Do Dogs Lose Milk Teeth? The Complete Puppy Teething Science Guide
Do dogs lose milk teeth? Yes — puppies lose all 28 deciduous teeth by 6 months.
Yes, dogs absolutely lose their milk teeth. Puppies are born without teeth, develop 28 deciduous (baby) teeth starting around 3 weeks of age, and then lose all of them between 12 and 24 weeks old. These are replaced by 42 permanent adult teeth. The entire process is usually complete by 6 to 7 months of age. If your puppy is chewing everything in sight, has slightly bloody gums, or you find tiny teeth on the floor, this is completely normal developmental biology at work.
The Science Behind Puppy Deciduous Teeth
Dogs, like humans, are diphyodont — meaning they develop two successive sets of teeth during their lifetime. The first set, called deciduous or "milk" teeth, serves a critical but temporary function. According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, deciduous teeth begin forming in the jaw during fetal development, with the enamel organ differentiating around day 25–30 of gestation.
The physiological mechanism driving tooth eruption involves specialized cells called ameloblasts (which produce enamel) and odontoblasts (which produce dentin). As the permanent tooth develops beneath the deciduous tooth, it triggers osteoclast activity — cells that resorb the root of the baby tooth. This root resorption weakens the deciduous tooth's attachment until it falls out, often swallowed by the puppy during eating or play.
The Tooth Eruption Timeline
| Tooth Type | Deciduous Eruption | Deciduous Loss | Permanent Eruption | Count (Deciduous/Permanent) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Incisors | 3–4 weeks | 12–16 weeks | 16–20 weeks | 12 / 12 |
| Canines | 3–5 weeks | 16–20 weeks | 20–24 weeks | 4 / 4 |
| Premolars | 4–6 weeks | 16–24 weeks | 20–28 weeks | 12 / 16 |
| Molars | N/A (no deciduous molars) | N/A | 20–28 weeks | 0 / 10 |
| Total | Complete by ~6 weeks | All lost by ~24 weeks | Complete by ~28 weeks | 28 / 42 |
Note that puppies have no deciduous molars — their smaller jaw cannot accommodate them. The four additional premolars and ten molars in the adult dentition emerge directly as permanent teeth.
Why Did Dogs Evolve Two Sets of Teeth?
Evolutionary context: The diphyodont dentition pattern is ancestral to all mammals and dates back over 200 million years to early mammalian ancestors. In wild canids — wolves, coyotes, and foxes — this trait persists because it solves a fundamental developmental problem: a growing jaw.
A wolf pup's jaw at 3 weeks old is roughly one-third the size of its adult jaw. If permanent teeth erupted directly, they would be spaced incorrectly and would not align properly for the shearing and crushing functions adult canids require for processing meat and bone. Deciduous teeth act as space-holders and functional guides — they allow the pup to nurse, begin exploring solid food during weaning (around 3–4 weeks in wolves), and stimulate proper jaw bone development.
Research published in the Journal of Veterinary Dentistry confirms that deciduous teeth also guide the eruption path of permanent teeth. The permanent tooth bud develops directly beneath or lingual to the deciduous tooth, using its root as a physical guide channel. When this relationship is disrupted — for example, when a deciduous tooth fails to resorb — the permanent tooth erupts in an abnormal position.
Unlike some animals (sharks continuously replace teeth; rodents have ever-growing incisors), dogs evolved a fixed dental formula optimized for an omnivorous-carnivore diet. The 42-tooth adult dentition (I 3/3, C 1/1, P 4/4, M 2/3) is precisely calibrated for gripping, tearing, shearing, and grinding — functions that would be impossible with a single set of teeth growing into an undersized juvenile jaw.
What Does Puppy Teething Look Like? Recognizing the Signs
Understanding what's normal during the teething window (roughly 12–28 weeks) helps you distinguish typical development from problems that need veterinary attention.
Normal Teething Symptoms
- Increased chewing behavior: Puppies will mouth and chew on furniture, shoes, hands, toys — anything that provides counter-pressure on sore gums. This peaks between 14–20 weeks.
