At what age do puppies start losing teeth?

Baby teeth typically start to loosen and fall out from around three months old, with the full switch to adult teeth usually complete by six to seven months. Some individual variation is normal, particularly in smaller breeds.

What is a retained baby tooth?

It is a baby tooth that has not fallen out even though the adult tooth has already started coming through next to it. This is worth mentioning to your vet, since a retained tooth can be extracted if needed and left untreated can affect how the adult teeth align.

Should I pull out my puppy's loose tooth?

No, leave it to come out on its own or ask your vet if you are concerned. A tooth loose enough to be ready to fall out usually does so during normal chewing and play without any help needed.

Is it normal for a puppy's gums to bleed a little during teething?

A small amount of blood-tinged saliva or a spot of blood where a tooth has just come out is common and not usually a concern. Ongoing or heavier bleeding, or gums that look inflamed rather than just slightly pink, is worth having checked.

My puppy has a loose tooth — is that normal?

Yes, a loose tooth in a puppy roughly three to seven months old is almost always ordinary teething, as baby teeth fall out to make way for adult ones. It becomes worth a vet visit if a tooth is very loose or bleeding, if adult teeth are already coming through alongside a baby tooth that has not moved, or if this is happening in a puppy well outside that age range.

Usually not urgent

This is common and often manageable at home — but see a vet if it persists, gets worse, or comes with other changes.

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The normal teething timeline

Puppies are born without teeth, get their full set of baby teeth by around six to eight weeks, and then begin losing them from roughly three months old as the adult teeth push through underneath. This process generally finishes by around six to seven months, though it can run slightly later in some individuals and breeds.

During this window it is completely normal to find loose or missing baby teeth around the house, on bedding, or occasionally to notice one fall out while your puppy is chewing or playing. Some mild gum discomfort, drooling or a preference for softer food during heavy teething is also within the range of normal.

What to check

A wobbly tooth on its own, in a puppy of teething age, needs no action beyond keeping an eye on it. Gently check that the gum around it does not look inflamed or bleeding beyond what you would expect from a tooth working loose naturally.

Look at the rest of the mouth if you can do so without upsetting your puppy — an adult tooth erupting directly behind or alongside a baby tooth that has not yet fallen out, sometimes called a retained baby tooth, is worth a specific mention to your vet, since it can affect how the adult teeth line up if left.

When it is worth a vet visit

See a vet if a tooth is bleeding more than a small amount, if your puppy seems to be in real pain rather than mild discomfort, if they stop eating or eat noticeably less, or if you find a retained baby tooth still present once you can see the adult tooth has already come through next to it.

Also get it checked if teething behaviour — loose teeth, drooling, mouthing everything in sight — is happening well outside the typical three-to-seven-month window, or if a single tooth looks abnormal compared with the others around it, such as being discoloured or clearly damaged rather than simply loose.

Making teething easier

Appropriate chew toys and dental chews sized for a puppy's mouth give them something safe to work sore gums against, which most puppies actively seek out during this stage. Softening dry kibble slightly with a little water can help a puppy who is eating less due to gum discomfort.

Avoid very hard chews, bones or antlers during heavy teething, since a puppy's teeth and jaw are still developing and are more vulnerable to damage from anything genuinely hard than an adult dog's would be. A vet or the packaging on a chew product can guide you on what is age-appropriate.

A damp, chilled (not frozen solid) rubber chew toy can be soothing for sore gums in the same way a cold teething ring helps a human baby, and it is worth having a couple in rotation so one is always ready. Puppy training with treats also tends to work better if you choose something soft during heavy teething, since a puppy mouthing a hard treat with sore gums may lose interest quickly regardless of how motivated they normally are.

Caring for the mouth while it changes

This stage is also a good window to start getting your puppy comfortable with having their mouth handled, gently lifting the lip to look at the teeth and gums for a few seconds at a time, building up gradually. A puppy used to this from early on makes routine dental checks, and any future treatment, far less stressful for everyone.

Introducing a soft puppy toothbrush and dog-specific toothpaste during this period, even briefly and without much pressure, starts building a habit that pays off for the rest of their life — human toothpaste should never be used, since it can contain ingredients that are harmful to dogs. Little and often, kept positive, matters more at this stage than doing a thorough job.

What can help

Things we stock that owners commonly use alongside a vet’s advice — not a substitute for it.

Interactive Activity Ball Dog Toy with Cover

A bouncy activity ball in a tough zip-on cover that keeps dogs chasing, nudging and herding for hours.

From£23.99

Self-Moving Chew-Resistant Dog Ball

A USB-C rechargeable ball that moves on its own to keep dogs busy and active. Tough E-TPU construction stands up to chewing during supervised play, and the splash-resistant build suits indoor or outdoor use.

£15.99

Inflatable Herding Ball for Dogs with Pump

A large inflatable herding ball with pump that taps into your dog's chase instinct.

From£19.99

Common questions

At what age do puppies start losing teeth?: Baby teeth typically start to loosen and fall out from around three months old, with the full switch to adult teeth usually complete by six to seven months. Some individual variation is normal, particularly in smaller breeds.
What is a retained baby tooth?: It is a baby tooth that has not fallen out even though the adult tooth has already started coming through next to it. This is worth mentioning to your vet, since a retained tooth can be extracted if needed and left untreated can affect how the adult teeth align.
Should I pull out my puppy's loose tooth?: No, leave it to come out on its own or ask your vet if you are concerned. A tooth loose enough to be ready to fall out usually does so during normal chewing and play without any help needed.
Is it normal for a puppy's gums to bleed a little during teething?: A small amount of blood-tinged saliva or a spot of blood where a tooth has just come out is common and not usually a concern. Ongoing or heavier bleeding, or gums that look inflamed rather than just slightly pink, is worth having checked.

Sources

Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.

Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.