At one month old, teeth will have just started pushing through the gums. At two months, a puppy will have a full set of deciduous (baby) teeth near the front of the mouth. At four months, adult canines and incisors will start to come in. By seven months, a puppy will have a full set of adult teeth and will have developed molars in the back of the mouth. When a puppy reaches a year old, you should notice ridges or bumps on both the lower and upper top front teeth. Keep in mind that teeth tend to erupt later in toy dog breeds.
Ridges on the incisors change as a dog ages. By the time the dog is three years old, the ridges will have worn off the bottom incisors. By five years old, the ridges will have worn off the upper incisors as well. [1] X Research source A small amount of ridges on the upper front four teeth indicate your dog is between three and four. By seven, a dog’s teeth are completely smooth.
Cataracts will affect your dog’s vision, whereas lenticular sclerosis will not.
Some dogs gray as early as two, depending on their environment and genetic makeup. Fur color can help confirm a dog is older when taken into consideration alongside other factors, like teeth and activity level. It should not be used as the sole means to determine a dog’s age.
A Great Dane, for example, may start aging 10 to 12 years in human years after six as opposed to a smaller breed. [9] X Research source At 8, a large breed like a Great Dane may be a considerably older than a smaller breed at 8.
However, while this can give you a rough sense of your dog’s age, your vet may only be able to determine an approximate age range. The only way to know your dog’s age for sure is to know their birthday. If you don’t know much about your dog’s history, then you might want to take them to see a veterinarian and have bloodwork done anyway. A blood panel is a good, general indicator of your dog’s health and it can also identify problems before they become serious illnesses.
Your vet may want you to begin brushing your dog’s teeth, as teeth decay with age. Your vet can provide you with a toothbrush and toothpaste for your dog. Keep your dog active to control its weight. Daily walks are a great way to control your dog’s age.
