What does the jaw of that terrier look like. In most cases, with proper care of the dog, if there is no genetic predisposition, the process of changing milk teeth to permanent ones takes place quickly and without problems. Major malocclusion

DISFORMATION OF THE TEETH IN DOGS OF MINI BREED

One of the most popular veterinary dental problems is violation of the change of milk teeth. Full biological process development dental system in animals, it implies the following main periods: intrauterine laying of the rudiments of teeth in the thickness of the jaw of the fetus, eruption of milk teeth in postnatal period development, change of milk teeth to permanent ones. If the first two periods mainly depend on genetic factors heredity, the latter factor directly depends on the breed, feeding and maintenance characteristics.

The breed predisposition, as well as the peculiarities of feeding and keeping, lead to the fact that the violation of the change of milk teeth becomes a very common occurrence, with all the ensuing consequences, leading to a very frequent formation of tartar, carious lesion teeth, tooth retention, malocclusion, abnormal positioning of teeth, etc.

Considering the issue of breed predisposition, the so-called dwarf breeds come to the fore ( total weight less than 4 kg.) and small breeds of dogs (with a total weight of 4-8 kg.). Singling out these breeds of dogs into the group of breed predisposition to violations of the change of teeth, it should be emphasized that these disorders are most often recorded in the so-called long-snouted and medium-snouted dogs. In short-faced breeds, violations of the change of teeth are noted much less frequently.

Judging by the scattered literature data in pariah dogs (mutts), the complete formula of the dental system is not common - from 20 to 32% of dogs have oligodontia (lack of teeth), 5-10% polydontia (excess of teeth), 15 - 20% - deviations in shape, size and position of individual teeth, 7-12% malocclusion. What is not too reflected in their health and ability to survive.

But the majority purebred dogs, the requirements for the number of teeth and the shape of the bite traditionally occupy the most important place in the assessment of the exterior. Therefore, if you are planning to grow a "star of the ring", then it is worth familiarizing yourself with the data and recommendations outlined below.

Puppies are born not only blind and deaf, but also adorably toothless. Approximately 12-16 by the day, they have their first milk teeth (fangs and incisors first). By one to one and a half (rarely two) months, a complete "milk" set is formed in the mouth, which consists of:

Upper jaw: 6 incisors; 2 fangs; premolars 6; molars 0;
- lower jaw: 6 incisors; 2 fangs; premolars 6; molars 0;

Total: 28 milk teeth.

Sometimes the number of milk teeth can fluctuate both upwards and downwards. For example, periodically toy terriers have only 5 milk incisors, but this does not mean that the dog will certainly grow up with incomplete teeth.

On the other hand, activation, and even more so to acquire such puppies, for the purpose of further showing in the rings, should be done with great care. It is best to wait for the change of the incisal row, and make sure that it is complete.

The change of milk teeth to permanent teeth in dogs begins at four one month old and ends at 6-7 months of age. At small breeds dogs, and especially in dwarf ones, the change of teeth is somewhat late, compared with medium, large and giant breeds. It usually starts around five months of age and ends by 7-8 months, and sometimes later.

Time to change milk teeth:

Incisors 3-5 months;
- fangs 4-7 months;
- premolars 4-6 months;
- molars 4-7 months.

The delayed change of milk teeth in small breeds of dogs occurs for a number of reasons. The most significant reasons for this, in our opinion, are the following: weak development of the masticatory muscles leads to a decrease in the jaw compression force, a strong decrease in the thickness and size of the gums with teeth that are practically unchanged in shape and size, frequent use in the diet of feeding dogs soft and loose food.

According to the observations of experts, an important reason that can lead not only to a violation of the change of teeth, but also to a number of other disorders and diseases of the dentoalveolar system is a decrease in the time of feeding. If a earlier time Feed intake for small and medium breeds of dogs was on average about 20-30 minutes, but now this time takes about 5-10 minutes. This circumstance leads to the fact that the load on the entire dentition of the animal is significantly reduced. The same trend is observed in large and giant breeds dogs. Delayed change of teeth.

