wondered while taking care of your dog’s dental health? Many pet owners also want to know, can dogs lose teeth? So, without any further ado, let’s find the answers.
Table of contents
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
How Many Teeth Do Dogs Have and Do They Lose Them?
Adult dogs should have 42 teeth. But like kids, teething start with temporary teeth and then falls out so that adult teeth can replace them. You must have heard the term milk teeth.
A puppy has 28 milk or deciduous teeth. These teeth start to appear two weeks after the birth of puppies. When puppies reach 8 to 10 weeks, they’re completely grown.
These teeth feel like needles, especially when your puppy nips at you. During this stage, puppies’ jaws are not as strong as adult dogs have. Therefore, these sharp and razor-like teeth help them gnaw on treats and chew solid food and bones. The rapid maturation in puppies helps them lose their first teeth quickly, but it doesn’t happen with kids.
Dogs have 4 types of teeth, and we’ll give you an overview of these types.
- When dogs reach 4 months of age, incisors are the first to fall.
- At the age of 5 to 6 months, canine teeth fall.
- Premolars fall between 6 to 8 months.
- Finally, when dogs get adults, they have 42 permanent teeth.
If your puppy doesn’t lose teeth, consult your vet and discuss the issue.
Types of Teeth
The mouth of an adult dog has 4 different types of teeth, and all of them serve different purposes. These four types of teeth are:
Incisors
Have you ever seen small teeth in front of your dog’s mouth? They’re called incisors. Dogs use them for self-grooming and to tear meat from the bone. The adult dog has 12 incisors. 6 are on the top, and the remaining 6 are on the bottom.
Canines
They’re often referred to as fangs. These are 4 teeth in total, 2 of them are on the top, and 2 are on the bottom of both sides of the mouth. Dogs use these teeth to hold on to something.
Premolars
Dogs use them for shearing, and they’re 16 teeth in total. 8 teeth are on the top, and 8 are on the bottom. When dogs chew something on the side of their mouth, they use premolars to do that.
Molars
This last type of teeth is flat and heavy-duty, and dogs use them for grinding and chewing. Dogs have 6 molars on the bottom and 4 on the top of the mouth.
Dog’s Dental Health Is As Important As Tours
So, now you understand, how many teeth do dogs have? Ensure that you pay attention to dental health. Otherwise, it can lead to many health issues.
Read More:
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- How Are Dog Years Calculated & 5 Signs That Shows Your Dog May Be Leaving
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- Why Is My Dog’s Nose Wet? Is That Normal & How To Deal With It?
- How to Choose Dog Breed – 5 Factors to Consider. For Kids & Old Folks Too
