🦷 Vet Guide 2025: Retained Baby Teeth in Dogs and Cats Need Prompt Extraction 🐶🐱

Baby teeth are meant to fall out naturally, making way for a healthy set of adult teeth. But sometimes, they don’t. These retained deciduous teeth (also known as persistent baby teeth) can cause serious dental issues if not extracted early. As a veterinarian, I’ve seen how timely intervention can prevent long-term pain and misalignment for pets. In this guide, I’ll explain why extraction matters, what signs to watch for, and how to protect your pet’s smile. 🐾

🦷 What Are Retained Deciduous Teeth?

Deciduous teeth are your pet’s “baby teeth”—temporary teeth that appear in early puppyhood or kittenhood. These should naturally fall out as the permanent teeth come in.

When the roots of these baby teeth don’t resorb properly, the teeth don’t fall out. Instead, they remain in the mouth, leading to:

• 🦷 Overcrowding
• 🍽️ Trapped food between double rows of teeth
• 🦠 Increased plaque and tartar buildup
• 🦴 Improper jaw and socket development
• 😣 Pain and dental disease

The golden rule in dentistry: Two teeth should never try to occupy the same space! 🦷❌🦷

⚠️ Why Prompt Extraction Is So Important

If not removed, retained teeth can permanently affect how the adult teeth erupt and settle in the mouth. This can lead to:

• 🔄 Misalignment (malocclusion)
• 🩸 Damage to soft tissues like the palate or tongue
• 🦷 Painful contact between teeth and gum structures
• 🪥 Difficulties in maintaining oral hygiene

Early extraction gives the erupting adult tooth the space it needs to settle into proper alignment—avoiding the need for orthodontic correction later. 📅🐾

📆 Tooth Eruption Timeline: Dogs vs. Cats

🐶 Dogs

• 2–4 weeks: No visible teeth
• 3–4 weeks: Deciduous canines erupt
• 4–6 weeks: Deciduous incisors and premolars appear
• 8 weeks: All baby teeth in
• 3.5–4 months: No visible permanent tooth growth
• 4–5 months: Permanent incisors and molars begin to erupt
• 5–7 months: Permanent canines and premolars erupt
• By 8 months: Full adult dentition complete

🐱 Cats

• 2–4 weeks: Deciduous incisors erupt
• 3–4 weeks: Deciduous canines come in
• 4–6 weeks: Premolars erupt (on the mandible)
• 8 weeks: Full set of baby teeth in
• 3.5–4 months: Permanent incisors erupt
• 4–5 months: Permanent canines, premolars, and molars appear
• 5–7 months: All adult teeth in place

If a baby tooth hasn’t fallen out by the time its adult counterpart erupts, it’s time for a vet visit. 🕒

👨‍⚕️ The Surgical Extraction Process

Retained baby teeth are not like loose puppy teeth—they need to be professionally extracted under anesthesia. The roots can be long and curved, requiring careful removal to prevent damage to surrounding tissues.

Benefits of surgical extraction:

• ✅ Clears room for adult tooth alignment
• 🦷 Reduces risk of periodontal disease
• 💡 Prevents orthodontic complications later

Extractions are safest when performed by a vet with dental training. At Ask A Vet, we offer consultations and referrals to dental professionals. 🦷📲

🔍 Signs Your Pet Has Retained Baby Teeth

Keep an eye out for:

• 🦷 Double rows of teeth (especially canines)
• 👃 Bad breath
• 🍽️ Trouble chewing
• 🩸 Bleeding or swollen gums
• 😿 Discomfort when eating or being touched near the mouth

These signs often show up around 4–6 months of age when the adult teeth begin to erupt. A quick dental check can confirm the issue. 📋

📈 What Happens If You Wait?

If retained baby teeth aren't removed early, the permanent tooth may:

• 🦴 Erupt into an abnormal position
• 😣 Cause trauma to the palate or tongue
• 🔄 Require orthodontics to reposition later
• 🦠 Lead to early periodontal disease

Remember: It's much easier—and less expensive—to guide a tooth into place during eruption than to reposition it after it has settled. 💡

🏠 Aftercare and Monitoring

After extraction, pets usually bounce back quickly. Follow your vet's care instructions, which may include:

• 🍲 Soft food for a few days
• 🛑 No hard toys or chews during healing
• 🧼 Daily dental hygiene to prevent further issues

Monitor the area for any swelling, bleeding, or signs of discomfort—and don't forget your pet’s next dental check-up! 🩺🐾

📲 Final Thoughts from Dr Duncan Houston

Retained baby teeth are common—but potentially harmful—dental issues. Don’t wait for problems to worsen. If you notice any lingering baby teeth in your pup or kitten’s mouth after 5–6 months of age, see your vet right away. 🐶🐱

Timely extraction can prevent malocclusion, pain, and long-term dental trouble. And that means your pet can grow up to smile, chew, and play in total comfort! 🦷🎉

Need help? Schedule a virtual consult at AskAVet.com or download the Ask A Vet app for expert advice and referrals to veterinary dental professionals near you. 📱🐾