In my practice, I very often have to deal with animals whose molars have already grown, but the milk teeth have not yet fallen out. Most often this affects dwarf breeds of dogs. This fact can be explained by a number of reasons:

Incorrect position of the root of the molar
- Active growth jaw during teething
- Narrow jaw in toy dogs
- Weak development of chewing muscles
- Lack of calcium in the puppy's diet or its insufficient digestibility
- Genetic and breed predisposition

The incorrect location of the germ leads to the fact that the molar cannot grow along the channel allotted to it and grows in an unpredictable direction. Incorrect positioning of the molars of the molars is often found in dogs of tiny breeds, whose jaw is too small to fit all the milk teeth and the molars of the molars.

Active growth of the jaw during the change of teeth leads to the fact that a genetically correctly located germ of a permanent tooth can move and permanent tooth will grow nearby. In this case, when the root of the milk tooth is removed, it will be partially resorbed.
Narrow jaw in toy dogs. In dogs, there are normally 28 milk teeth, not very large, after a change of teeth, a normal dental formula dog is already 42 teeth, moreover, these teeth differ not only in number, but also in size. They are much larger than their dairy predecessors. When changing teeth, all permanent ones simply do not have enough space on the jaw and dystopia appears, i.e. displacement of the teeth forward or backward relative to the normal position. Accordingly, the permanent teeth are no longer pushed out by the milk teeth, and both milk and molars coexist on an already narrow jaw. Most clearly, this process can be traced on the example of incisors. In this case, the milk incisors move forward, causing the growth of the molars behind them, which leads to a change in the bite.

Weak development of the masticatory muscles leads to a decrease in the force of compression of the jaws, and as a result, to a decrease in the mechanical load on baby tooth, which negatively affects the rocking of the latter and also leads to a delay in the change of teeth.

Genetic and breed predisposition:

The most predisposed to the development of anomalies in the change of teeth are dogs of the now popular dwarf breeds, whose weight does not exceed 4 kg. These breeds are primarily yorkshire terriers, toy terriers, chihuahuas, toy poodles and lapdogs. Many representatives of these breeds do not have the correct independent change of teeth for several generations, and owners should be prepared for the fact that these problems may appear in their pet.

If the dog has a breed predisposition to disrupt the change of milk teeth to permanent ones and, in addition, when it is kept, the load on the dentoalveolar apparatus is reduced, then the change of teeth will not occur without outside help. Now we boldly observe this picture in such breeds as the Russian Toy Terrier, in poodles, Italian greyhounds, miniature pinscher, chihuahua, etc.

The final (permanent) set consists of:

Upper jaw: 6 incisors; 2 fangs; 8 premolars (2 small and 2 large (P4 - the largest tooth upper jaw) from each side); 4 molars;
- lower jaw: 6 incisors; 2 fangs; 8 premolars (2 small and 2 large on each side); molars 6.
Total: 42 permanent teeth.

A normal bite (1) in a dog is described as a scissor bite, with the upper canine teeth slightly covering the lower ones. The lower canines should enter the interdental space between the upper extreme incisor and upper canine but the surfaces of the teeth should not touch. Fine, correct bite already formed in a month old puppy, but sometimes, there are puppies in which the lower jaw is a little "light", and a small, so-called "baby undershot" or "deep bite" is formed. With growth, especially during the period of changing teeth, this deficiency corrects itself.

Major malocclusion.

Overshot (4) - the incisors of the lower jaw are in front of the incisors of the upper ("bulldog jaw"). It is quite rare in adult toy terriers .... Although, by analogy with "children's undershot", toy terriers 2-4 months of age sometimes have "children's undershot" caused by different speed jaw growth, by 9-12 months it disappears on its own.

Similar problems arise with a normal bite, but an excessively narrow lower jaw. In this situation, removal of the lower fangs is also recommended in order to prevent the formation of fistulas and inflammation of the palate and gums.

It is found in toy terriers and another form of bite, which doctors and geneticists consider as "compensated undershot". It is characterized by some relief and shortening of the lower jaw in combination with an alveolar inclination of the incisors and partly of the canines. It is observed most often in dogs with excessively "sharp" forceps.

Typically, incisors in dogs grow perpendicular to the jaw (vertically), with an alveolar tilt they move in a horizontal direction (see figure). As a result, the bite, at first glance, seems almost normal, but the lower jaw is clearly "small", and the dog's teeth are fanned out.

The danger of such an examination approach is that dogs with a shortened lower jaw in the genotype are allowed for breeding. And if their descendants simultaneously inherit this shape and size of the jaw and the vertical setting of the incisors, then the undershot will not be compensated, but the real one.

