When Do Puppies Lose Their Teeth?

Puppies start losing their baby teeth at around 12 to 16 weeks of age, and most have a full set of 42 adult teeth by 6 to 7 months old. The process begins with the small front incisors and finishes with the back molars, which grow in without any baby teeth before them.

If you’ve recently found a tiny tooth on the living room rug or noticed a spot of blood on a chew toy, you’re not alone in wondering what’s happening inside your puppy’s mouth. “When do puppies lose their teeth?” is one of the most common questions new pet parents ask during early wellness visits. At Community Animal Care in Poughkeepsie, NY, we love helping new owners understand each stage of puppyhood, and teething is a big one. Below, you’ll find a month-by-month timeline, the typical length of the teething phase, the signs to expect, and the dental problems that call for a veterinary visit.

When Do Puppies Lose Their Teeth? The Month-by-Month Timeline

Every puppy goes through two sets of teeth, much like people do, but on a much faster schedule. Understanding the sequence helps you know what’s normal at each age.

Baby Teeth Arrive Early

Puppies are born without teeth. Their first set, called deciduous or milk teeth, begins to break through the gums at around 3 to 4 weeks of age, and all 28 baby teeth are usually in place by 6 to 8 weeks. These teeth are needle-sharp, which explains why a young puppy’s playful nips can sting. Their sharpness helps puppies learn bite inhibition from their littermates and mother, an important social skill that carries into adulthood. Baby teeth also have short, thin roots, so they loosen easily once the adult teeth push up from beneath the gums. That design is a big reason puppies lose their teeth so quickly once the process begins.

The Order Adult Teeth Come In

So when do puppies lose their teeth, tooth by tooth? The general pattern looks like this:

• 12 to 16 weeks: baby incisors at the front of the mouth loosen and fall out first
• 16 to 24 weeks: adult canines, the long “fang” teeth, begin replacing the baby canines
• 16 to 24 weeks: premolars behind the canines are replaced
• 16 to 28 weeks: adult molars erupt at the back of the mouth, with no baby teeth to replace

Most puppies swallow their baby teeth while eating or chewing, which is harmless. So if you rarely find a lost tooth, that’s perfectly normal.

The numbers help tell the story, too. Adult dogs have 42 teeth compared to 28 baby teeth, so 14 adult teeth grow in with no baby tooth before them. Because puppies lose their teeth in such a predictable order, veterinarians can often estimate a young dog’s age simply by checking which teeth are present, a handy skill with rescue and shelter puppies whose birthdays are unknown.

How Long Does Puppy Teething Last?

Puppy teething typically lasts about four months, starting around 3 to 4 months of age and wrapping up by 6 to 7 months. The busiest stretch usually falls between 4 and 6 months, when puppies lose their teeth fastest and several teeth are shifting at once.

What Affects the Teething Timeline

While the general schedule holds true for most dogs, a few factors can shift it slightly. Large and giant breeds sometimes finish closer to 7 or 8 months, while some small breeds move through the process at a different pace. Individual genetics also play a role, so two puppies from the same litter may not lose their teeth on exactly the same day. If you’ve been asking, “When do puppies lose their teeth, and is mine on track?” keep in mind that a difference of a few weeks is usually nothing to worry about.

Why Chewing Peaks During Teething

Chewing is a natural response to the pressure and discomfort of new teeth pushing through the gums. During this stage, many puppies target shoes, furniture legs, and anything else within reach. Puppy-proofing your home, offering chew toys your veterinarian considers appropriate for your puppy’s size, and supervising play time help protect both your belongings and your pup. This is also a great time to reinforce training, since habits formed now tend to stick well into adulthood.

What Are the Signs Your Puppy Is Teething?

Most teething signs are mild and short-lived. Knowing what to expect makes it easier to tell ordinary teething from a problem that needs attention.

Common Teething Behaviors

You may notice some or all of the following while your puppy’s adult teeth come in:

• Increased chewing on toys, furniture, hands, or clothing
• Extra drooling
• Small spots of blood on toys or in the water bowl
• Red or slightly swollen gums
• Tiny teeth found on the floor or in bedding
• Mild fussiness or a brief dip in interest in hard food

Because puppies lose their teeth gradually over several months, these behaviors tend to come and go rather than appearing all at once. You might see a few days of intense chewing followed by a calmer week, then another burst as the next group of teeth moves in.

When Teething Signs Go Beyond Normal

A little blood and some extra drooling fall within the normal range. However, a puppy that stops eating for more than a day, develops a foul odor from the mouth, shows facial swelling, or seems to be in significant pain should see a veterinarian. These signs can point to an infection, a broken tooth, or a problem with how the adult teeth are coming in. Owners who understand when puppies lose their teeth are better prepared to spot these changes early.

When Should a Teething Puppy See the Veterinarian?

Most puppies breeze through teething without trouble, but a few dental issues show up regularly during this stage. Routine puppy wellness visits give your veterinarian a chance to monitor your pup’s mouth as the adult teeth arrive.

Retained Baby Teeth

Sometimes a baby tooth doesn’t fall out even after the adult tooth grows in beside it. These retained deciduous teeth are especially common in small and toy breeds such as Yorkshire Terriers, Chihuahuas, Pomeranians, and Maltese. When two teeth crowd the same space, food and bacteria can collect between them, raising the risk of early gum disease. The adult tooth may also be pushed out of its proper position, which can affect your dog’s bite. Your veterinarian may recommend removing retained baby teeth, and many practices schedule the extraction at the same time as a spay or neuter surgery so your puppy only needs anesthesia once.

Other Reasons to Schedule an Exam

Contact your veterinary team if you notice:

• A baby tooth still in place once your puppy is 6 to 7 months old
• Two teeth appearing to occupy the same spot
• An adult tooth that looks broken, discolored, or crooked
• Teeth that seem to poke into the gums or roof of the mouth

Since toy breeds are more likely to hold onto baby teeth, owners of small dogs should pay extra attention to when their puppies lose their teeth and mention any stubborn teeth at the next checkup. Addressing these issues early can prevent pain and more complicated dental problems down the road.

Puppy Dental Care Starts Early at Community Animal Care

Knowing when puppies lose their teeth helps you stay relaxed about the drool, the chewing, and the occasional tooth on the carpet. It also helps you catch the few issues, like retained baby teeth, that benefit from a veterinarian’s attention. At Community Animal Care in Poughkeepsie, NY, our team checks your puppy’s teeth at every wellness visit, answers your teething questions, and helps you build a dental care routine that supports a healthy mouth for life. Starting good habits during puppyhood makes future dental care easier for both you and your dog. If you have questions about your puppy’s teething progress or want to schedule a wellness exam, call us at (845) 471-7459. We look forward to meeting your new family member.