Content

• Steps
• Advice
• Warning

Did you know that we can roughly guess a dog's age by checking their teeth? In adult dogs, having your teeth checked will help you estimate your age. For a puppy, the age can be a more accurate estimate because by a certain time it will lose her baby teeth. Teeth are a good place to start when you can get an estimate of your dog's age.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: Know your dog's teeth

1. 

   Understand your dog's tooth structure and organization. All dogs have four basic types of teeth: incisors, canines, premolars, and molars. They grow in the upper and lower jaw, left and right side.
   • The incisors are small teeth that run along the front of the mouth. Adult dogs have six upper and lower incisors. The two incisors (next to the canines) were slightly larger than the middle incisors; the upper incisors tend to protrude to the side.
   • The canines are located behind the incisors, four on each side. These are large and pointed teeth.
   • The premolars are located behind the canine teeth. There are four premolars, both in the upper and lower jaw. The fourth premolars on the top are very large.
   • Finally behind the premolars are the molars. The dog's upper jaw has two molars. In the lower jaw there are three. The first is bigger than the other two.

2. 

   
   
   Understand how dog teeth develop. Puppies usually have about 28 teeth. For the first 2 to 4 weeks, the teeth aren't noticeable. Small canines begin to grow after 3-4 weeks. Small incisors and premolars begin to grow after 4-6 weeks. By the eighth week, all incisors are formed. For the next three months, there will be no significant changes.
   • After five months, permanent teeth begin to grow, usually the first canines and molars. Seven months, all permanent teeth will grow steadily. If your puppy has all the permanent teeth, chances are he is over 7 months old. Adult dogs usually have about 42 teeth.
   • After passing the puppy phase, age numbers are marked with teeth abrasion. One year old, very white and clean teeth. By the end of the second year, the whiteness will decrease and the tartar begins to develop. This will stain the rear teeth. After 3-5 years, the yellowness will increase and is clearly visible on all teeth. This is a sign that the teeth are being worn.

3. 

   
   
   Understand how, why dog ​​teeth are worn out and deep? Tooth abrasion is a natural phenomenon, but it can be caused more quickly by habits such as chewing hard objects frequently (bones, stones, sticks) or due to lack of good oral care in childhood. On the other hand, some other chewing activities are good for your dog's oral health. Raw skin or "dental" rubber can help your dog remove plaque and material from the teeth.
   • Understand how the disease manifests. By age three, nearly 80% of dogs will show signs of gum disease. This can be seen in the accumulation of yellow and brown tartar, inflamed gums, bad breath, more common in small breeds.
   • Food also plays an important role in your dog's oral health. Dried foods can help remove some plaque on teeth, slow down cavities and other damage. There are foods that are specially formulated for oral health. Your vet can advise you on the right diet for your dog if you are concerned about his teeth. Dog oral care water can also be used to fight tooth destruction and aging bacteria.
   • Teeth worn can be broken, although worn teeth are normally less harmful to health. Excessive wear can damage the root, risk of minor surgery.
   advertisement

Part 2 of 2: Estimating the dog's age

1. 

   
   
   Estimate a puppy's age by assessing its teeth development. Teeth grow rapidly in the puppy stage. Because the change is so fast, this is the most accurate time to tell a dog's age. Count the type and position of the puppy's teeth to estimate age.
   • New born dogs will pop up from the gums. At a certain time teeth will grow. The first baby teeth appeared, 3-4 weeks old began to appear canines. Week 4 and 5 the two middle incisors popped out. At 4-6 weeks the first two molars will grow. 5-6 weeks old, the third incisors begin to appear. And at 6-8 weeks wisdom teeth will grow. The premolars did not appear until quite a while later.
   • At 8 weeks old, the dog will have 28 baby teeth. At about 4 months of age, young dogs will begin to lose their baby teeth because the big teeth will come out. Most times, the dog will swallow these teeth but sometimes the landlord will find a baby tooth or see bleeding gums where a tooth came out. Just like babies, dogs will love chewing on things at this stage!
   • By 4-5 months the incisors become adults, the first premolars, and the first molars come out. At 5-6 months canines develop, premolars 2 to 4, and two molars come out. Finally, at 6-7 months wisdom teeth will grow. In all, there will be 42 teeth to form.

2. 

   Evaluate the condition of an adult dog's teeth to estimate its age. During the first two years, teeth are usually white with little wear. By the end of the second year the white color will subside and tartar will begin to form. This will cause yellow teeth. Eventually the wear and tear along with the accumulation of plaque and bacteria will cause the teeth to begin to age. This is how we estimate the age of an adult dog.
   • By age three, most dogs will have some signs of dental disease: accumulation of yellow and brown tartar, red gums, bad breath. Of course, dogs that are brushed daily by the owner and taken to the dog dentist regularly will not show these signs.
   • After 3-5 years, the yellowness increases and is clearly visible on all teeth. There are considerations for tooth abrasion. At this age, teeth will continue to wear out. Slipping gums are the cause of tooth loss. The yellowing of the teeth will become more pronounced, from yellow to brown.
   • From 5 to 10 years, teeth will continue to wear out. Signs of the disease may appear. From 10 to 15 years, some teeth may be missing and cavities will spread.

3. 

   Consult with a veterinarian if you want a more accurate estimate of your dog's age. All told, it can be difficult to determine a dog's age by just looking at its teeth. Food, habits, and dental care (or lack thereof) can all play a role in accelerating or slowing tooth wear in all dogs. advertisement

Advice

• A dog's age rating by examining its teeth gives only a very rough estimate. Tooth condition is greatly affected by habits, diet, and even chewing toys.

Warning

• Dogs don't always let you check your teeth. Always use caution to place your hands near the dog's mouth and never place your hand in the mouth of an unknown or unknown dog.
• A good owner will not be so indifferent to a pet's dental problem that the dog's teeth are missing (manifested in holes and pitting) or bleeding gums without knowing it. This is the pain of the dog and the carelessness of the owner.