There are several options:
- incisive oligodontia is often associated with a significant elongation of the facial part of the skull or excessively large teeth, relative to the size of the head. If the muzzle is too narrow, the incisor row of the lower jaw bends forward significantly. This leads to the fact that with a lack of space, 5 or even 4 incisors are laid. Therefore, many scientists recommend combining the culling of dogs with dentition defects with the culling of too narrow and elongated heads. In the case of mating of two parents that are significantly different in size, similar phenomena can occur if the puppies inherit the size of the jaws of the smaller, and the large teeth of the larger of the ancestors - the lack of one or more premolars - in some cases, P1 and P2 may be completely absent both on the lower and and on the upper jaw. If your puppy has not lost one of the premolars, it makes sense to do an x-ray at the age of 12-16 weeks to make sure that the tooth is really missing. In most cases, the tooth is in place, just its crown is so small that it did not pass through soft tissues gums. Then, consider the dog as "teethless" in literally it is forbidden. In addition, any veterinarian can make a small incision in the gums and the tooth will "appear".
- lack of molars - most often the M3 of the lower jaw is missing.

Frequent (polyodontia) or double teeth- premolars are usually superfluous. Double teeth can form when the crown is formed incorrectly. For example, trauma during the laying of a tooth can lead to the formation of two crowns growing from the same root. Or, on the contrary, if there is not enough space, and the roots are too close, two teeth can “grow together”, then one unnecessarily large tooth is obtained, sometimes even drawn with a hollow in the place of “docking”.

In the case of polydontia, when the permanent teeth erupt, the milk teeth have not yet completely fallen out, the number of teeth together with the milk teeth can reach an average of 43 to rare cases 60 pieces. At in large numbers preserved milk teeth are almost always observed physical impact to the location permanent teeth. In this case, there will be an exit of permanent teeth beyond the line of the dentition. So, for example, while maintaining the milk incisors in the upper jaw, the permanent incisors of this jaw can be displaced towards the hard palate and, accordingly, they cannot cover the incisors of the antagonists of the opposite jaw.

Displacement of teeth and preservation of milk incisors. Normally, the incisors should be evenly spaced, like beads on a string, but in some cases, especially if there is not enough space for normal formation, a “scrambler” or “checkerboard” may form. When the holes of the incisors are staggered forward, or deep into the jaw from common line location.

The milk incisors that did not fall out in time can also lead to the formation of rowing. If they are not removed in time, you can get the picture shown in this picture, since the preservation of milk teeth causes permanent teeth to erupt in an abnormal position. Remaining milk teeth should be removed as soon as they are found. It is desirable that the operation be performed by an experienced surgeon, in order to prevent damage to permanent teeth and avoid cracking and chipping of milk roots (which are several times longer than crowns). All fragments of the roots must be removed, as they also interfere with the formation of a normal bite.

While maintaining the milk incisors in the lower jaw, the displacement of the permanent incisors is observed towards the tongue, but unlike the upper jaw, in the lower jaw, the displacement of the permanent teeth is more pronounced. This is due to the narrower incisal part of the lower jaw and the displacement of one tooth always affects and leads to displacement of adjacent incisors.

In addition to the displacement of permanent teeth, there is a picture of trauma to the jaw from these abnormally located teeth. Most often, damage to the gums from canines is observed. With the displacement of the lower canines towards the tongue (lingual displacement), the hard palate in the region of the upper canines is injured.

Fusion and non-prolapse of the milk fangs of the upper jaw. This anomaly is quite common among toy terriers. The roots of milk teeth are quite large. But at normal formation of the dental system, they "resolve" on their own by the time the permanent tooth comes out and the "milk jug" falls out (teeth 1-2 of the figure. The lines of the tooth in the gum are marked with red dots.). If this does not happen (or happens too slowly), then milk fang either delayed up to 7-9 months (teeth 3-4), or its root adheres to the periosteum, and it never falls out (tooth 5). According to the observations of veterinarians, fused or not shed milk fangs lead not only to malocclusion at a time when permanent teeth are especially vulnerable, but also predispose the animal to oronosal fistulas and tumors.

