Most puppies start losing their baby teeth at 12 to 16 weeks old (about 3 to 4 months), beginning with the small front incisors. Canines and premolars follow, and the full adult set of up to 42 teeth is usually in place by 6 to 8 months.
When do puppies lose their baby teeth? Most start around 12 to 16 weeks old (3 to 4 months). By about 6 to 8 months, most have shed their baby teeth and grown their adult set, though timing varies from puppy to puppy. A 4-month-old puppy with a loose or missing tooth is usually right on schedule. Baby teeth generally fall out on their own; don’t pull them.
Puppies have 28 deciduous, or baby, teeth and can have up to 42 permanent adult teeth. They are born without teeth; baby teeth appear in the first weeks of life, and the full set is usually in by about 6 to 8 weeks.
When a puppy is eating and playing normally, a loose tooth or a little blood on a toy usually means you can watch and offer safe chewing options. A firm baby tooth beside an adult tooth, persistent bleeding, a broken tooth, or refusal to eat calls for veterinary advice. Swallowed baby teeth are usually harmless and often go unnoticed.
Puppies Lose Their Baby Teeth Between 3 and 6 Months Old
Shedding usually starts around 3 to 4 months, often with the small incisors at the front of the mouth. Canines and premolars follow over the next several months. Adult teeth commonly finish coming in by 6 to 8 months, so a puppy may have a changing mix of baby and adult teeth in between.
A useful rule of thumb: a loose tooth in a comfortable puppy that’s eating normally is often part of teething; a baby tooth that stays firm as its adult replacement emerges deserves a vet check. Don’t try to diagnose a dental problem or remove a tooth at home.
Puppy Teething Timeline by Week and Month
These are typical ranges, not day-by-day promises. The timing of eruption and shedding overlaps, and individual puppies can be earlier or later. Baby teeth appear during the first weeks; shedding generally starts around 12 weeks, and the adult set may not be complete until 6 to 8 months.
Birth to 8 weeks: baby teeth come in
Puppies are born toothless. The incisors and canines appear first, followed by the premolars. By roughly 6 to 8 weeks, puppies usually have all 28 sharp baby teeth.
At 8 weeks, a puppy may use those needle-sharp teeth during play and begin chewing more. That behavior alone doesn’t mean a tooth is loose or that anything is wrong.
8 to 16 weeks: the first loose teeth
Around 12 to 16 weeks, incisors commonly start to loosen and fall out. You might find a tiny tooth, notice a gap, or see a small spot of blood on a chew toy. Some puppies swallow shed teeth while eating or playing; this is usually harmless.
4 to 6 months: peak teething and adult teeth coming in
Canines and premolars shed during this stretch, while their adult replacements emerge. Adult molars also start appearing, although puppies have no baby molars to lose. Chewing, drooling, and tender-looking gums can be more noticeable as teeth change. The ranges overlap, so don’t expect every tooth to follow a precise calendar.
6 to 8 months: the finish line
Most puppies complete teething somewhere in this range. If a baby tooth remains after the adult tooth beside it has come through, or baby teeth are still present around 6 to 7 months, ask your veterinarian to examine your puppy. A vet can tell whether a tooth is retained and whether it needs treatment.
Which Teeth Come In and Fall Out When: Incisors, Canines, Premolars and Molars
The front incisors are usually the first teeth to shed, followed by canines and premolars. Adult molars are new teeth rather than replacements for baby molars: puppies have no deciduous molars. Adult dogs have more premolars and gain molars as their permanent teeth come in.
| Tooth type | Number of baby teeth | Baby teeth erupt | Typically shed | Adult teeth erupt | Number of adult teeth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Incisors (small front teeth) | 12 | About 2–4 weeks | About 12–16 weeks (3–4 months) | About 3–5 months | 12 |
| Canines (long pointed teeth) | 4 | About 4–6 weeks | Around 4–5 months | About 4–6 months | 4 |
| Premolars (behind the canines) | 12 | About 4–8 weeks | About 4–6 months | About 5–6 months | 16 |
| Molars (back teeth) | 0 | No baby molars | No baby version to shed | About 5–7 months | 10 |
Totals are 28 baby teeth and up to 42 adult teeth. The table gives broad typical ranges; eruption and shedding can overlap, and the timing differs among puppies. A mouth that looks crowded or uneven during teething is not enough on its own to diagnose a retained tooth.
