What to Expect When Your Puppy Starts Losing Baby Teeth

Finding a tiny tooth on the floor, noticing a new gap in your puppy’s mouth, or seeing a spot of blood on a chew toy can be alarming. In most cases, these are ordinary signs that your puppy is exchanging baby teeth for permanent ones.

The practical window for shedding baby teeth and erupting adult teeth is roughly three to seven months of age, although timing varies among puppies and breeds. Mild gum tenderness, increased chewing, drooling, temporary gaps, and brief minor bleeding can occur during this period. Most puppies have 28 baby teeth and ultimately develop 42 permanent teeth, according to this veterinarian-authored guide to puppy teething.

The important distinction is between routine shedding and signs of a retained tooth, fracture, infection, or significant pain. This guide provides general information and cannot diagnose a dental problem or replace an examination or individualized advice from your veterinarian.

The short answer: puppy tooth loss is usually normal

Yes, it is normal for puppies to lose teeth. Their deciduous teeth—the small, sharp teeth often called baby or milk teeth—loosen and fall out as permanent teeth emerge.

During the expected teething period, all of the following can be normal:

• Finding a tiny white or pale tooth on the floor

• Seeing a temporary gap where a tooth has fallen out

• Finding a small, brief spot of blood on a toy

• Never finding any shed teeth at all

Puppies commonly swallow their baby teeth while eating or chewing. If your puppy remains comfortable and continues eating, drinking, playing, and breathing normally, not finding the shed tooth is generally not concerning.

Normal puppy teething specifically involves the loss of baby teeth while the permanent set is developing. Once the adult teeth are established, a tooth becoming loose or falling out is not a continuation of puppy teething. Healthy adult teeth should remain in place, so adult tooth loss warrants a veterinary oral examination.

When puppies lose their teeth: an approximate timeline

There is no single week when every puppy begins or finishes losing teeth. Published ranges differ because individual development varies and because “teething” can refer to baby-tooth eruption, baby-tooth shedding, permanent-tooth eruption, or the whole process.

For practical purposes, expect most shedding and permanent-tooth eruption to occur between approximately three and seven months. The transition happens gradually rather than all at once.

Approximate age	What may be happening
First few weeks	Baby teeth begin erupting
About 6–10 weeks	Most or all of the 28 baby teeth are present
About 3–4 months	The first baby teeth may begin falling out
About 4–6 months	The most active period of shedding and adult-tooth eruption
About 6–7 months	Most permanent teeth are present and active teething is ending

Many puppies begin losing baby teeth at about 12 to 16 weeks, while most have their permanent set by roughly six to seven months. These ages are guidelines rather than deadlines, and modest variation can occur by breed and individual development, as this veterinary hospital overview of puppy tooth loss explains.

Which teeth usually fall out first?

The small incisors at the front of the mouth generally shed first. The canines—the longer “fang” teeth—typically follow, along with the premolars farther back.

Puppies do not have baby molars. Molars appear for the first time as permanent teeth, so no baby molars need to fall out beforehand. One general timeline places incisor loss at approximately 12 to 16 weeks, canine loss at 16 to 24 weeks, and premolar loss at around 24 weeks, but these are averages rather than fixed deadlines, according to Zoetis Petcare’s guide to puppy teeth.

Because teeth shed and erupt gradually, your puppy’s mouth can look uneven for a while. Changes at the back of the mouth can also continue after the front looks nearly complete.

Timing should be interpreted alongside what is visible in the mouth. A puppy whose teeth are developing a little later is different from one with a large permanent tooth visibly erupting beside a baby tooth that remains firmly in place.

What normal puppy teething can look and feel like

Routine teething can change how a puppy chews, plays, and uses their mouth. Common signs include:

• Increased chewing or mouthing
• Drooling
• Mild gum redness or tenderness
• Brief fussiness
• Slower or more careful chewing
• A small amount of blood on a toy
• Tiny missing teeth or temporary gaps

These signs should be mild. They should not make the puppy appear seriously unwell or unable to use the mouth. Inflamed gums, mild jaw discomfort, drooling, increased chewing, small amounts of gum bleeding, missing teeth, and slower chewing are among the commonly reported signs of puppy teething in this veterinarian-authored overview.

Chewing serves more than one purpose. It may relieve gum discomfort, but puppies also use their mouths to explore and play. Consequently, chewing may continue after the permanent teeth have erupted. Continued chewing in a bright, comfortable puppy does not necessarily mean teeth are still falling out.

What does a shed puppy tooth look like?