In addition to the above clinical signs violations of the change of milk teeth to permanent ones, one should not forget that false polydontia leads to increased formation of dental deposits, bite changes, the development of periodontal disease, trauma to the soft tissues of the oral cavity, etc.

Treatment of violations of the change of teeth in dogs should first of all be directed to the elimination of false polydontia, i.e. removal of remaining milk teeth. In this situation, one should not forget about the breed and age features change of teeth. Not desirable early removal milk teeth, which can also lead to an abnormal arrangement of permanent teeth, as well as their long delay. In cases where there has already been a displacement of permanent teeth, dogs are given orthodontic plates, or other structures for setting teeth in place. Basically, the plates are installed for a period of 1-3 months. It is not excluded and their longer use in animals. In case of malocclusion, orthodontic plates are also installed in the oral cavity of dogs, but of a different design than with abnormally located teeth.

When removing milk teeth, you must adhere to the following rules:

You can remove only those milk teeth, next to which the crown of the molar has appeared. If the molar does not grow correctly, then after the removal of its predecessor, it usually takes its place. If the molar tooth has not yet erupted, then when the milk tooth is removed, there is a significant possibility of damaging the tooth germ and thereby preventing the eruption of the molar tooth in principle.
In the photo of the removed milk fangs of the Spitz, it is clearly seen that the roots are much larger than the teeth themselves.

All deciduous teeth must be removed before the animal reaches 9 months of age. As practice shows, in animals older than this age, the bite altered by polydentia is not restored.

When removing milk teeth, you should definitely remove them along with the roots, preventing splitting and breaking of the milk tooth. Broken or split teeth must be removed from the gums by any means.

In case of hypodentia:

Treatment should also be surgical and consist of incising the gums and periosteum to aid in teething. Before treatment, be sure to x-ray examination for correct diagnosis condition of the root of the molar.

All surgical procedures in oral cavity we recommend using sedation in combination with conduction or local anesthesia. Of course, the use of sedation is not useful procedure, but it is not so terrible with a competent anesthetic manual. Removal of teeth or incision of the periosteum without anesthesia is accompanied by severe pain and the creation of the strongest for the animal. stressful situation, which leads to much more negative processes in the animal's body than sedation itself.

Odontogenic formations are removed using special ultrasonic equipment or instruments designed for this purpose. Treatment of periodontitis consists primarily in the gradual elimination of all the causes leading to this disease and only complex, both local and general course medical procedures.

During the period of changing teeth, it is necessary to provide preventive measures that create the most favorable conditions for the formation of the dental system.

Do not give your puppy hard objects to chew on (no bones or sticks!);
- Do not play during the change of teeth in pulling cords, rags, etc.;
- It is not necessary to vaccinate a puppy during a rapid change of teeth (3-5 months), it is better to do it before or after the indicated age;
- If there is a need to remove milk teeth, do not be alarmed, for an experienced doctor it's simple enough, but for a dog painless procedure(usually performed under local anesthesia, or, in rare cases- under general anesthesia). If your dog is using natural diet", then fish oil (vitamins A and D) should be added to the diet, sea ​​buckthorn oil(vitamin A), thiamine chloride (vitamin B1) or brewer's yeast, vitamin B6, vitamin B3, fluoride preparations (sodium fluoride), sodium nucleinate, ascorbic acid. It is necessary to give these drugs in a complex, 2-3 (no more), at the same time. Instead, you can use vitamin and mineral complex feeding for puppies.
- If your puppy eats high-quality dry food that is appropriate for his age and size, on the contrary, you should not add any vitamin or mineral preparations, in order to avoid their overdose.
In most cases, when proper care for a dog, if there is no genetic predisposition, the process of changing milk teeth to permanent ones takes place quickly and without problems.

Materials used in preparing the article:

1. Frolov V.V., chief veterinarian of VP SOOO CRH - http://www.vetdoctor.info/
2. Abakshina O.V. - Do "milkmen" have no roots?!.... http://goldenfler.ucoz.ru/publ/12-1-0-14
3. From the website of the Stempfort kennel http://www.rustoy.com/index.html
4. Konstantinovsky A.A. http://www.doctor-m.ru/a_13.php

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Like all small breed dogs, often suffers from dental problems. Sometimes their loss begins already in the third year. Therefore, the owner must carefully monitor the condition of the pet's oral cavity. Especially important point is the change of teeth in a puppy.