- Mild gingival bleeding: Small spots of blood on chew toys or in the water bowl are expected as teeth loosen. This is not cause for alarm.
- Finding teeth: You may discover tiny, sharp, translucent teeth on the floor, in bedding, or embedded in toys. Many puppies swallow them, which is harmless — they pass through the digestive tract.
- Drooling increase: Mild to moderate hypersalivation during peak eruption weeks.
- Temporary appetite changes: Some puppies eat slightly less for 1–2 days when a canine tooth is erupting. Offer softened kibble (add warm water, soak 10 minutes) if you notice reluctance.
- "Puppy breath" odor: A mild metallic or yeasty smell is normal during tooth transition. Foul or putrid odor is not.
When Teething Signals a Problem
Consult your veterinarian if you notice any of these red flags:
- Deciduous tooth still present alongside the erupted permanent tooth ("double tooth" or retained deciduous tooth)
- Permanent tooth erupting in the wrong position — especially a canine growing inward toward the palate
- Puppy refusing food for more than 48 hours
- Significant facial swelling or pus around the gum line
- Persistent bleeding that does not stop within minutes
- Deciduous tooth has not fallen out by 6 months of age
- Asymmetric jaw alignment or visible malocclusion
When in doubt, schedule a dental check. Early intervention for retained teeth prevents costly orthodontic problems later.
Retained Deciduous Teeth: The Most Common Complication
Retained deciduous teeth (RDT) occur when the baby tooth fails to resorb and fall out before or as the permanent tooth erupts. According to the American Kennel Club, this is the single most frequent dental developmental problem in puppies.
Prevalence: Studies in veterinary dentistry literature estimate that 10–15% of dogs experience at least one retained deciduous tooth. The rate is significantly higher in small and toy breeds — up to 30–40% in breeds like Yorkshire Terriers, Pomeranians, and Chihuahuas.
Why Small Breeds Are at Higher Risk
The mechanism is straightforward: toy and small breeds have been selectively bred for compact skulls, but their tooth count remains the same as large breeds. This creates crowding in the jaw. When the deciduous tooth root does not have sufficient space or the permanent tooth bud is slightly misaligned, the resorption signal fails, and the baby tooth persists.
| Breed Category | Examples | RDT Risk Level | Typical Extraction Cost (per tooth) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toy breeds (<12 lb / <5 kg) | Yorkshire Terrier, Chihuahua, Pomeranian, Maltese | High (30–40%) | $150–$400 |
| Small breeds (12–25 lb / 5–11 kg) | French Bulldog, Pug, Boston Terrier, Dachshund | Moderate-High (15–25%) | $150–$400 |
| Medium breeds (25–60 lb / 11–27 kg) | Beagle, Cocker Spaniel, Border Collie | Low-Moderate (5–10%) | $100–$300 |
| Large breeds (60–100 lb / 27–45 kg) | Labrador, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd | Low (2–5%) | $100–$300 |
| Giant breeds (>100 lb / >45 kg) | Great Dane, Mastiff, Saint Bernard | Very Low (1–3%) | $100–$250 |
What happens if retained teeth are not treated? The permanent tooth erupts into an abnormal position, causing malocclusion (misaligned bite), abnormal wear on opposing teeth, food trapping between teeth, and accelerated periodontal disease. Extraction of the retained deciduous tooth — typically done during the spay/neuter procedure around 6 months — costs $100–$400 per tooth including anesthesia and dental radiographs. Leaving it untreated can lead to periodontal surgery or tooth extractions later costing $800–$2,500+.
