How does the teeth change in puppies of different breeds?

Puppies of the first year of life are often compared to young children. In this there is nothing strange, because they require no less attention and care. One of the most important moments that interests many inexperienced breeders is the replacement of teeth in puppies. After reading this article, you will learn about what you need to pay special attention to during this period.

In what order and in how many months does the teeth change in puppies?

This quite natural process is not at all chaotic. Nature has a certain schedule, according to which the puppy erupts those or other teeth. In most breeds, with the exception of the Yorkshire terrier, by the time of the month there is already a full set of milk teeth (14 pieces per jaw). Usually fangs are first shown, followed by incisors, and only then - root ones. If you deviate from this schedule, it is advisable to show the dog to an experienced veterinarian.

As for age, the change of teeth in German Shepherd puppies and most other breeds usually occurs after the dog is four months old. In small animals, this process often falls on a six-month age. The duration of this period, as a rule, is about 60 days, and upon its completion the dog has 42 molars. And their eruption is very different from the appearance of milk teeth. In this case, the incisors begin to change first, molars and premolars appear after them, and only then the fangs erupt.

What to feed the animal in this period?

To change the teeth in puppies passed without any problems, you need to provide them with a rational and well-balanced diet. It is important that at this time the dog received a sufficient amount of calcium, fluorine, phosphorus and other minerals. An animal that changes its teeth should have constant access to clean drinking water. It is considered one of the best sources of fluoride, so necessary for the health of fangs. Among other things, in the puppy diet should be present protein food. Qualified veterinarians recommend at this time to give the dog special vitamin complexes.

How to help a pet in this difficult period?

Any experienced breeder will confirm how difficult it is to change teeth in German Shepherd puppies. Symptoms of this process are no different from dogs of other breeds. As a rule, the animal becomes sluggish and even loses its appetite. Poor health is due to the inflammatory process developing in the field of canine gums. During this period it is extremely important to try to create favorable conditions to help the child survive this difficult time. To facilitate the animal's condition, he must give beef bones and wiry meat. Otherwise, your pet may have two rows of teeth at once.

Does this process depend on the breed of the dog?

Usually experienced breeders pay enough attention to how long and with what nuances the teeth change occurs in puppies. As a result of long-term observations, it was noticed that practically all representatives of ornamental and dwarf dogs began this process with a slight lag. From this we can conclude that the timing of the change of the dentition directly depends on the breed of the animal.

For greater clarity, you can thoroughly understand this issue by the example of how the teeth change in chihuahua puppies. They have a small mass and belong to dwarf species. In small animals, there is often a delay in the eruption of permanent teeth. During this period, it is extremely important to ensure that the chihuahua does not have two rows of incisors. To avoid possible dental problems, it is necessary to show the dog to the veterinarian in time.

In recent years, there has been a very steady trend towards increased incidence of changes in dentition in large breeds, including Labradors, Rottweilers, Boxers, Dobermans, East European and German Shepherds. Most often, veterinarians have to face a temporary delay in the replacement of teeth, in which complete loss of milk teeth occurs only to one-year-old age.

What should every novice dog know?

Healthy teeth have a homogeneous, transparent and fairly solid surface, on which there is no plaque and other defects. It is equally important to conduct regular examination of canine jaws. They should not be swollen. From the mouth of a healthy animal, unpleasant odors should not emerge, indicating the presence of pathogens that provoke tooth decay.

Noticing any deviations from the norm, you need to take your pet to the veterinarian as soon as possible. A timely visit to a specialist will save your dog's health and avoid many problems.