If the dog is weak and often sick, the process may be delayed and go wrong. You need to follow from an early age for the animal, enrich the diet with vitamins and calcium, and also create protection against hypothermia. Read more about the correct content of that terrier.

Teeth change in toy terrier

At the time of birth, the puppies toy terrier completely toothless. They begin to appear in them only after two weeks.

After two months, in a properly developing pet, 28 milk teeth should be formed. Sometimes this number can be a little more or less, there is nothing to worry about. Over time, they will fall out anyway, and permanent ones will grow in their place.

When teeth change

Teeth of that terrier change for 4-6 months after birth. First of all, the incisors are replaced. Under their roots, permanent ones begin to form, they displace milk ones and they fall out.

After that, there is a change of edges and, last of all, fangs change.

Important! If the dog will participate in exhibitions, then by 8 months all milk teeth must be removed from it so that the permanent ones form with the correct bite.

For those pets that are not show dogs, the change can last up to a year.

If a one-year-old dog has milk teeth, they need to be delete urgently.

To do this, you should contact a specialized clinic, where the veterinarian will really assess their condition and remove them either under local anesthesia or under general anesthesia.

The first method is well suited for animals in which they are sufficiently loose. If they are still firmly seated, then anesthesia is applied, since sometimes, even after local anesthesia, some dogs feel pain, which leads them to severe stress and makes removal difficult.

How many teeth does that terrier have

An adult toy terrier has 42 teeth.: incisors, canines, molars (molars) and premolars (semi-molars).

In this case, the lower jaw contains 22, and the upper 20. Each of them has 6 incisors and 2 canines.

There are 4 molars and 8 premolars at the top, and 6 molars and 8 premolars at the bottom.

How to clean

To support in healthy condition dog mouth, needs to be cleaned every week her both dairy and permanent teeth. Before this, it is necessary to remove plaque and stone with hydrogen peroxide, if they have formed.

Thereafter special brush and toothpaste to brush your pet's teeth.

On a note! At first, brushing your teeth will be difficult. But, over time, the dog will get used to the procedure.

What to do if teeth fall out

That terrier loosening and falling out permanent teeth can start very early. Therefore, in order to prevent early age enrich the puppy's diet with solid foods: carrots, beets, apples and others. Good load chewing them will strengthen the jaw.

To the main causes of loss can be attributed:

• Plaque that, if not regularly removed, causes inflammation of the gums;
• Tartar destroying enamel;
• Gingivitis, a disease that begins with inflammation of the gums, and without proper treatment ends with their atrophy;
• Periodontitis, accompanied by bleeding and festering of the gums.

Important! If you find any of these reasons, you should immediately contact your veterinarian.

He will conduct an examination, if necessary, take an x-ray and prescribe the appropriate treatment.

In addition to oral hygiene and drug treatment gingivitis or periodontitis, small breed dogs often splinting, which eliminates wobbliness. With the help of this procedure, teeth are fixed and inflammatory processes stop.

If that terrier has problems with his teeth, then you need to urgently treat them. The fact is that problems with the oral cavity adversely affect general condition dog health, causing various diseases. Veterinarians argue that p dogs directly depends on the condition of her teeth.

The condition of the toy terrier's teeth is not only a factor that increases the chances of winning at shows, but also a sign that your dog is healthy.

The diminutiveness of the breed does not mean that the Toy has fewer teeth. They are the same as in the Caucasian - 42, 22 of which are in the lower, and 20 are located in the upper jaw. There are four types of teeth - incisors, canines, molars and premolars, or they are also called molars and pseudo-roots.

The teeth of the toy terrier should be under the close attention of the owner, especially during the growing up of the puppy. To have miniature pets, who take part in exhibitions and are simply favorites of the whole family, has formed, the owner must be directly involved in oral hygiene and the treatment of chewing organs.

Teeth change in toy terrier

The toothless mouth of the toy pleases with the first milk fangs in two weeks. Then comes the time of milk premolars and incisors. Moreover, they erupt in both the upper and lower jaws at once, six pieces each.

On average, by two months in the mouth of a toy terrier puppy, you can count 28 milk chewers. If they are a little less or a little more, this is not a reason to panic. Again, the 28th premolar is the average.
The age of the beginning of the change of milk premolars and incisors is individual for each dog separately, therefore it is impossible to say unequivocally when that terrier's milk teeth change.