Myths vs. Facts About Puppy Teeth
| Myth | Fact |
|---|---|
| "Puppies don't lose teeth — they just grow adult teeth alongside baby teeth." | Puppies do lose all 28 deciduous teeth. If baby teeth remain alongside adult teeth, this is a condition called retained deciduous teeth and requires veterinary extraction. |
| "You should pull out your puppy's loose teeth at home." | Never forcibly extract a puppy's tooth. If a tooth is truly ready to fall out, it will come out on its own during chewing or eating. Forcing it can damage the developing permanent tooth or cause infection. |
| "Teething puppies need hard bones to help teeth come in." | Hard objects like antlers, cooked bones, and nylon bones can fracture both deciduous and newly erupted permanent teeth. The AVMA recommends veterinary-approved chew toys with some flexibility — if you can't indent it with your thumbnail, it's too hard. |
| "If I don't find the teeth, my puppy isn't losing them." | Most puppies swallow their deciduous teeth. Not finding teeth is the norm, not the exception. Monitor by checking your puppy's mouth weekly starting at 12 weeks. |
| "Teething causes diarrhea, fever, and illness." | While mild GI upset can occur from swallowing teeth or increased drooling, teething does not cause systemic illness. Fever, significant diarrhea, or lethargy during teething age likely indicates infection (parvovirus, parasites) — see your vet. |
| "All dogs have the same teething schedule." | Small breeds often erupt teeth 1–2 weeks earlier than large breeds, but their permanent teeth may also be delayed relative to deciduous loss, increasing retained tooth risk. Giant breeds may not complete eruption until 8 months. |
How Puppy Teething Differs From Human Tooth Loss
While both dogs and humans are diphyodont, the timelines and mechanics differ substantially:
- Speed: Humans lose baby teeth over approximately 6 years (ages 6–12). Dogs complete the entire process in roughly 4–5 months (weeks 12–28). This accelerated timeline reflects dogs' faster maturation — a 1-year-old dog is reproductively mature, while humans are not.
- Tooth count difference: Humans go from 20 deciduous to 32 permanent teeth (+12). Dogs go from 28 deciduous to 42 permanent teeth (+14), with all additional teeth being premolars and molars in the back of the jaw.
- Root resorption pattern: In humans, the permanent tooth directly contacts the deciduous root, triggering resorption. In dogs, the mechanism is similar, but the resorption must happen faster and across more teeth simultaneously.
- Swallowing: Children rarely swallow their baby teeth (the "tooth fairy" tradition depends on finding them). Puppies swallow theirs routinely — their smaller teeth and less-developed gag reflex make this common and harmless.
- Pain expression: Children can verbalize dental pain. Puppies communicate through behavior — increased chewing, pawing at the mouth, irritability, and temporary appetite reduction. Owners must read behavioral cues rather than wait for verbal complaints.
Practical Teething Survival Guide for Owners
Chew Toy Recommendations by Teething Stage
12–16 weeks (incisor transition): Soft rubber toys with nubs. The Kong Puppy (pink/blue, ~$8–$12) filled with soaked kibble and frozen provides cold relief. Nylabone Puppy Chew (soft flex, ~$6–$9) is appropriately yielding.
16–20 weeks (canine transition — peak discomfort): Cold therapy is key. Freeze a clean washcloth twisted into a rope (supervise use). Offer Benebone Puppy (softer formula, ~$12–$16) or West Paw Zogoflex Toppl (~$16–$22), which can be stuffed and frozen.
20–28 weeks (premolar/molar transition): Gradually introduce medium-firm rubber toys. Kong Classic (red, ~$12–$18) is appropriate. Avoid ultra-hard nylon chews and antlers until all permanent teeth have fully erupted and your vet confirms dental maturity at the 6–7 month checkup.
Weekly Mouth Check Protocol
Starting at 12 weeks, perform a quick dental inspection weekly:
- Gently lift the upper lip on both sides — check incisors and canines for "double teeth" (baby and adult present simultaneously)
- Check the lower jaw canines — these are the most commonly retained deciduous teeth
- Look for redness, swelling, or discharge around erupting teeth
- Note any teeth that appear loose but haven't fallen out after 2+ weeks
- Photograph anything unusual to show your vet at the next visit
Budget Planning for Puppy Dental
- Routine teething (no complications): $0–$50 in appropriate chew toys. No vet visits beyond standard puppy wellness exams.
