The teething of the dog 

The teething of the dog is composed of 3 types of teeth : 

- the incisors that are the first visible teeth to the opening of the mouth. They serve to tear and to decide food. When the mouth is closed, the superior incisors must come slightly forward of the lower incisors. 

- the canines (or fangs) are pointed and very powerful, they possess a more important root than the crown. They are situated between the incisors and the prémolaires. 

- the prémolaires and molars serve to grind and to cut food. The fourth prémolaire of the superior jaw and the molar first of the jaw lower, also named carnivorous teeth, are especially developed. 

How many teeth ? 

The puppy possesses 28 teeth of milk ; by half jaw she is composed of 3 incisors, 1 canine and 3 prémolaires. 

To the adult age, he possesses 42 of them ; by half superior jaw she is composed of 3 incisors, 1 canine, 4 prémolaires and 2 molars ; by half lower jaw she is composed of 3 incisors, 1 canine, 4 prémolaires and 3 molars. 

He can have some variations there also in more or in less 1 to 2 teeth by half jaw (for the molars and named prémolaires as teeth jugales) depending on whether it was about a race with short or long muzzle. 

The apparition of the teeth 

She can be susceptible of some variations that can be physiological ; the big races capable to be early of 1 to 2 weeks, whereas the races say dwarf can accuse a delay of 2 to 4 weeks. Or pathological ; the delay can be sometimes of several months at the time of illnesses to physical or psychic deficiency (rickets, etc...) defiant a delay or a stop of the maturation. 

Globally, the teeth appear to regular rhythm : 

- of 3 to 5 weeks ; apparition of the incisors and the canines of milk, 

- of 5 to 6 weeks ; apparition of the prémolaires, 

- toward 6 weeks ; the teeth of milk left well, 

- toward 8 weeks ; the teething of milk is finished, 

- toward 4 months ; the teeth of milk begin to fall to be replaced by the definitive teeth, apparition of the 1st prémolaire and incisors, 

- of 4 to 5 months ; apparition of the prémolaires, 

- of 4 to 6 months ; apparition of the molars and canines, 

- of 6 to 7 months ; the adult teething is finished, 

- of 8 to 9 months ; the canines lose their bluish hue and are perfectly white. 

He also arrives that the teeth of milk don't fall and embarrass the exit of the definitive teeth capable to provoke deviations of these or the deposits of tartar between the teeth. He is counseled therefore to make extract them enough quickly by your veterinarian before the damages are irreversible. 

In the same way, he arrives that the dogs "nibbler of stones" breaks himself a tooth or provoke dental fractures ; also avoid to give him some too hard toys, because in case of problem, the rest of the tooth is often extracted. 

The maintenance of the teeth 

A lot of owner disregards the dental hygiene of their dog and is not going to consult the veterinarian that when he is too late or that they don't support the bad breath of their dog provoked by the accumulation of tartar on the teeth anymore. The caries are rare among the dog, but they exist and it is necessary to extract the touched tooth often. 

To avoid it ; 

- avoid to all price to give sugar to your dog (or other "human" food) (even though he likes that!), because he encourages (in addition to the obesity) the apparition of the dental plate that entails a deposit of tartar, the bad breath and encourage the infection of the gums (that drags as pains, lack of appetite and sometimes of the deadly complications due to repercussions cardiac and renal) and the loosening of the teeth. 

- teach to brush him regularly the teeth (even though he doesn't like it !). 

- you can also give him some sweet special "pronged brush" that permits to maintain these and to limit the deposit of tartar (given't bone of rabbit, of chicken, of sheep or other crumbly bones that can wound it, never. To decrease his daily ration also, because this "sweet" is a supplementary caloric contribution). 

- made scale his teeth as often as that is necessary if you don't manage to maintain them yourself without waiting that he is too late. 

- finally, use an adapted food ; the croquettes, thanks to their toughness, have an abrasive effect that maintains the teeth and limit the deposit of tartar. It is the ideal food. 

Do never forget that a judge will appreciate advantage a dog with beautiful teeth, non broken and a cool breath rather than a dog, who says it, "feels bad of the mouth", because it is he that there will put the nose !