When Do Chihuahuas Lose Their Baby Teeth?
Losing your baby teeth is such a big event when you’re growing up, it’s natural to wonder if chihuahuas go through the same process.
It turns out that they do!
We understand that this teething period can be a very stressful time for both you and your chi alike.
This blog post will help you understand when your chihuahua’s baby teeth start to fall and how you can help during this puppy teething period so that it causes as little discomfort for your chi as possible!
When Do Chihuahuas Lose Their Baby Teeth?
Just like humans, it is absolutely normal for your chihuahua puppy to lose its baby teeth in order to make room for bigger adult teeth as your pup’s skull grows larger.
Milk teeth are typically more pointed and sharp, which is why they are sometimes referred to as needle teeth.
Generally, chihuahuas may start to lose their baby teeth as early as when they are three months (12 weeks) old.
Whilst not all chihuahuas are the same, most will lose at least one of their baby teeth by the time they are four months old.
During this period, do not panic if you randomly find these little cute teeth on the floor, on your chi’s bed or even on their toys.
This is very normal and to be expected.
What Are The Signs Of Chihuahuas Losing Their Baby Teeth?
When your chihuahua starts to lose its teeth, you might notice some mild red staining on your dog’s chew toy.
If this happens, there is nothing to worry about.
This usually occurs before their teeth actually start loosening themselves and eventually falling from their sockets with relatively little pain or effort.
It is always advisable to give your chihuahua some teething toys especially if they are losing their baby teeth. This will help reduce any sort of discomfort and pain that may be associated with it. Plus, these toys will provide hours of chewing fun for your little pup!
You can give them MewaJump Dog Chew Toy to soothe and provide teething relief.
Should I Pull My Chihuahua’s Loose Baby Tooth?
When your chihuahua starts to loose its baby teeth, you may be wondering whether or not to pull them out, especially if you see a loose tooth hanging in its mouth.
Tempting as it may be, it is best to allow your chi’s loose baby teeth to fall out on their own.
You shouldn’t try removing a loose tooth from your chi’s mouth as there is the risk of breaking the roots and potentially causing an infection.
When Will Chihuahuas Lose All Their Baby Teeth?
It is normal for your chihuahua’s deciduous tooth to fall out without any notice and in return, their permanent tooth will start to grow by itself.
Chihuahua dogs have 28 baby teeth that will be replaced by 42 permanent adult teeth.
In most cases, your chi’s baby teeth will start to fall from 3 months of age. Now by 6 – 8 months, all permanent teeth have erupted, and all deciduous teeth have fallen out.
When your chihuahua puppy’s teeth fall out and their adult teeth grow in, it usually happens like this::
- Age 4 – 5 Months-the incisors start growing in
- Age 5 – 7 months-the canine teeth start growing in
- Age 6 – 8 months-the molars start growing in
What Happens If An Adult Tooth Comes In Before Your Puppy’s Teeth Falls Out?
Normally, your chihuahua puppy’s deciduous tooth will fall out before its adult tooth starts to erupt and grow.
However, in some cases, you may find that your puppy’s adult permanent tooth has poked through before the deciduous tooth falls out!
If your puppy’s adult tooth has come through too early, you will need to visit a vet to take care of it as soon as possible.
If not, there is a good chance that pushing against the deciduous tooth could cause damage to your chihuahua’s mouth and jaw muscles.
One way to know is to observe if your chihuahua puppy has developed a double row of teeth. Your chihuahua puppy could experience difficulty in eating and chewing if this is not taken care of quickly!
At 3 – 6 months old, your chihuahua’s jaws are still small. The overcrowding brought by the premature eruption of adult teeth can cause the rest of your chihuahua’s teeth to be crooked, or even displaced.
When Do Chihuahua Get Baby Teeth?
Puppies usually start teething at around 3 weeks. Then, by approximately 8 weeks, all of their deciduous teeth will have erupted.
The incisors (at the front) and the canine teeth which are often called “fangs” come first followed by the premolars.
Chihuahua dogs do not have any baby molars.
When Do Chihuahuas Stop Teething?
Chihuahuas typically stop teething when their set of 42 permanent adult teeth have erupted, which is around the time they are 6 – 8 months old.
To help you know when your Chihuahua pup has stopped teething, you can ask these questions:
- Is your chi still drooling excessively for no reason?
- Is your chi chewing at everything in sight?
- Does your chi lose interest in food and water sources?
- Does your chi seem more restless especially at night?
