Inspecting your dog's teeth is an excellent way to determine his age. Dogs get all their permanent teeth in by seven months of age. Before seven months, the eruption of different types of teeth will reveal his general age. Once the dog has reached maturity the best way to determine age is by the tartar buildup and wear on his incisors, the front teeth between the canines. If you know what to look for as well as the general pattern of how teeth mature, you will be able to make a rough estimate of your dog's age.
Things You'll Need
- Latex gloves, if sensitive to dog saliva
- Assistant or veterinarian if necessary
Instructions
Position your hand across your dog's muzzle to open his mouth. According to Norma Bennett Wolff, you should push your thumb behind the canine tooth while holding his snout steady with your other hand. Lift the upper jaw gently but firmly. Back off at any signs of aggression in your dog. Once his mouth is open you can inspect his teeth.
Look for signs of baby teeth, also known as deciduous teeth. Baby teeth in dogs are very sharp and white. They are smaller than permanent teeth. A puppy will generally have all of her baby teeth by six weeks.
Watch for the eruption of permanent teeth in your puppy. They usually start coming in around three to five months with the final eruption of all teeth around six to seven months.
Examine your adult dog's teeth, looking for yellowing as well as how the incisors are worn. The teeth of a dog that is one to two years old will gradually develop a dull appearance with some yellowing on the teeth in the back. The cusps of the lower middle incisors will begin to show wear.
Check your dog's teeth for tartar buildup. A three to four year old dog will have tartar buildup on most of her teeth. The cusps of the upper middle incisors will begin to show wear.
Look for increased tarter buildup on all teeth in a five to six year old dog. The coloring will begin to change to a darker yellow or light brown. The outside incisors will show wear and the canines will start to blunt.
Check for wear on all teeth and a browning of the teeth as well. A dog that is seven years old or more will also have quite a bit of tartar buildup. He may even be missing a few teeth.