There are several reasons why a puppy loses its teeth, which we will list later in this post. What we can already say is that this is not always a bad thing, as it may well be part of the natural cycle of a pet's life, just like it happens to us.
However, you should calm down if you are noticing something unusual in the mouth of your canine friends, as there are many hypotheses that can elucidate the cause of the problem, as there are also many possibilities for solutions, of course always with the guidance of a professional in the field of veterinary Medicine.
To help you with this, we have prepared some very important tips and information for you so that we can, in some way, help you with the care of your best friend's oral health.
Check out our complete guide on caring for the oral cavity of our pets below.
My dog is losing teeth
In the same way as it occurs in humans, the loss of dentition can occur for many reasons, such as young age (where the exchange of "baby teeth" for permanent teeth occurs) or advanced age , where there are possibilities that the arch teeth start to lose important components.
01 – Changing the puppy’s teeth
As with children, puppies also have “milk teeth”, which will fall out to give way to permanent dentition, which will help the animal to eat, bite and defend itself in case of attack.
When the dog is still a "child", that is, when it is between four and seven months old, the milk teeth, which began to appear early, around two weeks of life, will begin to fall out.
There are 28 milk teeth in a total canine dental arch, which from four months of age will begin to fall out to make way for the forty-two permanent teeth, which will be part of the animal's entire life.
Teeth are essential for them, as they will help them to eat, grab objects, play and even bite in order to defend themselves against a possible attack.
02 – The loss of teeth in old age
My dog is losing teeth and could this be an age factor? Yes. The general idea that dogs are such wonderful beings that, unfortunately, their passage in our lives is very short is very correct, given that canine seniority begins early by human standards.
The lifespan of animals is very different from ours, even though we always see them as babies.
In large breeds, old age begins at seven years of age, whereas in smaller canine lineages, old age begins around nine years old in our calendar.
When it comes to the loss of permanent teeth in canine seniority, this is something that may or may not happen, depending on the oral health care that was offered to the puppy throughout his adolescence and adult life.
That is, the loss of teeth in old age can occur, but it does not have to occur! And the ideal thing is that it doesn't happen, because, both for them and for us, it is very important to chew food very well when we eat it.
Responsibilities for your puppy's oral health
Taking care of the oral hygiene of your four-legged son or daughter is essential so that the loss of their powerful teeth does not occur.
Brushing should be done daily to remove food scraps that could collect harmful bacteria in your dog's mouth. Veterinary brushes and toothpastes should be used, as they are products that meet the basic needs unique to pets.
The dirt and bacteria accumulated with the lack of daily brushing in the dog's mouth can form bacterial plaques that give rise to tartar , which will cause bad breath, along with other mismatches that could lead to the loss of teeth health, causing them to fall.
Tartar, in turn, is a mineralization of bacterial plaques that have gathered in the animal's mouth, which must be removed immediately, as they cause bad breath and can lead to worse situations such as gingivitis and periodontitis.
Gingivitis, on the other hand, is an inflammation of the gums caused by bacteria and which, together with tartar, can further worsen the animal's breath and contribute to the emergence of periodontitis.
Regarding periodontitis, this is the worst problem in the mouth of puppies, as it means the destruction of the tissues that hold the teeth inside their oral cavity, causing gingival recession and, with that, the loss of teeth.
Therefore, it is of great importance to always be aware of one of the main organs of the canine anatomy, which is the dental arch.
What to do when the dog starts to lose teeth?
The first attitude of a tutor who realizes that his companion is losing his teeth should be to take him to the veterinarian immediately, so that the professional can assess the reasons of the problem and do the needful
One possibility that cannot be ruled out is inflammation at the site, which will probably, and unfortunately, cause your friend to be in pain at the moment.
In cases where the dog has already lost a considerable amount of teeth, there will be no alternative but to completely change its diet , as chewing hard food can become a very painful activity for the dogs.
The veterinarian will analyze each case and, in the event that many teeth are gone, he will certainly recommend the most suitable foods for the dog's health, considering its physical limitations and nutritional needs.