If yes to any of those four questions, then your pup is still teething and you should continue to monitor the situation.
If no to all four questions, then congratulations!
Your pup has stopped teething and most probably have developed a full set of 42 permanent adult teeth.
How Long Do Chihuahuas Teethe For?
Small dogs like chihuahuas typically teethe for anywhere between five and eight months, but this is an average figure.
Chihuahua puppies start teething when their first milk tooth starts to erupt which is at the 2 – 3 weeks old period.
This teething process continues until the last milk tooth has been lost and replaced with an adult one – around 6 – 8 months of age.
How To Help Your Teething Chihuahua Puppy
Some chihuahua owners may be worried about when do chihuahuas lose their baby teeth and how to help.
The best way to care for your Chihuahua is by providing plenty of chew toys, treats with soft textures that are easy on the mouth like peanut butter or yogurt. Give them a few hard ones to chew on to help relieve their discomfort.
It’s also important to watch what your pup is chewing on. Do not provide them with something they could swallow or choke on.
Hard Chew Toys:
Your chihuahua should be provided hard chew toys that are specific for teething puppies. One is durable nylon bones. It offers relief from the pain by helping to release their gum pressure while reducing irritation in the gum area.
You can also provide hard chews like nylabones or kongs that they can use as a tool for relieving the pain in their mouth while cleaning teeth at the same time.
Nylabone Power Chew is a durable hard rubber teething toy that’s great for your Chi!
Soft Textured Treats:
Provide your chihuahua with treats that have soft textures and flavors they enjoy. It could be peanut butter, yogurt, cooked carrots, or even figs.
Our dogs love to nibble on cheese and bananas during their teething phase to soothe their gums!
You can also have them try Three Dog Bakery Assort Mutt Trio to give them a cheerful mood.
Also Read: Best Dental Chews for Chihuahuas
Can Chihuahua Puppies Swallow Their Milk Teeth?
You may be wondering if Chihuahuas can swallow their milk teeth while they are teething.
It is possible for your Chihuahua to swallow its milk teeth. But don’t worry though! Their baby teeth are very small and should pass through the digestive system with no harm whatsoever!
In fact, you might even find little teeth in their stools!
The most likely place to see your puppy’s teeth will be on the floor or your home, and possibly stuck on next to their teething toys.
Most of the time, your chihuahua puppy will spit out the loose tooth instead of swallowing them. Hence, it is more likely to find them on your floor or on their teething toys!
FAQs On When Do Chihuahuas Lose Their Baby Teeth
1) Is It Normal For My Puppy To Lose Multiple Teeth In One Day?
Like human, puppies can lose their baby teeth at any time and it is normal for your dog to lose multiple teeth at the same time.
Every puppy loses their tooth differently. Some may take days to lose one tooth, others may lose multiple teeth in one day.
It is not possible to tell how many teeth your puppy will lose at any given time. However, it’s often a lot more than you would expect!
2) How Often Should I Clean My Chihuahua’s Teeth?
On average, you should brush your chihuahua teeth at least 2 times/week. Use a toothbrush and toothpaste specifically formulated for pets.
Make sure that you brush along the gum tissue as well. This area holds bacteria which can eventually destroy the bone nearby and cause a painful infection called periodontal disease (also known as gum disease)
With regular teeth brushing, you can also help to reduce your chi’s bad breath, prevent tooth decay and any other dental disease.
3) Why Are My Puppies Teeth Not Falling Out?
Sometimes there is a delay for your puppies’ baby teeth to fall out. Eventually, they will erupt and fall out, making space for adult permanent teeth.
However, there are also cases where your puppies have retained baby teeth (i.e. baby teeth that don’t fall out on their own) and one of the common reason is due to an absence of adult teeth to replace them.
If you notice that your puppies’ baby teeth have not fallen out and suffer from retained baby tooth, it’s important to consult a vet to find the cause of this delay.
The vet will check for any signs of infection or other complications if any.
Conclusion
To answer the question, when do chihuahuas lose their baby teeth, they most often lose them from the age of three months (12 weeks) old.
All of their baby teeth should have fallen by 6 – 8 months old.
During this period, your chihuahua is teething and may feel the need to chew on some hard toys like rawhide chews or a Nylabone.
Remember, provide plenty of chew toys for your pup to enjoy. Moreover, keep an eye on them for any signs of over-chewing or unusual chewing habits.
Finally, it is important to remember that all dogs are different so your chihuahua may lose their baby teeth at a different time than others in this article.