A naturally shed baby tooth is usually:

• Very small
• White or pale
• Thin and pointed
• Sometimes slightly jagged
• Missing most of the long root shape an owner might expect

As a permanent tooth develops, the root of its baby predecessor is normally resorbed. This allows the baby tooth to loosen and explains why a shed tooth may appear almost rootless. It can look more like a tiny sharp chip than a complete tooth.

Appearance alone is not conclusive, however. A broken fragment can also look jagged, while a naturally shed baby tooth can look surprisingly irregular. If a tooth still in the mouth appears damaged, the fragment followed an impact or hard chewing, or your puppy seems painful, do not assume the piece is a normally shed tooth.

What about appetite changes?

A puppy with mildly tender gums may briefly hesitate over hard food or chew more carefully. A meaningful or persistent change in eating should not automatically be dismissed as teething.

Contact a veterinarian if your puppy refuses food, repeatedly drops food, chews only on one side, or appears increasingly uncomfortable. Appetite loss has many possible causes, and a painful tooth is only one of them.

A puppy showing these signs needs veterinary advice.

How to help a teething puppy safely at home

The goal is not to stop chewing altogether. Instead, provide safer outlets while preventing access to objects that can damage teeth, break apart, or be swallowed.

Choose suitable chew toys

Offer supervised chew toys that are:

• Designed for puppies
• Appropriate for your puppy’s size
• Suitable for the puppy’s chewing strength
• Flexible rather than excessively hard
• Intact and free of loose or damaged pieces

A chilled puppy-safe rubber toy can be a conservative option for sore gums. Cooling the toy may feel soothing without requiring a specific frozen food or a hard piece of ice. Because available guidance conflicts on ice cubes and frozen foods, neither should be treated as universally safe for every puppy.

Inspect toys regularly and replace anything that has cracked, developed sharp edges, or begun shedding pieces.

Avoid bones, antlers, rocks, sticks, and excessively hard chews. Hard objects can chip or fracture developing or permanent teeth. Guidance on chipped puppy teeth and chew-related injuries recommends age-appropriate chew options and veterinary assessment when damage is suspected.

Puppy-proof before redirecting

Move tempting or dangerous items out of reach, including:

• Shoes and children’s toys
• Electrical cables and chargers
• Remote controls
• Small household objects
• Rubbish and food packaging
• Cleaning products
• Anything likely to splinter or break into pieces

If your puppy takes an inappropriate item, exchange it calmly for a suitable toy.

Supervise closely in areas that have not been fully puppy-proofed. A gate, playpen, or puppy-safe room can reduce access to hazards when direct supervision is not possible.

Do not pull a loose tooth

Even if a tooth appears to be hanging by a small piece of tissue, do not pull, twist, or force it out. Pulling can fracture the tooth and leave part of the root behind, potentially causing pain, infection, or problems near the developing permanent tooth. Veterinary guidance reported by Rover specifically warns that pulling a stubborn baby tooth can leave its root behind.

Do not give human pain relievers, topical numbing products, supplements, or other medication unless your veterinarian has recommended a specific product for your puppy. If discomfort seems greater than mild teething soreness, ask a veterinarian to examine the mouth and provide individualized advice.

Retained baby teeth: when two teeth occupy one space

A retained deciduous tooth is a baby tooth that remains in place while its permanent counterpart begins erupting into the same area.

The clearest clue an owner may see is two teeth apparently occupying one position. Often, a small, narrow, sharp baby tooth sits beside a larger permanent tooth. This can be particularly noticeable with canine teeth because both teeth project prominently from the same part of the mouth.

Retained teeth matter because the permanent tooth may be redirected into an abnormal position. Two teeth crowded into one area can also:

• Alter the bite
• Cause contact with the gums, lip, or roof of the mouth
• Contribute to oral trauma
• Create a narrow space that traps food and debris
• Make the area harder to keep clean
• Crowd nearby teeth

Retained baby teeth are reported more often in smaller dogs, but any puppy can be affected. Breed can influence developmental timing; it cannot establish whether a tooth is retained or whether treatment is necessary.

If an adult tooth is emerging beside a baby tooth, book a veterinary oral examination rather than waiting indefinitely. Delay can reduce the opportunity for an improperly positioned permanent tooth to move into a better position, according to this veterinary dental specialist’s discussion of persistent puppy teeth.

Not every delayed tooth requires immediate extraction. The appropriate plan depends on:

• Whether the permanent counterpart is present
• The positions of the baby and permanent teeth
• Whether the baby tooth is loose or firmly retained
• How the teeth affect the bite
• Whether a tooth is injuring soft tissue
• The puppy’s age and stage of eruption
• Findings from the veterinary examination

Some retained teeth require removal, while other situations may be monitored. Do not assume treatment can always wait until a future spay or neuter procedure. If a permanent tooth is being displaced or causing trauma, earlier assessment may matter.