- Retained tooth extraction: $150–$400 per tooth, plus $100–$250 for pre-anesthetic bloodwork and $50–$150 for dental radiographs. Often bundled with spay/neuter (total combined cost: $500–$1,200 depending on region and clinic).
- Malocclusion correction (if retained tooth was missed): Orthodontic treatment or strategic extraction by a veterinary dentist: $800–$3,000+.
Related Dental Development Topics
Understanding puppy teething connects to several other areas of canine dental science:
- Puppy dental formula: The deciduous dental formula is 2(DI 3/3, DC 1/1, DP 3/3) = 28 teeth. The permanent formula is 2(I 3/3, C 1/1, P 4/4, M 2/3) = 42 teeth. The difference accounts for the additional premolar and all molars that erupt directly as permanent teeth.
- Brachycephalic dental crowding: Breeds like Pugs, French Bulldogs, and Shih Tzus have the same 42 teeth compressed into a shortened jaw. This creates rotated, overlapping, and sometimes impacted teeth that require lifelong dental monitoring regardless of teething outcome.
- Periodontal disease prevention: The transition period is an ideal time to begin tooth-brushing acclimation. Use a finger brush and enzymatic dog toothpaste (e.g., Virbac CET, ~$8–$12) starting around 8 weeks. By the time permanent teeth are fully erupted, your dog should accept daily brushing.
- Dental radiographs: Your vet may recommend baseline dental X-rays at the spay/neuter appointment (typically 6 months) to confirm all permanent teeth are present beneath the gumline and no unerupted teeth are developing into dentigerous cysts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do dogs lose milk teeth, and do they ever grow back?
Dogs lose all 28 deciduous teeth between 12 and 24 weeks of age, replaced by 42 permanent teeth. Once the permanent teeth are in, dogs do not grow a third set. If an adult dog loses a permanent tooth due to trauma or periodontal disease, it will not regenerate. This is why dental care throughout a dog's life is critical.
Is it normal for my puppy to bleed while losing teeth?
Yes, minor bleeding is expected. You may see small blood spots on toys, in the water bowl, or on the gums where a tooth recently fell out. This bleeding should be minimal and self-limiting (stopping within minutes). Continuous bleeding, large blood clots, or bleeding from multiple sites warrants a veterinary evaluation to rule out clotting disorders.
Can dogs swallow their baby teeth safely?
Absolutely. The vast majority of puppies swallow their deciduous teeth, and the teeth pass through the digestive tract without issue. The teeth are small (especially incisors) and composed of dentin and enamel that break down partially in stomach acid. You will rarely find a puppy's lost tooth — this is completely normal.
What does it mean when my dog still has a baby tooth at 7 months?
A retained deciduous tooth past 6 months is abnormal and requires veterinary attention. The permanent tooth has likely already erupted alongside or beneath it, and the retained baby tooth is causing crowding, food trapping, and abnormal bite alignment. Extraction is typically straightforward and prevents long-term periodontal damage. Do not wait — the longer the retained tooth stays, the more the permanent tooth deviates from its correct position.
How is puppy teething different from adult dog dental problems?
Teething is a predictable, time-limited developmental process in puppies under 7 months. Adult dog dental problems — periodontal disease, tooth fractures, oral tumors — are pathological conditions that require diagnosis and treatment. If your adult dog (over 1 year) shows signs of oral pain, drooling, difficulty eating, or bleeding gums, this is never "just teething" and always warrants a veterinary dental exam.
Do certain breeds have more teething problems than others?
Yes. Toy and small breeds (Yorkshire Terriers, Pomeranians, Chihuahuas, Maltese) have the highest rates of retained deciduous teeth due to jaw crowding. Brachycephalic breeds (Pugs, French Bulldogs, Bulldogs, Shih Tzus) face compounded challenges — shortened jaws mean teeth erupt rotated or overlapping even when deciduous teeth fall out on time. Large and giant breeds have the fewest teething complications but may have slightly delayed eruption timelines (up to 8 months for full permanent dentition).
Dr. Hannah Wickes
All our authors care for dogs every day — read more of their work on the authors page.
