How to Determine Your Dog's Age By Its Teeth

Knowing your dog's age helps to ensure correct care, nutrition, and health choices. Adoption papers and vet guesses are useful, but one of the best physical clues of age is your dog's teeth. Discover how to read a dog's age by teeth can provide astonishing insight into your pup's life stage.

Similar to people, dogs have distinct dental stages in their development. Puppies enter this world toothless, develop temporary baby teeth, and finally mature with permanent adult teeth. The health, wear, and evidence of tartar can also assist in estimating the age of an adult dog. By closely looking inside your dog's mouth, you can usually gauge age within a few months or a couple of years, depending upon life stage.

If you've just adopted a puppy, it's good to know the development timeline of puppy teeth. Puppy age by teeth photos will assist you in correlating what you observe in your puppy's mouth with a general age.

• 2 to 4 weeks: Incisors of babies start to erupt.
• 3 to 5 weeks: Canines erupt.
• 5 to 6 weeks: Premolars begin to erupt.
• 6 to 8 weeks: A set of 28 baby teeth is complete.
• 3 to 4 months: Baby teeth start to fall out.
• 6 to 7 months: All 42 adult teeth must be in.

If your puppy has baby teeth or is missing some of the adult teeth, you can determine their age with surprising accuracy by using a dog teeth age chart or a tooth chart dog age by teeth pictures online.


After your dog has all of their adult teeth, guessing age is more a matter of looking at tooth wear, tartar, and gum health.

• 1 to 2 years: Teeth are typically white and unencumbered by tartar, with minimal wear.
• 3 to 5 years: Tartar begins to accumulate on molars; some wear is evident.
• 5 to 7 years: Noticeable tartar and wear; potential gum recession.
• 7+ years: Worn down teeth, heavy tartar, possible tooth loss or disease.

These are general observations. Dogs who chew frequently or get regular dental cleanings might have nicer teeth than would be expected for their age. Nevertheless, how to tell the age of a dog by its teeth is still a handy reference when precise records are not present.

To aid dog owners, numerous vets and pet care websites provide downloadable charts such as a dog teeth age chart or a tooth chart for dog age by teeth pictures. These visual aids are comprised of real pictures or drawings of the teeth of dogs at different life stages. Relating how to tell the age of a dog by teeth pictures can prove particularly useful if you're attempting to determine the age of a stray, rescue, or newly acquired dog.

For the best results, compare your dog's teeth with several images and have your vet verify. A professional will also evaluate other ageing signs, such as eye clarity, condition of the coat, and flexibility of the joints.

• Examine the teeth under a soft light or flashlight.
• Lift your dog's lips gently to see the front and back teeth.
• Search for indications such as plaque, missing teeth, or red gums.
• If your dog is not relaxed, do not force the mouth open and consult a vet or groomer.

Knowing how to calculate your dog's age from its teeth provides you with a valuable skill for managing your dog's health and care. Whether you've got a young pup at home or an older rescue in your care, referencing a dog teeth age chart or using puppy age by teeth pictures helps you comprehend their life stage better. In case of doubt, visit a vet and have with you a tooth chart dog's age by teeth pictures for comparison. It's a tiny step that can have a huge impact on your dog's life.

1. How to tell the age of a dog by teeth?You can estimate a dog’s age by examining the growth, wear, and tartar buildup on its teeth. Puppies have baby teeth that fall out by 6 months, while adult dogs show increasing signs of wear and staining as they age.
2. Where can I find a dog teeth age chart or tooth chart with pictures?You can find a dog teeth age chart or a tooth chart dog age by teeth pictures through veterinary websites, pet care blogs, or downloadable guides. These charts visually match tooth development and condition to estimated age.
3. How accurate are puppy age estimates using teeth pictures?Puppy age by teeth pictures can be very accurate up to about 6 months of age, when dogs go through predictable dental milestones. After that, estimates are less exact but still helpful when paired with overall tooth condition.

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