A shed tooth or a broken tooth? Clues that merit an examination

A naturally shed baby tooth can look like a tiny jagged chip. Conversely, a fractured tooth can resemble something your puppy was expected to lose. It is not always possible to distinguish the two by examining a loose fragment at home.

A possible fracture becomes more concerning when you find:

• An irregular fragment after hard chewing or an impact
• A visibly shortened or damaged tooth still in the mouth
• A visible crack through a tooth
• Bleeding that continues or repeatedly returns
• A loose tooth outside the expected developmental stage

Behavioral and physical signs can also make an injury more likely:

• Chewing only on one side
• Difficulty chewing or dropping food
• Pawing at the mouth
• Pulling away when the face is approached
• Excess drooling
• Reduced appetite
• Persistent bad breath
• Facial or oral swelling
• Discharge
• Obvious pain or vocalizing

A fracture can expose the tooth’s inner pulp and may lead to pain, infection, or an abscess. Symptoms are not always immediate, and the visible surface may not reveal the depth of the damage. A veterinarian may use an oral examination and dental imaging to evaluate the fracture, pulp, and root, as outlined in this guide to chipped puppy teeth.

Broken permanent teeth are especially concerning because an adult tooth will not be naturally replaced. A fractured baby tooth should not be ignored either: the remaining portion may be painful, become infected, or affect tissues around the developing permanent tooth.

Arrange an examination if you suspect a chip or fracture, even if your puppy is still losing baby teeth. Depending on the tooth, fracture depth, position, and symptoms, the veterinarian may recommend monitoring or treatment. That distinction cannot be made reliably from a photograph or loose fragment alone.

Watch at home, book a vet, or seek urgent help

The following three-level structure is general guidance, not a diagnosis. It follows the editorial approach described on About Paw Primer: separating signs an owner can reasonably monitor from those requiring veterinary judgment. When signs overlap—or when a puppy is deteriorating—use the higher action level.

Watch at home

Monitoring is generally reasonable when all of the following apply:

• Your puppy is in the expected three-to-seven-month developmental period.
• The puppy remains bright, alert, and playful.
• Eating and drinking remain normal.
• Chewing has increased, but the puppy can still use the mouth comfortably.
• The gums appear only mildly tender or red.
• You find a tiny baby tooth or notice a temporary gap.
• There is no more than a small, brief spot of blood on a toy.
• There is no swelling, discharge, persistent bad breath, or obvious injury.

Continue offering suitable supervised chews. Inspect the mouth only as much as your puppy comfortably allows, and note whether symptoms settle and permanent teeth emerge into suitable positions.

Book a veterinary examination

Arrange a routine or timely appointment if:

• A larger adult tooth is emerging beside a smaller baby tooth.
• Two teeth appear to occupy one position.
• A tooth looks chipped, cracked, or unusually short.
• Teeth appear crowded or abnormally positioned.
• A canine tooth seems to contact the gum, lip, or roof of the mouth.
• Gum irritation, bad breath, or discomfort persists.
• Your puppy repeatedly has difficulty chewing.
• Baby teeth remain as teething nears completion.
• Tooth loss appears to continue beyond the expected developmental period.
• You cannot tell whether a fragment is a shed tooth or part of a fracture.

A photograph can help document a change, but it does not replace an oral examination. Do not force the puppy’s mouth open or manipulate a painful tooth.

Contact a veterinarian promptly

Call your veterinarian promptly for:

• Refusal of food
• Obvious or ongoing pain
• Pronounced gum, mouth, or facial swelling
• Discharge from the mouth or around a tooth
• Substantial or persistent bleeding
• Marked lethargy
• A suspected significant fracture
• Trauma to the face or mouth
• A puppy who appears generally unwell rather than mildly uncomfortable

Veterinary guidance advises escalation for excessive bleeding, ongoing pain, discharge, retained teeth, and other significant oral symptoms; these are not routine signs to monitor indefinitely at home, as summarized in this veterinary puppy-teething guide.

Call a veterinarian or emergency service now

Seek case-specific direction immediately if:

• Bleeding appears uncontrolled.
• Pain is severe.
• Facial swelling is substantial or progressing quickly.
• Your puppy appears systemically unwell.
• Your puppy collapses, has difficulty breathing, becomes profoundly weak, or cannot be roused normally.

