Why do 5 month puppies lose teeth? A Comprehensive Guide

My puppy has started biting my hands, my legs, my children’s legs – pretty much any object he can get his mouth on. What is going on?

Your puppy is teething, the same way that human babies and children grow new teeth during their development. Like a human, your pup first grows a set of baby teeth (also called primary or deciduous, meaning they fall out). These teeth are pointed and sharp, which is why they are sometimes referred to as needle teeth.

Dogs have 28 deciduous teeth and end up with 42 permanent teeth. You may find deciduous on the floor, but more likely, your puppy will harmlessly swallow the teeth while he is eating. It is not unusual for some bleeding to occur when the teeth fall or are falling out, but the amount is minuscule and owners usually notice it only if there is some mild red staining on a chew toy.

Puppies will chew on people, furniture, and other objects (including ones you value) that are within their reach; this is part of normal puppy behavior. Dogs learn much about the world around them through how things feel, and a dogs main means of touching and grabbing things is with its mouth.

This tendency is particularly pronounced in breeds known to be “mouthy,” such as retrievers. Chewing also seems to alleviate what is assumed to be discomfort associated with the teething process.

When do puppies lose their teeth?

Puppies will start to lose their first baby teeth around four months old, and between six and eight months of age, they’ll have lost all of their baby teeth. They won’t be toothless, though! At 2 months old, they will have started growing their adult teeth, and around the time they’re 8 months old, they should have a total of 42 adult teeth.

What should I do about my puppy’s chewing behaviors that I don’t like?

Do not reward behavior you do not want, and do not let others reward it either. If your puppy is chewing on your hands or any other body part, yelp a high pitched shriek like a puppy makes, pull your hand away, and go play elsewhere.

There is no consensus about the best way to teach puppies not to chew. Some methods may even seem contradictory because what may work for one dog may be inappropriate for another. Check with your veterinarian for a personalized recommendation.

Puppies are naturally energetic and curious, so try to redirect that energy elsewhere by including lots of exercise, training, and try feeding from puzzle toys rather than a bowl. Do not leave tempting items like clothes, shoes, or children’s toys where your puppy can reach them. At the same time provide lots of safe chew toys. Keep chew toys “fresh” by rotating them, only having a few out at any one time. Supervise your puppy so he does not have the opportunity to chew something he shouldn’t.

¿When do PUPPIES LOSE BABY TEETH?

Newborn puppies are born toothless. Thats because, like other mammals, a puppys only source of nourishment for their first weeks of life comes from their mothers milk. And you dont really need (or want!) teeth for that. But once teeth start to come in, a teething puppy can quickly become an enthusiastic chewer.