Dog’s teeth are fascinating, in particular their incisors. Not only do they help the dog to chew and tear apart his food, but they also perform other important functions such as hunting, defending against predators and fighting with other dogs! Here are some interesting facts about dog’s teeth. Dog’s Teeth StructureSimilar to humans, dogs too have 32 permanent teeth. These include: Incisors: 16 of them (4 pairs). Canines: 4 of them (2 pairs). Premolars: 12 of them (4 pairs). Molars: 6 of them (3 pairs). The human mouth contains 32 permanent teeth as well; however, dogs have a total of 42 teeth due to the presence of four extra premolars and 3 extra molars. The canine teeth are also referred to as fangs because they’re enlarged and sharp, which aids in holding prey in place while working on tearing off flesh or bone. Dogs are omnivores that feed on both plant-based foods and meat; their canine teeth aid in their consumption of meat by allowing them to tear it into smaller pieces that are easier for digestion. As dogs age, their incisors may become worn down, which can lead to improper chewing or an inability to properly chew food. Dogs have 28 baby teeth in totalThere are 14 in their upper jaw and 14 in their lower jaw. The adult teeth then grow inside of these sockets in 2-4 weeks before erupting. Dogs have 3 types of teeth: incisors, canines and molars. The canine teeth are sharp; used for catching and tearing food. Incisors are used to cut food. Molars are used to crush food between them after it is caught between a dog’s canine teeth. Dog’s teeth are self-cleaningAs carnivores, dogs’ teeth are adapted to tearing meat, not chewing vegetables. Thus, their teeth are self-cleaning: sharp and pointy on top, with rough edges on the bottom that naturally scrape off food remnants. However, plaque—that sticky film you can sometimes see around your own teeth—is an issue for dogs as well; they don’t have saliva as we do to wash it away. Helping them clean their teeth can lessen the probability of them having mouth problems. Tooth decay is rare in dogsDental disease is relatively rare in dogs when compared to humans. In fact, more than 80 percent of the dogs don’t have any signs of tooth decay. There are a few reasons for this: their saliva contains natural enzymes that fight plaque and bad breath; they don’t snack on sugary foods; and they don’t generally brush their teeth. Why do dogs eat grass?Contrary to popular belief, dogs do not eat grass because they are ill. Many dogs eat grass to aid with digestion. This can be done by acting as a rough sort of grass-toothbrush. Dogs’ teeth grow throughout their lives — just like ours — and grass allows them to scrape away tartar and plaque without damaging their gums. Grass is also thought to act as an emetic — meaning it induces vomiting when ingested in large amounts. Dogs that eat something poisonous will often get rid of it by vomiting; eating some fresh grass may help induce vomiting faster than waiting for nature to take its course.
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AuthorA pet lover and a blogger for a hobby. Archives
November 2022
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