Do Small, Toy, and Giant Breeds Lose Baby Teeth on Different Schedules?
There is no reliable calendar that predicts the exact teething dates for every size or breed. Many puppies begin shedding around 3 to 4 months, but a larger puppy may finish later, while small and toy breeds can be more prone to retained baby teeth—especially canines. Crowded mouths, including those of some brachycephalic (short-faced) breeds, are worth monitoring closely. These are general patterns, not guarantees; your veterinarian can assess your puppy’s mouth.
| Size group | Typical shedding start | Typical finish | Common concern | When to ask the vet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toy (such as Chihuahua or Yorkie) | Around 3–4 months | Often around 5–6 months | Crowding and retained baby canines | A baby canine is still firm around 6 months, especially if an adult tooth is beside it |
| Small (such as Shih Tzu or Miniature Poodle) | Around 3–4 months | Often around 5–7 months | Retained teeth; crowding may be harder to spot | A double tooth remains around 6–7 months |
| Medium (such as Beagle or Border Collie) | Around 3–4 months | Often around 6–7 months | Usually follows the general range, but individual timing varies | Baby teeth remain past about 7 months |
| Large (such as Labrador or Golden Retriever) | Around 3–4 months | Often around 6–7 months | Adult teeth may emerge while a baby tooth remains | A firm baby tooth sits beside an adult tooth |
| Giant (such as Great Dane or Mastiff) | Around 3–4 months | Some finish closer to 6–8 months | Timing can vary; size alone cannot rule out a retained tooth | Baby teeth remain around 7–8 months, or there is pain or crowding |
The age ranges in this table are practical monitoring guides, not breed-specific guarantees. If your puppy is small, short-faced, or has visibly crowded teeth, mention it at routine puppy visits rather than waiting for a problem to develop.
Signs Your Puppy Is Teething (and What Normal Looks Like)
Common teething signs include increased chewing or nipping, drooling, mildly red or tender gums, slower eating, and occasional small blood spots on a toy. You may find a tiny tooth, but many puppies swallow their baby teeth without anyone noticing, and swallowed baby teeth are usually harmless.
Normal loose baby tooth at home
A baby tooth that is loosening naturally may wiggle, then disappear, with little or no bleeding. Look gently when your puppy is calm: lift the lips and compare both sides. A normal gap or a loose tooth is different from a small baby tooth still sitting firmly beside or in front of a larger adult tooth. That “double tooth” can suggest a retained baby tooth, but a home look is not a diagnosis.
Do not wiggle a tooth repeatedly to test it, and never pull it. If you are unsure, take a clear photo of the area and show it to your veterinarian.
Teething breath and gum soreness
Mild breath changes may occur while gums are irritated and teeth are shedding. Keep your puppy’s mouth-care routine gentle, and ask your vet to demonstrate safe toothbrushing once the mouth is comfortable. Persistent foul breath, marked swelling, pus, or worsening pain warrants a veterinary check rather than being assumed to be teething.
Do teething puppies need calcium or diet changes?
Usually, no special supplement is needed. Feed a complete puppy food appropriate for your puppy and don’t add calcium or other minerals unless your veterinarian recommends them. A supplement is not a treatment for slow teething. If sore gums make eating uncomfortable, temporarily moisten the usual food with warm water and contact the vet if your puppy will not eat or seems unwell.
