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Puppy Dental Care

Your dog's dental health is very important. Your dog's teeth and gums are as vulnerable to disease as your own, and dental problems are the most commonly diagnosed health condition in all dogs over the age of three. Yet teeth are too often overlooked in grooming.

Puppy Teeth
Puppies have 28 temporary teeth (called puppy teeth or milk teeth) that start coming in at about 4 weeks of age. They generally fall out between 14 and 30 weeks of age and are replaced by 42 adult teeth. If you have a puppy in this age range, there are some considerations to keep in mind:

  • During this time, puppies may eat slightly less and chew more. Hard rubber or rawhide toys made especially for puppies are a good investment to help prevent household damage.
  • Even though the puppy teeth don't normally last long enough to see serious problems, start dental care while your puppy is young.
  • Pick a time when your puppy is calm and quiet and start by simply lifting the lips on either side of his mouth, then progress to rubbing his teeth with a finger wrapped in a piece of soft cloth. Concentrate on the outside of the teeth where plaque is most likely to build up. Praise him and give him a treat as you finish each session.
  • Once your dog has learned to accept having his teeth gently wiped, progress to a soft canine toothbrush. Starting without toothpaste, soak the toothbrush in warm water and apply to his teeth brushing particularly where the teeth and gums meet.
  • Buy a toothpaste specially formulated for dogs. There are pastes flavored with meat and other dog-friendly flavors to make it more enjoyable. Never use toothpaste formulated for humans because pets swallow rather than spit the toothpaste out, so this can cause stomach upsets.
  • If puppy teeth linger much longer than 30 weeks, take your puppy to the vet. This can cause problems for a puppy and these teeth may need to be removed.

Dental care should begin early, even before a puppy loses his deciduous puppy teeth (4-6 months). You can get your puppy used to examination and brushing by starting slowly and systematically.

Dry puppy foods can also help scrape away plaque and tartar.

 


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