In the period when the puppy is four to six months old, the process of resorption of the root of the milk chewing organ begins, which then falls out on its own, making room for a permanent one. The permanent premolar or incisor grows in the same canal where the milk one is formed. And it turns out that if the temporary chewing organ does not fall out in a timely manner, then the permanent one may not grow at all, or grow uneven.

The final shedding of all milk jugs should occur before the age of eight months.
It should be remembered that the body of a weak, unhealthy puppy is not able to cope with the resorption of the root of the temporary chewing organ and the full-fledged birth of the permanent root, so the change of teeth in that terrier may take place with a delay in time. The health of the pet during this period should be protected and replenished with the help of good nutrition and extra vitamins.

A loose primary premolar or incisor should be removed from the dog as soon as possible. The owner can do it on his own, gently shaking the tooth every day.

It is worth noting that when teeth change in toy terriers, the owner would do well to master the basics of dentistry. And if you are preparing a pet for exhibitions, then you cannot do without the services of a veterinary dentist.

Does that terrier need to have his teeth pulled?

Features of the breed of that terrier are predisposition to anomalies when changing chewing organs. This applies to all dwarfs decorative dogs weighing up to four kilograms. Already at the genetic level of these pets, there is no natural (independent) replacement of milk premolars and incisors with permanent ones, and also:

• dogs of dwarf breeds, which include the terrier, are owners of a narrow jaw, so the chewing muscles are poorly developed.
• the period of replacement of temporary by permanent chewing in a terrier falls on active development the jaw itself.
• the puppy's diet may be poor in calcium, or calcium is not sufficiently absorbed by the animal.
• like no other breed, the small teeth of that terrier are prone to malpositioning of the bud, since milkers and molars do not fit in the small jaw.

Owners of tiny dogs should be prepared for this problem, and consider the question of whether that terrier needs to pull out teeth as a necessity. Otherwise:

• a delay or disruption in the process of replacing milk jugs with roots can provoke a disease called polydentia. This is when in the mouth of that terrier the teeth exceed natural quantity due to the simultaneous location of temporary and permanent premolars and incisors.
• untimely fallen out or not torn out milk jugs are the cause of the development of dystopia - the wrong location of the indigenous and pseudo-roots.
• displaced fangs are of particular danger to a miniature dog, which will later become a source of injury hard palate, lips, cheeks and tongue. At the same time, ulcers form in the oral cavity of the pet, bleeding and causing pain.

if you notice that the root incisor, premolar or molar has grown to half the milk, then the temporary chewing organ should obviously be pulled out.

If you do not pull out the milk premolars and incisors, which did not fall out on their own and interfere with the growth of the molars, then it is guaranteed, with further development tartar or caries. Exhibitions, of course, are out of the question.

A veterinarian dentist removes the temporary chewing organs of a toy terrier under general anesthesia or using local anesthesia:

• local anesthesia does not cause as much harm to the health of the pet compared to general anesthesia, but the dog local anesthesia feels pain.
• general anesthesia is a more humane way, but a small terrier often takes a long time to get out of anesthesia.

That terrier's teeth are falling out

The problem of loose and falling molars is inherent in small breeds. It mostly happens between the ages of one and two. The dog should be immediately shown to the dentist-veterinarian so that he determines the reason for which the collapse bone. And the main reasons are as follows:

• plaque, which is initially soft, and then, hardening, turns into tartar and destroys the chewing organ.
• gingivitis is a disease of the oral cavity in which the gums become inflamed. Running gingivitis leads to atrophy of the gums, the formation of periodontal tubules and, accordingly, the unsteadiness of the teeth.
• periodontitis - the duration of inflammation of the gums is accompanied by their bleeding, pus, pain for the pet when chewing food, putrid smell from the mouth. The pet eats poorly, loses weight, becomes aggressive. Asymmetry of the muzzle may appear.

As soon as you notice that that terrier's teeth are falling out, hurry to the doctor. Only timely help and painstaking adherence to the recommendations of the dentist will stop further prolapse and loosening of the masticatory organs.

The task of the dog owner is the prevention of loosening and loss of teeth, which consists in:

• regular brushing of each tooth special pastes and dog brushes.
• the correct diet of the animal, which must include solid foods (apple, carrot, beetroot in fresh, crouton and a special crunch).