How to Help a Teething Puppy: Safe Relief vs. Remedies to Avoid
Offer supervised chewing and redirect biting to a puppy-sized chew toy or a soft dental chew for dogs that is soft enough to give slightly under pressure. A chilled, damp washcloth can also provide gentle relief if your puppy does not tear and swallow it. Remove it as soon as it starts to fray. Keep chewing sessions supervised, and take away any toy that cracks, breaks, or sheds pieces.
Avoid very hard items such as bones, antlers, hooves, hard nylon chews, and ice; hard chewing can damage teeth. Do not give human pain relievers or teething gels, and avoid frozen-solid items and chew scraps that could be swallowed. Choose an appropriately sized item, not one the puppy can swallow whole.
If your puppy loses a tooth at home, leave the area alone. Don’t pull another loose tooth or probe the gum. If the mouth seems sore, offer soft or moistened food briefly and monitor appetite and energy. Contact your vet if discomfort is significant or continues.
A puppy’s loose tooth should come out on its own. Pulling can injure the gum or leave a tooth fragment behind; a veterinarian should assess a tooth that does not shed normally.
Puppy Not Losing Baby Teeth? Spotting Retained Teeth and Knowing When to Call the Vet
A retained deciduous tooth is a baby tooth that remains when it should have fallen out. One clue is a “double tooth”: a smaller baby tooth beside or in front of the larger adult tooth taking its place. Canines are a common place to notice this. The teeth may look crowded, but only a veterinarian can confirm what is happening and recommend treatment.
Normal loose tooth vs. retained double tooth
Once a week from about 4 to 7 months, check your puppy’s mouth briefly in good light while they are calm. Lift the lips gently on both sides, look at the incisors and all four canines, and compare left with right. A dated photo can help you track whether a tooth changes and give your vet a useful reference. Don’t force your puppy’s mouth open, poke at the gum, or rely on a photo to diagnose the tooth.
Use this decision checklist:
- Wait and recheck: Your puppy is under 6 months, the baby tooth is loose, and they are eating and behaving normally.
- Book a routine appointment: A baby tooth is still firm around 6 to 7 months, or an adult tooth has come in beside a baby tooth that is not budging.
- Call promptly: Your puppy has swelling, increasing pain, bleeding that will not stop, refuses food, or seems lethargic.
Retained teeth can crowd the mouth and make it harder to keep teeth clean; your vet will decide whether and when removal is appropriate. It is sometimes possible to coordinate an extraction with a planned spay or neuter, but that decision depends on the puppy and the veterinarian’s assessment.
Red flags that mean call the vet
Arrange a veterinary exam for a firm baby tooth beside an adult tooth, baby teeth still present around 6 to 7 months, persistent bad breath, or ongoing difficulty eating. Seek prompt advice for a broken tooth, substantial pain, or gum swelling. Heavy bleeding or bleeding that continues despite several minutes of gentle pressure needs urgent veterinary care.
Retained tooth extraction: what to expect and typical costs
A veterinarian examines the mouth and decides whether a retained tooth needs removal; imaging or anesthesia may be part of the plan. Ask whether extraction is recommended now, whether dental X-rays are needed, whether it could safely be coordinated with a scheduled procedure, and what the estimate includes.
There is no verified, broadly applicable price range to quote here. Cost varies by clinic, location, anesthesia, imaging, and the complexity of removal, so request an itemized estimate from your veterinary practice rather than relying on a general online figure.
First Aid for a Swallowed Chew-Toy Fragment or Broken Puppy Tooth
A swallowed baby tooth is different from a swallowed piece of a chew toy. A toy fragment can be sharp or cause an obstruction. If a tooth looks jagged or damaged, it is not the same as a normally shed baby tooth and should be assessed by a veterinarian.
Swallowed chew-toy fragment: step by step
- Take away the remaining toy pieces and note the fragment’s approximate size, shape, and material.
- Do not induce vomiting unless a veterinarian specifically directs you to. A sharp fragment could cause injury on the way back up.
- Call your veterinarian or an emergency clinic for advice, particularly if the fragment is sharp, large, or its size is uncertain. Give them the puppy’s size and when the swallowing happened.
