Persistent milk teeth in dogs

When a dog doesn't lose all of their milk teeth, it's called persistent milk teeth. Having persistent milk teeth can cause malocclusion and affect your dog's bite. Find out more about your dog's milk teeth.

When do puppies lose their teeth?

When your puppy is about three weeks old, their baby teeth begin to grow successively. Normally, your puppy has 28 milk teeth which fall out, and 42 permanent, adult teeth.

The teething phase usually takes place when a puppy is 4 to 6 months old.

What are persistent milk teeth?

When the baby, or milk, teeth remain in place even though the permanent tooth has grown through, this is called 'persistent milk teeth' or 'persistent baby teeth'.

Do persistent milk teeth cause problems?

Persistent milk teeth can cause bite defects in the dog, as they sit in the way of the permanent teeth that may grow out in the wrong position. At the age of 6 months, all milk teeth should be lost, if this doesn't happen you should consult a veterinarian.

In addition to bite errors, persistent teeth can also cause it to become crowded between the teeth and cause a risk of gingivitis.

Can you pull out persistent milk teeth?

In some dogs, it is sometimes possible to gently wiggle loose persistent milk teeth. Wiggle the tooth several times a day and feel if it starts to loosen. If the tooth has no tendency to loosen at all and the permanent tooth has grown in, the milk tooth will need to be extracted by a vet.

Ask your vet to check your puppy's teeth and their bite when you get them vaccinated. If your puppy doesn't lose their baby teeth, you should contact your vet again as soon as possible.

Take care of your puppy's teeth

To avoid your puppy having problems with his teeth when he gets older, it is good to get them used to getting their teeth brushed as a puppy. Take small steps at first and praise to make brushing a fun time for your puppy.