When asked how many teeth a dog has, not only a specialist should know the answer. An experienced veterinarian will be able to determine if there are deviations from the norm during examination. But it is not always possible to seek qualified advice. Therefore, each caring owner A four-legged pet should have information about the age at which puppies change their milk teeth. By observing this process, you can notice in time possible deviations off the mark and seek help.

dental formula

So how many teeth does a dog have? Are there differences from a person? Normal at adult dog should be 42 teeth (20 top and 22 bottom). Six incisors are located in front of the upper and lower jaws. They serve to bite off food and have their own names. A pair of hooks are located in the center. Behind them are the middle incisors and even further - the edges.

The molars are used for chewing food. On the upper jaw there are 6 of them on the right and left, on the lower jaw - 7 on both sides. Three pairs of top and four pairs of bottom chewing teeth located closer to the incisors change. They are called false-rooted and in the formula they are designated as premolars. Rest chewing teeth located on the edge (three pairs above and below), grow later than milk ones and do not change. They are called real indigenous and the formula is designated as molars.

Canines are located between the incisors and molars. There are only four of them: a pair of top and bottom. The purpose of these teeth is to tear off and grind hard food, to demonstrate it to intimidate the enemy, and to use it for defense and attack. When biting, it is the traces of the fangs that are most noticeable on the body, since these teeth are longer than the others. In total, it turns out that only 42 teeth should be located in the dog's mouth: 12 incisors, 4 canines, 26 molars.

Breed influence

When asking how many teeth a dachshund dog has, the answer you will get is the same as for any other breed. According to experts, the number of teeth is the same in all species. However, there is an opinion that decorative breeds may not have their complete set.

Then how many teeth do you have? chihuahua dogs? Normally, they should still be 42. But there may be a lack of two small molars in the lower jaw. Such conventions are associated with the admission of animals to exhibitions and competitions. For the dog itself, their absence is imperceptible and does not affect nutrition.

Consider another decorative rock and answer in relation to it the question "how many teeth does a dog have?". A toy terrier may have "extra" teeth. So, examining the mouth of a dog of this breed, one can observe additional rows of incisors or premolars. It is necessary to distinguish a milk set that has not yet fallen out from permanent extra teeth. This should be judged by the age of the dog. As a rule, in 7 - 8 months, the teeth should completely change. Deviation from the norm gives reason to seek the advice of a specialist.

Change of teeth

A born dog puppy has no teeth. They begin to grow from the age of three weeks, and erupt only in the second month of life. Representative deadlines different breeds may differ. Young puppies get on initial stage development of milk teeth, which after six months are replaced by permanent ones. This applies to incisors, canines and premolars. The molars, or true molars, grow in later and remain for the rest of their lives. Therefore, when answering the question of how many teeth a dog has, this feature should be taken into account.

New teeth grow in place of old milk teeth. For eruption, they use existing channels. It is believed that the root of a replaced tooth softens when it is “supported” from below by the top of a new one. For puppies, this process, if everything goes well, does not cause inconvenience. They lose or swallow their teeth. The prolapse can happen while eating or playing. A small bleeding wound may remain in place of a fallen tooth for some time. A new permanent tooth should appear within two weeks.

Peculiarities

How many teeth does a dog that has changed all its teeth have? If in the eighth month of life the pet has an incomplete set (less than 42 pieces), you need to contact a specialist. You should also pay attention to extra teeth in terriers, especially if they are not going to fall out. If you leave them, malocclusion may soon develop.

You can try to remove a loose milk tooth in a pet yourself at home. If it is not possible to do this by hand, use tweezers or other suitable tool. Puppies need to be prepared for this. To do this, experienced dog breeders from their youth teach their pet to show their mouths for inspection.

Tightly spaced "extra" teeth tend to increase plaque deposition. This can lead to gum problems. Tartar, just like in humans, is deposited on the enamel. Its excessive growths damage the gums and contribute to the development of even more complex pathologies. Malocclusion or extra teeth are not only harmful to health, but can also be the reason for disqualification of the dog at shows or competitions.

Problems

For the purity of the breed, it is important not only to preserve external signs. When admitting to breeding, experts also pay attention to how many teeth a dog has. A change in their number, not associated with a natural replacement, can also be caused by genetic factors.