- Watch for vomiting, unusual tiredness, abdominal pain or swelling, straining, or trouble passing stool. If any appear, seek urgent veterinary care; do not wait for the fragment to pass.
Broken or chipped tooth: step by step
- Keep your puppy calm and look without forcing the mouth open. Note which tooth is affected and whether there is bleeding or a visible pink or red center.
- If your puppy will tolerate it, gently rinse the mouth with water. Offer soft food and remove chew toys until a veterinarian advises otherwise.
- Call the vet promptly. A broken tooth with a pink or red center, significant pain, or refusal to eat needs same-day advice; a small chip still merits a call to ask how soon an exam is needed.
- If bleeding is heavy or does not stop after a few minutes of gentle pressure with clean gauze, go to an emergency clinic.
Your Puppy Teething Action Plan: Wait, Soothe, or Call the Vet
| What you see | Likely meaning | What to do | Urgency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loose or missing tooth in a puppy around 3–7 months old | Often normal shedding | Leave it alone; do not pull | Observe |
| Small blood spot on a toy; puppy eats normally | Mild gum bleeding during shedding | Offer supervised, gentle chewing | Observe |
| Chewing, drooling, or mild gum tenderness | Possible teething discomfort | Redirect to a safe chew; supervise | Routine care |
| Adult tooth beside a firm baby tooth | Possible retained baby tooth | Book a vet exam | Routine appointment |
| Baby tooth remains around 6–7 months | May need assessment for retention | Call your veterinary practice | Routine appointment |
| Broken tooth, mouth swelling, or ongoing pain | Injury or another problem | Contact a vet promptly | Same day, depending on signs |
| Heavy bleeding or bleeding that will not stop | Injury needing urgent attention | Seek emergency veterinary care | Now |
| Swallowed toy fragment with vomiting or abdominal pain | Possible complication | Contact an emergency clinic | Now |
Make a quick mouth check part of routine handling at about 4, 5, 6, and 7 months, and ask your vet to look during scheduled puppy visits. Wait when a loose tooth is passing and your puppy is well; soothe mild soreness with safe, supervised options; call when a tooth stays firm, an adult tooth emerges beside it, or your puppy seems ill.
This article offers general information and is not a substitute for veterinary diagnosis or treatment. Contact a veterinarian who can examine your puppy for advice about a specific tooth, injury, or change in eating.
| Tooth Type | Description | Number of Baby Teeth | Baby Teeth Erupt | Typically Shed | Adult Teeth Erupt | Number of Adult Teeth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Incisors | Small front teeth | 12 | About 2–4 weeks | About 12–16 weeks (3–4 months) | About 3–5 months | 12 |
| Canines | Long pointed teeth | 4 | About 4–6 weeks | About 4–5 months | About 4–6 months | 4 |
| Premolars | Behind the canines | 12 | About 4–8 weeks | About 4–6 months | About 5–6 months | 16 |
| Molars | Back teeth | 0 | No baby molars | No baby version to shed | About 5–7 months | 10 |
FAQ
Do puppies lose their baby teeth all at once?
No. Teeth are shed in stages over several months, starting with the incisors, then canines and premolars. Puppies often have a mix of baby and adult teeth between about 4 and 6 months.
Does teething hurt puppies?
Teething can make gums sore, which is why puppies chew more and may drool or eat less eagerly. The discomfort is usually mild, but severe pain, swelling, or refusal to eat should be checked by a vet.
How long does puppy teething last?
Active teething typically lasts from about 3 months until 6 to 8 months of age. Chewing may continue after that, but it is usually behavioral rather than due to teething.
Can I pull my puppy’s loose tooth?
It is best not to. Pulling can break the root and leave a fragment that causes infection. Loose baby teeth normally fall out on their own, and a vet can remove any that are retained.
Is a little blood normal when a puppy loses a tooth?
Light spotting on a toy or in the water bowl is common. Bleeding that is heavy or does not stop within a few minutes needs prompt veterinary attention.