Puppies are born without teeth and they won’t start teething for several weeks until the first baby teeth (canines) emerge at 3-5 weeks old. The canines are then followed by the incisors when they puppy is around 4-6 weeks of age. As they turn 5 weeks old, their premolars erupt. A complete set of deciduous (baby) teeth in puppies will include 6 incisors, 2 canines, 6 premolars on both the top and bottom gums for a total of 28 teeth. Compared to the teeth of adult dogs, the deciduous teeth are very sharp.

A puppy’s gums may hurt when the teeth start coming in. Chew toys can help your pet ease the pain. There are also toys that can be soaked or filled with water and frozen; chewing on these toys can be particularly soothing. When your puppy is chewing, make sure not to give him anything of yours that you don’t want him to chew, such as your old socks or shoes. What the puppy learns to chew on early in life tends to be what he likes to chew even if he is already an adult. Talk to your pet clinic SC if you have any concerns about your pet’s teething.