How to Tell If a Dog Has Teeth Coming In

The canines on a canine are as important to check as any other part of its body. If a dog's teeth are not growing in properly, there can be serious problems with diseases and infections, which can not only impact a dog's gums but also its heart, according to peteducation.com. Just as a human baby will have baby teeth, lose them and grow new ones, so too will a dog. You should learn how to check a dog's mouth to make sure its teeth are growing in properly.

Things You'll Need

  • Dog muzzle
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Instructions

    • 1

      Consider your dog's age. A puppy's baby teeth usually start to appear when the dog is three weeks old. The permanent adult teeth start coming in when the dog is about four months old.

    • 2

      Open the dog's mouth. To do so, the American Kennel Club suggests you place a muzzle on the dog, and then use one hand to grasp the muzzle and the other to check the areas around his mouth.

    • 3

      Check to make sure there is plenty of room for new teeth to grow in and that the dog's baby teeth are not jammed together. Adult dog teeth push puppy teeth out of the way as they come in, so missing baby teeth could indicate that the adult teeth are coming in.

    • 4

      Check the cleanliness of your dog's teeth and check to see if your dog has rotten breath. According to the American Animal Hospital Association, a dog with rotten breath and bacterial buildup on the teeth (called "plaque") is at serious risk for contracting gum diseases, which are not only extremely painful for the dog but carry serious health risks for your dog.

    • 5

      Monitor your dog's gums regularly and brush its teeth daily to make sure the teeth are coming in properly and remain healthy, suggests the American Animal Hospital Association. If, for any reason, a dog's breath worsens or more plaque or tartar appears, contact a veterinarian immediately.