The mouths and teeth of dogs and cats serve very important functions. However, these pets share some dental disease risks with people, which can mean painful infections that can pave the way for serious health problems.

Like humans, dogs and cats grow a first set of teeth, called the baby teeth or deciduous teeth, which are eventually replaced by a permanent set of teeth. Most adult dogs possess 42 permanent teeth, while adult cats generally have 30 teeth. Baby teeth don’t fall out at the same time. Generally, pets begin to lose their teeth around 14-16 weeks old, starting with their incisors; the other teeth will fall out in later months. They usually lose their canine teeth by the time they’re between 4-6 months old. People may seldom see any baby teeth that have fallen out from their pets because most are swallowed or fall off when pets are outdoors.

Know more about your pet’s dental needs by talking to your Irmo, SC veterinarian.