Baby teeth

[tinav]

Does anyone know how many baby teeth a Yorkie has. My dog is 8yrs old and I can remember the canine teeth falling out as baby teeth but none others. I am guessing they are not like our teeth that all get replaced in childhood.

Crazy thing just happened......one of his front teeth right next to his canine teeth fell out. He was just at the vet in early March for something unrelated but the vet checked eyes, ears, teeth etc. and even commented on how surprisingly great his teeth are for a Yorkie (small dog). Then one day about a month ago I was cleaning around their bed in the kitchen (where they stay when I have to go out to work) and found what looked like a tooth. I freaked out cause I thought it was from my Yorkie GiGi who had to have a molar pulled about 2years ago (I automatically thought she had an unforseen prob cause the vet recently checked her teeth and also commented on how great and healthy her teeth ans gums were...diff vet same clinic). I used to save these things when they were pups but after I checked both of them and didn't see any missing teeth ( focused on the fangs cause the tooth looked very long) I threw it out assuming it was something that got dragged in on the bottom of a shoe or something. Well last week as I was brushing Pucci's teeth (I try to keep up daily or at least every other day) I noticed what looked like a space next to the upper fang....there was no redness (ever) I never noticed a loose tooth..he sleeps in my bed there was no bleeding...it was never loose...I brush almost daily and there were no signs of discomfort (when GiGi had to have her molar pulled her tooth was loose and therefore painful to the touch..any touch). I am just totally confused...there no signs of gum problems...and his gum in the area looks healthy and it not as if the tooth chipped or broke...it just fell out and I don't think it happened when I was at home and I don't leave anything for them to eat when I am not at home. This is all crazy to me. I am wondeing if it might be a baby tooth that just never fell out.

Has anyone had this same thing happen....a tooth that was never loose just fell out???

Tina

[Itspuppyluv]

I would be concerned.
Dogs are like us...they lose baby teeth and get permanent teeth young (for them it's around 4 to 6 months, give or take). Small breeds often retain puppy teeth that need to be pulled but the adult teeth come in along with them.
So if it's a puppy tooth, where's the adult tooth?
I know humans can have just baby teeth without an adult tooth to replace them and can retain them for a long time but I don't know about dogs.

You should speak with your vet. He shouldn't be losing healthy teeth at this age.

Also, I think dogs have 28 puppy teeth and 42 adult. It wouldn't be strange for you not to have noticed him losing puppy teeth. They are tiny and a lot of the time they swallow them.

[tinav]

I really didn't see him or my other dog loose a lot of puppy but as you say they may have lost them where I didn't find them or swallowed them. I swallowed my cap last month and I was being careful. I can't get him to a vet for a couple of weeks cause I broke my arm and my doctor won't let me drive yet . He doesn't look as if there is any gum problem so I will wait till I can drive to schedule with his vet.

Another thing....GiGi's second set of teeth are larger that the front teeth that Pucci has. Maybe a tooth is growing in behind the gum and I can't see it. I am going to try a magnifying glass as soon as he is a wake.

Tina