Do English Bulldog Puppies Lose Their Teeth?

Dogs. Such a loving, beautiful, majestic animal. It’s no wonder over 90 million people in the United States own dogs as pets. They are friendly, trainable for various purposes, they keep us company when no one else is around, and they are more than excited to see us when we come back home. Out of the over 340 breeds of dogs, the American Kennel Club acknowledges 192 of them. One of those breeds is the English Bulldog.

Do English Bulldog puppies lose their teeth? Yes, absolutely. Like all dogs, English Bulldog puppies will lose their baby teeth faster than they grow in. After five to six weeks, the baby teeth will be present. Only one month later do those same baby teeth fall out and allow for their adult teeth to start growing in.

Like humans, teething can be a painful process for a dog as well. The most common sign that a puppy has begun teething is they will start chewing on whatever they can find. So, mind your shoes and socks, or your young pup may find a reason to give them a good gnawing while their teeth come in.

The Stages of Teething for Any Dog

Essentially all breeds of dogs have a similar teething process. The baby teeth are called “milk teeth,” and there are 28 of them in each dog’s mouth. This is a great time to teach your puppy about which items are appropriate to chew on and which are not. As the teeth make their way through a puppy’s gums, they will have that propensity to chew on anything to relieve the pain. So, special toys for teething puppies are essential during this phase of their lives.

The “Milk Teeth”: These are the equivalent of a puppy’s baby teeth. As mentioned earlier, each puppy has 28 “milk teeth,” the reason for the name being that they don’t begin to grow in until a puppy is getting weened off milk.
Losing the Baby Teeth: A pup will lose his or her first set of teeth pretty quickly. When they are only three months old, a puppy will lose its first set of teeth. That’s only a month after the baby teeth come through in the first place.
Four Month Molars: A puppy won’t have its molars until after the majority or all of the baby teeth have fallen out. Around the fourth month mark, a dog’s molars will begin to grow in. It’s a good idea to have a vet visit around this time just to check how many of the baby teeth are left to fall out.
Six Month Checkup: A dog should have all of their adult teeth by around the half-year mark, but it’s still a wise choice to bring your pup to see their veterinarian to make sure. It’s also a good precautionary measure because dogs’ teeth can grow in crooked. There are ways to correct this as long as your puppy gets their six-month checkup. A dog with crooked teeth can have a tough time eating as they get older, so any issues can be corrected if discovered early.
Adult Teeth: When a puppy has finally lost all of his or her baby teeth and all of their adult teeth have grown in, they will have forty-two total teeth. After eight months at most, a puppy will have all of its adult teeth.

If the opportunity to work with your pup was used during teething time, so they know what is okay to chew on, they should have no problem staying away from your stuff. After all the adult teeth come in, the painful part is over for your pooch and they can live an enjoy their life as your happy, healthy pal.

To learn more about the teething stages, click here.

Caring for your English Bulldog During Teething Time

Like most puppies, English Bulldogs have the tendency to chew on anything in sight when the teething becomes painful. There are some great, effective ways to help keep your puppy occupied when they’re teething and will help to soothe the pain they are feeling in their mouths while the teeth grow in.

One thing you’ll need to know is what kind of puppy food to buy for them, and we have put together a list of 6 great options for English bulldog puppy food.

A bad behavior a young Bulldog can adopt is nipping or biting behavior. A puppy doesn’t know better when it comes to what’s okay to chew on. It may not hurt a person’s fingers when they nibble young. But when they get older, they will continue engaging in this behavior, and it won’t feel so great to those fingers. So, teach your puppy as young as possible not to bite at any toes or fingers.

Another effective treatment to help your puppy deal with their pain is ice cubes. Bulldog puppies love ice cubes, and it will also give them something to occupy themselves with while having to endure the pressure in their gums.

When you’re not home to be with your pup, it’s typically a good idea to crate them. Now some people may not agree that crating is a good idea, but historically dogs are cave animals. A crate serves a similar purpose to the caves that dogs would make their homes in. Your dog will appreciate the crate over time if it takes them a little getting used to in the beginning. To help give them something productive that helps with the teething, a Kong with peanut butter or cheese in the center will keep your pup occupied.

Four Bulldog Teeth Problems

English Bulldogs may also have some dental problems that can be common in their breed. It’s essential to a dog’s health to pay special care to their mouths to make sure they aren’t having any issues and that they have healthy teeth. With regular care, these issues can be avoided so your dog can keep that smile healthy.

Gingivitis: This is an issue that is caused by improper dental care. The bacteria builds up between the teeth and gums, which will eventually cause the teeth to pull away. This is especially common in bulldogs due to their teeth crowding. This can be painful, so regular cleaning and any treatments are a must to help keep your bulldog’s mouth healthy.
Dental & Periodontal Disease: Unfortunately, this disease can be common in English Bulldogs. Similar to the causes of gingivitis, dental, and periodontal disease is also caused by bacteria in the mouth. Those yearly dental checkups are important because this particular diagnosis can cause your doggo to end up losing teeth. Always be sure to be on top of regular dental cleaning and upkeep for your pup so their mouths will stay in good shape.
Loose or Misaligned Teeth: As a puppy, this is completely normal for dogs. Those baby teeth are destined to come out anyway. But as an adult, this can pose a serious problem, and English Bulldogs are not exempt from this possibility. Like humans, dogs can actually have braces affixed to their teeth to fix ones that may be misaligned. If your adult dog is having problems with chewing or any of the adult teeth are loose, it’s imperative to visit their veterinarian to adhere to a solution. Sometimes capping or even removing the teeth having issues can be the solution for your dog.
Dental Trauma: This one can be semi-common in English Bulldogs as well. They have quite the playful, inquisitive nature, so it’s completely natural for them to want to get into new things and chew on stuff whenever they get the chance. If they get a hold of something that is super hard to chew on, it can cause trauma to their teeth. This can then push the teeth out of place and misalign them, or cause them to be loose. Always make sure your pup has flexible toys to chew on that won’t damage their teeth.

For more on dental issues related to English Bulldogs, click here.

Keeping Things from Getting “Ruff”

Everyone wants their fur baby to live a long, happy, healthy life. It is totally acceptable to want everything to be the best for your dog, and we want that for your dog too! Sometimes the best plan of action is the preventative actions that can be taken to avoid any issues that can potentially befall your puppy. Especially when they grow into a beautiful adult canine, you can be proud to have by your side. Dental care falls right along side with everything else that goes into your dog’s health, so keep up with those regular vet visits. Your pooch will thank you for it by giving you all the love in the world.

Sources

“Five Teething Stages for Dogs”

https://www.particularpaws.com/pages/five-teething-stages-for-dogs

“English Bulldog Puppy Teething Information”

Erin Maurer

https://www.cuteness.com/article/english-bulldog-puppy-teething-information

“Number of Dogs in the United States from 2000-2007”

Emma Bedford, Nov. 27, 2019

https://www.statista.com/statistics/198100/dogs-in-the-united-states-since-2000/

“Four English Bulldog Teeth Problems”

Lina, June 22^nd, 2019