Puppy teeth, in addition to being small and very thin, often arouse a lot of curiosity in pet parents who have never had a pet before. Despite being a little-remembered area, canine teething care should start as early as the first months of life and it is important to know everything that involves your four-legged friend's teeth to keep his smile always on.healthy.

So, if you have doubts about whether the dog changes teeth, when it happens, what changes can be observed in this phase and the main care before and after the change of teeth, it's time to solve this mystery. Below, you can check out everything you need to know about the subject (with some tips on how to make puppy stop biting!).

Does a dog have milk teeth?

Just like with humans, the first teeth that are born in a puppy's mouth are the deciduous ones, also called milk teeth. They appear when the animal is between 2 and 3 weeks old, and the whole process of developing canine dentition - at least in this first stage - goes until the 8th week of the dog's life. So the answer is yes: the dog has teethmilk teeth, but they are not the same as those that are part of the permanent dental arch.

There are 28 temporary teeth in total, divided into incisors, canines and premolars. A curiosity is that, unlike permanent dog teeth, milk teeth are very white (so many compare them to the color of milk), pointed and with a thinner and more fragile appearance.

Does a dog change teeth?

Now that you know that the puppy tooth is temporary, this question is already answered by itself, but even so we reinforce: yes, the dog changes teeth. The deciduous dentition falls after a while and gives way to the permanent dentition, which is the one that will accompany the puppy until the end of his life.

The permanent teeth are the largest in number, with 42 teeth in total - and this is where the permanent molars are born. They are larger, stronger and more resistant, and usually have a less whitish color, tending towards an ivory tone.

At how many months does a puppy's tooth fall out?

This is a common question, mainly because the dog changes teeth in such a subtle way that often much of the process goes unnoticed by the guardians. But, anyway, it is good to prepare for this, even so that there is no unnecessary concern if you notice that your puppy is lazy. Puppy teeth start to fall out around 4 months of age, butthe entire change can take up to 7 months to complete, meaning that your puppy will have a brand new smile in 2-3 months before they are even a year old!

The dog biter is an indispensable accessory to relieve the discomfort of the birth of new teeth

What signs indicate canine teething?

As already mentioned, when a puppy's tooth falls out it is something very subtle and even imperceptible if you don't have a closer look. No wonder that a very common situation is when the animal ends up swallowing the tooth itself or playing with it after it falls out. And rest assured: even if he swallows the tooth, it will not harm him, and it will be expelled in a short time.

It is not necessary to try to speed up the fall, as the tooth falls out naturally and does not cause any pain to the animal. If you try to do it yourself, it can end up being painful and uncomfortable for him.

While the new puppy teeth are about to be born, it is possible to notice some more obvious signs, such as:

• Dog biting everything in sight
• Gum inflammation (which may be accompanied by bleeding)
• Pain or tenderness in the area
• Itching

Depending on the case, the dog may be a little more uncomfortable with the birth of the new teeth and show more worrying symptoms, such as: apathy and diarrhea. It is possible to see the dog crying also because of the discomfort. If this happens, it is important to seek help from a professional - preferably specialized in veterinary dentistry - to ensure that there is no problem.interference or anomaly in dog tooth replacement.

What care is important for dog teeth during the change?

1) Check that everything is happening the right way. Teeth don't always come in correctly or have enough room to come in, so it's crucial to supervise this - not least as a way of avoiding canine double teething.

2) Keep your pet's oral hygiene up to date. It is important to brush your dog's teeth regularly at this stage, but always with great caution and attention so as not to hurt him.

4) Avoid offering very hard foods at this time. Dogs can become apathetic because eating with a soft tooth is not very pleasurable, so prefer a wet food or moisten the dry food grains with a little water before giving it to the puppy.

5) Offer an appropriate puppy teether. It should be softer, but sturdy enough not to damage easily and will help relieve the discomfort of new teeth.

6) Do not try to pull out the baby tooth. This can end up leaving the dog in pain, and may even generate some kind of trauma in the animal.

7) Avoid games that force the dog's teeth, such as tug-of-war. This could end up knocking his teeth out ahead of time. Always let everything happen naturally.

Double canine dentition can be a problem for the pet

The importance of observing if the dog's tooth change is occurring according to plan is because, in some cases, the animal may suffer from a problem that we call double dentition. This happens when the dog's milk teeth do not fall out, and the definitive ones are born even without adequate space in the oral cavity. In practice this means that the animal has two teeth, one behind the other.another, and it is something that needs to be addressed with a veterinarian specializing in dentistry, as it can harm the puppy in the long run.

How to brush a dog's teeth: the habit should be introduced into the pet's routine from puppyhood

Learn how to brush a dog's tooth with a step-by-step guide

Step 1: Have the right products on hand to take care of your pet's oral hygiene. The toothbrush, as well as the dog toothpaste, should be separated on site.

Step 2: Choose a time when your dog is calm and relaxed. If he is too agitated, it probably won't work.

Step 3: Your pet needs to feel comfortable with your touch near its muzzle, so start gradually and observe how it behaves. If it feels uncomfortable, do a kind of positive training and offer it a treat to encourage it.

Step 4: When he is more receptive, start by stroking the outside of his mouth and then the inside.

Step 5: Massage the gums with your own finger at first, then use a gauze pad and repeat this. Finally, do the same movement but with the dog toothbrush.

Step 6: Brushing should be started with circular movements, then follow the direction from the gums to the tip of the teeth repeatedly.

Step 7: If the puppy is responding well, you should try brushing the dog's teeth on the innermost part, near the tongue.

An important point is to remember that dogs cannot use the same toothpaste as humans, so be sure to buy a dog toothpaste that is suitable for these animals. There are several options on the pet market, but in order not to make mistakes the best thing to do is to ask for the suggestion of a trusted veterinarian.

At what age does the puppy stop biting and what is the best way to deal with the habit?

Of course, while they are puppies, the tendency to bite anything that is within their reach is even greater. The period when this is usually most evident is between 4 and 7 months of age, which is precisely when the dog changes teeth and has much more sensitive gums and is bothered by the transition between one set of teeth and another. On the other hand, there are several puppieswho, even in adulthood, also continue with the biting habit, so it's not something that will just stop happening.

If you're wondering how to get a puppy to stop biting - or even how to curb this behavior in an adult animal - the answer is to invest in the right accessories and train the animal. He needs to learn that he can't just go out biting anything, and the instinct should be directed towards toys like a dog biter. This way he entertains himself, but doesn't destroy things when he's biting.its surroundings.