When Do Lab Puppies Lose Their Puppy Teeth?

Lab puppies are cute and playful. They are obsessed with their owners and love to be showered with affection. But when do lab puppies lose their teeth? Teething puppies are a nightmare as they bite on anything, from your fingers and couches to your favorite shoes. So you must buy them teething toys to help them soothe the itch. Teething in puppies starts when they are three weeks old, and by the time they are six weeks, they have 28 milk teeth. The teeth are pointed and sharp, thus why they are referred to as needle teeth.  

When do Labrador puppies lose their puppy teeth?

Like humans, Puppies lose their milk teeth as they transition to adulthood. Their milk teeth start falling off from 12 weeks, and the permanent teeth start popping up. And when they are 6 to 8 months old, they will have a mouth full of permanent teeth as all the milk teeth will have fallen out.

Lab puppies’ teeth development starts with the growth of the canines and then the premolar. And unlike human beings, puppies do not have molars during their first teeth development. 

Instead, they have 28 baby teeth essential in grinding food during their infancy. However, adult dogs have a total of 42, which start to develop when they are about four months old, and it’s at this stage, the molars also grow.

A dog’s dentistry has a lot of similarities with humans, as they develop baby teeth which eventually fall off as they transition to adulthood. 

However, with puppies, there are no tooth fairies. In this piece, we explore the number of teeth found in lab puppies and dogs, when their teething starts and finishes, when their deciduous teeth fall off, and new teeth pop up. We will also discuss the common teeth problems in Lab puppies and how to care for their teeth.

When Does Teething in Lab Puppies Start and Finish

Labrador puppies are born without teeth, and they start to develop when they are about three weeks old. They begin with the canines and then the premolars, and by the time the puppy is six weeks old, all the deciduous teeth will have developed.

During the teething process, the puppy owner should buy teething toys for their puppies; otherwise, you risk having it tear at your furniture, remote, or shoes.

When the puppy is three months of age, it starts to absorb its milk teeth roots, and they fall off. And at six months, all the baby teeth are shed, and new adult teeth take their place.

And at eight months, your Lab puppies have a complete jaw bone with 42 teeth. They can tear meat from a bone and even crush a bone.

How Many Teeth are Found in Lab Puppies?

Like human babies, lab puppies are born with teeth, and they start to develop at around three weeks. Puppies usually have a set of 28 deciduous teeth, and these do not include molars. They are pointy and sharp. 

And unlike human babies who get diarrhea and fever during the teething process, lab puppies do not get issues.

Often, the breeder takes care of this part as Labrador owners get to pick up their puppies when they are eight weeks old. They are not very strong, so puppies won’t tear meat from a bone or crush bones. Therefore they are fed with soft food that does not require effort.

When Do Lab Puppies Lose Their Teeth?

Lab puppies start to lose their milk teeth when they are around 3 to 4 months old. This is referred to as the second teething phase. This is the phase where your Lab puppy loses its milk teeth, replacing them with permanent teeth that are stronger and best suited for adult Lab. You will notice that your Lab puppy is missing some of its teeth at around three months.

Your puppy experiences discomfort as their gum tends to become sore as adult teeth develop. Your puppy will begin to chew on shoes and furniture to ease the pain. 

So, don’t assume that your Lab puppy is being destructive intentionally. It would help to get your puppies teething toys to keep them busy.

Lab puppies’ teeth start falling off once the puppies reabsorb the roots of the baby teeth. This makes them loose, making it easy to fall off when the puppy bites a toy.

Teething in puppies is not as painful as in human beings. This is because the roots of the milk teeth are absorbed, making it easy to knock them off. 

However, as the jaw prepares for the permanent teeth, gums become sore, thus why Lab puppies love biting on things when they are teething.

Apart from teething toys, you can opt to buy puppy teething gels for your Labrador. 

Although it might not be of immense help, you will feel good knowing you are doing something to ease your puppy’s discomfort. However, it’s always advisable to talk with your vet before applying puppy teething gel.

During the second Lab teething, puppy owners should be keen to prevent the puppy from swallowing the teeth once they are knocked off.

Symptoms of Teething in Puppies

The onset of teething in puppies is noticeable when your puppies do the following:

Chewing

Yes, Lab puppies love chewing, but if your puppies’ chewing behavior is amplified, it’s a clear indication that they are teething. To avoid destruction, it’s advisable to buy your puppy several teething toys.

Drooling

During teething, Lab puppies drool a lot because of their sore gums. And it’s made worse when they start chewing.

Whining

During their infancy, Lab puppies tend to whine a lot, but during teething, their whining becomes more frequent. You will notice that they whine even when chewing on their toys. Be understanding and shower them with a lot of cuddles.

Loss of Appetite

As your Lab Puppy teeth fall off and prepare for new permanent teeth, your puppy’s gums are pretty sore, making them dread eating as the pain intensifies. Therefore during this period, you will notice that their feeding is slow and sometimes refuse to eat.

It’s advisable to provide your Lab puppies with soft food that does not require chewing. The best option is liquid form, as they can lap with their tongue.

Common Teething Problems in Lab Puppies

Puppies barely have any problem with their teeth. And as their teeth fall off and new ones grow, your puppy will only experience sore gums and no fever or diarrhea. However, your puppy may develop two problems during their teething process.

Misaligned jaw structure: Your puppy’s bottom row teeth should be perfectly aligned with the top teeth such that they fit behind to create a scissor effect as they bite. And you may find your puppies are misaligned such that they scratch against each other during a bite.

Retained milk teeth: All milk teeth must fall off for new teeth to come up. However, some baby teeth fail to fall off in rare instances and are left in the mouth. This prevents adult teeth from coming out, causing problems in the future.

How to Care for Lab Puppies Teeth

You must establish proper dental care for your puppy, such as brushing their baby teeth. This will help you better understand your puppy’s teeth, making it possible for you to pinpoint a problem early.