Incomplete teeth (oligodontia) in dogs are usually manifested by missing first or second incisors. This feature is found in shepherd dogs. Dachshunds may be missing a pair of last molars.

An extra set (polydonty) appears in small breeds of terriers, dachshunds and spaniels. It may be false due to the remaining milk incisors and premolars, or real. In this case, usually one, less often two teeth are superfluous. Such pathologies occur when different breeds of dogs are crossed and are manifested by genetic mutations.

Dental care

If you do not take care of the teeth of a four-legged pet, it may have problems. Seriously affects the health of the presence of tartar. The reason for its appearance may be the lack of hard food in the diet (not bones, but carrots, apples, crackers). These products, when consumed, contribute to the natural removal of deposits during chewing.

Some owners consider such food unacceptable for a dog. In this case, regular supervision by a veterinarian is necessary. You can also remove tartar on your own at home after a little practice. For this, a special hook is used. They scrape off deposits after secure fixation dog muzzle.

You can teach your pet from an early age to regular (once a week) brushing his teeth. To do this, it is convenient to use a soft children's brush, worn on the fingers. You can also use baby paste, but it is better to purchase a special one at the pet store. How many teeth a dog will have in the process of life depends to some extent on its owner.

The change of teeth in a toy terrier begins at about six months of age. By a year or a little earlier, this process should be completely completed. The loss of milk teeth is not the most pleasant period in the life of any mammal, be it a dog or a person. If the owner needs information related to the change of the pet's teeth, we are ready to provide it in full.

When should a toy terrier's milk teeth be removed?

If you plan to exhibit your dog at shows in the future, then get ready for the fact that you will have to learn the basics of dentistry. By eight months, the dog should not have milk teeth left. In the process of changing them, you must help the animal, gradually rocking them. If the milk teeth of the toy terrier do not fall out by the required time, then you will have to take the baby to the doctor, who will pull out the rest under anesthesia. Otherwise, the probability that they will grow incorrectly is very high, and the dog will receive a defect that will lead to her being disqualified for life from participating in exhibitions and crossing with thoroughbred females.

If you do not plan to breed puppies, then whether the teeth of the toy terrier fall out on time or not, does not special significance. You can postpone the forced removal and wait until the dog is 12 months old. By this time, a complete change of teeth occurs in 90% of toy terriers. If, even after reaching a year, some of the dog's milk teeth remain in place, then they will have to be removed so that the defect does not lead to difficulties in chewing food.

The process of removing milk teeth from a toy terrier

Veterinarians usually offer two options for removal: under general anesthesia and under local anesthesia. Each of them has a number of disadvantages. The first: long process exit from anesthesia; possibility lethal outcome or development serious illnesses. Cons of local anesthesia: even with anesthesia, the toy terrier may feel pain during the operation. It depends on the structural features of the teeth, the length of their roots.

The doctor should decide in what way it is better to remove milk teeth from a toy terrier, having previously analyzed the dog's health status. Most veterinarians prefer general anesthesia, as it is considered convenient and humane.

Bite and teeth of a toy terrier after a shift

The owner must control the growth of permanent teeth. An adult dog should have a scissor bite. The upper incisors should slightly overlap the lower ones. Incorrect bite leads to the inevitable disqualification of the animal from exhibitions and competitions. Here are its main features:

overshot - the lower jaw protrudes forward, being longer than the upper;

undershot - forward protrusion of the upper jaw;

pincer bite - when the surfaces of the upper and lower front teeth touch;

tilt of the incisors - when the front teeth do not grow vertically, but at an angle.

In the process of changing teeth in a toy terrier, the bite can change, because at this time the puppy’s jaw is still developing and the teeth that have not had time to firmly fall into place can easily change position.

Teeth of a toy terrier - compliance with the standard

According to the breed standard, a dog must have all teeth. There are 42 of them (incisors, canines, molars and pseudo-roots). If your dog is missing teeth, don't panic. Of course, judges and experts assess this as a disadvantage. But, fortunately, it is not a disqualification defect.

Since the dog does not have the opportunity to independently take care of oral hygiene and teeth, this task falls on the shoulders of the owner. A responsible approach to the health of the toy terrier will not only significantly improve the quality of his life, but also extend its life.