Heavy bleeding, breathing difficulty, choking, collapse, and inability to rouse an animal fall within Paw Primer’s general go-now emergency threshold.

When calling, describe what happened, your puppy’s age, whether the puppy can eat and drink, the amount of visible bleeding or swelling, and whether there was trauma or hard chewing. The veterinary team can then advise whether your puppy should be seen immediately.

What to check as teething ends

As your puppy approaches six months—or whenever active teething appears to be ending—ask your veterinarian to check the mouth. The purpose is not merely to count teeth. An examination can assess whether the permanent teeth are erupting into suitable positions, whether baby teeth remain, and whether the developing bite is injuring oral tissues.

At home, look gently for:

• Two teeth in one position
• A small baby canine beside a larger adult canine
• Crowded or displaced canine teeth
• Gaps that do not appear to be progressing
• Obvious cracks, chips, or other damage
• Red or inflamed gum tissue
• Ongoing bad breath
• Discomfort while chewing
• A tooth pressing into soft tissue

Make these observations while your puppy is relaxed. Lift the lips gently rather than forcing the jaws apart, and stop if the puppy becomes distressed or appears painful. A veterinary dental check at around six months can help confirm that adult teeth are emerging appropriately and baby teeth have not been retained, according to this veterinary puppy-teething guide.

Some developmental variation is possible, including later eruption in certain dogs. Nevertheless, continuing tooth loss or retained baby teeth should not be dismissed solely because of breed. What is present in the mouth—and how those teeth affect the bite—is more informative than a breed stereotype.

Once the permanent set is established, further tooth loss is not routine puppy teething. Trauma and dental disease are among the possible causes of adult tooth loss, but determining the cause requires an examination. Veterinary dentistry guidance on tooth loss in dogs emphasizes that healthy adult teeth should remain in place.

Routine veterinary examinations may reveal retained teeth, bite abnormalities, fractures, or oral discomfort that an owner cannot reliably identify at home. Early evaluation is especially useful when an abnormal tooth position could affect how the permanent bite develops.

Frequently asked questions

Is it normal if my puppy swallowed a baby tooth?

Usually, yes. Puppies commonly swallow shed baby teeth while eating or chewing, which is why many owners never find one. If your puppy remains comfortable and behaves normally, monitor rather than trying to retrieve the tooth.

Contact a veterinarian immediately if your puppy is choking, struggling to breathe, or otherwise acutely unwell. Swallowing a shed tooth should not be assumed to explain unrelated or continuing illness.

Should I pull a puppy tooth that is hanging loose?

No. Let it fall out naturally or ask a veterinarian to examine it. Pulling or twisting can fracture the tooth, leave part of the root behind, cause pain, or disturb tissues around the developing permanent tooth.

Avoid repeatedly manipulating the tooth. If it remains in place while an adult tooth emerges beside it, book an oral examination.

How much bleeding is normal when a puppy loses a tooth?

A tiny, brief spot of blood on a toy or near a newly empty socket can occur during normal shedding. Substantial, persistent, or repeatedly returning bleeding is not something to dismiss as routine teething.

There is no universal safe quantity. Contact a veterinarian promptly for significant or continuing bleeding, and seek immediate direction if it appears uncontrolled or your puppy becomes weak or unwell.

Why does my puppy have two canine teeth in the same spot?

The smaller tooth may be a retained baby canine, with its permanent replacement erupting beside it. Two canine teeth in one position can cause crowding, redirect the permanent tooth, trap debris, or lead to contact with nearby soft tissue.

Book a veterinary oral examination rather than pulling the smaller tooth or waiting indefinitely. The veterinarian can determine whether it is retained, assess the developing bite, and advise whether monitoring or removal is appropriate.

Is it normal for a puppy to keep losing teeth after six or seven months?

Some variation in eruption timing is possible, so the calendar alone cannot establish that something is wrong. Most puppies, however, are nearing or have completed the transition to permanent teeth by roughly six to seven months.

Arrange an oral examination if teeth continue falling out, baby teeth remain beside adult teeth, or you cannot tell whether the lost tooth was deciduous or permanent. Tooth loss after the permanent set is established is not normal puppy teething.

In short, finding a tiny tooth, noticing a temporary gap, or seeing a brief spot of blood during the approximate three-to-seven-month window is usually part of normal development. Monitor mild, short-lived signs in an otherwise well puppy; book an examination for two teeth sharing one position, delayed shedding, persistent discomfort, or a possible fracture; and contact a veterinarian promptly for substantial bleeding, swelling, discharge, severe pain, food refusal, lethargy, or systemic illness.