Proper development of rottweiler teeth indicates that a Rottweiler is growing well and receiving the proper nourishment and care.
In Rottweilers, teeth development often marks the general well-being of the pup.
Overlooking teeth development is a mistake, as it could lead to added expenses, especially since Rottweilers are more prone to teeth problems than any other dog breed.
Following the life cycle of a Rottweiler, it is important to understand the role of teeth development and what you, as the owner, need to do to guarantee proper tooth development.
Today, we will look at a complete cycle of Rottweiler teeth and requirements at each stage to ensure you know what to expect and guarantee the proper development of your Rottweilers Scissor Bite.
Scissor Bite
A scissor bite is a shape your Rottweiler’s teeth are supposed to take, meaning it is the standard when they are fully grown.
A Rottweiler’s teeth meet together with the upper incisors falling in front of the lower incisors.
The premolars also meet in a saw-tooth pattern and the upper and lower canines intersect to form a smooth curve.
The dog, at this point, should have a total of 40 teeth, twenty at the top, and twenty at the bottom.
Importance of a Scissor Bite
The American Kennel Club and the World Canine Organization dictate that any dog joining any type of show or competition meets certain standards.
For Rottweilers, they may have a perfect scissor bite with the appropriate amount of teeth.
But, this is not the only role a scissor bite plays in a Rottweiler’s life.
Having a proper scissor bite allows your Rottweiler to grab and eat things properly.
A dog whose teeth are not aligned properly, known as malocclusion or an improper bite, can have problems doing normal day to day activities from eating, chewing, and closing their mouths properly.
So, to ensure that your Rottweilers’ teeth do not end up in a state of malocclusion, consider monitoring the teeth development process.
Rottweiler teeth growth- stages
A Rottweiler begins teething when his/her first temporary teeth begin to appear.
This typically happens between the 2nd and 4th weeks after birth. By the end of the 6th week, the Rottweiler will have a set of 28 baby teeth.
By the end of the 6th week, you can start weaning your Rottweiler. Provide soft and moist foods.
If your Rottweiler pup does not have al 28 teeth at this point, wait until the end of the 8th week and check back.
By that time, the Rottweiler pups have all their baby teeth, even the late bloomers.
Rottweiler’s baby teeth
A Rottweiler’s baby teeth are much smaller than their adult teeth. By the end of the 8th week, a Rottweiler puppy will have all 28 baby teeth and by the end of 12th week, they will start to fall out.
As they fall, they will most likely be found on the floor, or the bedding.
The loss of baby teeth takes place between the 12th and 24th weeks of age. During this time, check the tooth loss progress.
By the end of the 24th-week counter-check if all the baby teeth have fallen out. If there are some remaining, consider scheduling a visit with the vet for manual removal.
Can Rottweiler Puppies choke on their baby teeth?
Are you concerned that your Rottweiler puppy will choke on their own teeth as they fall out? Don’t be.
The baby teeth of a Rottweiler puppy are as small as a grain of rice. They pose no immediate threat to the Rottweiler puppy if accidentally swallowed.
You may notice your puppy bleeding slightly as the teeth fall out and this is completely normal.
When do Rottweilers grow their adult teeth?
Once all the baby teeth have fallen off, adult Rottweiler teeth begin developing. This typically occurs at about 12 weeks of age and continues up to the sixth-month mark.
During the 2nd and 3rd month, consider checking your Rottweiler’s teeth to ensure no overbites are occurring.
What is an Overbite?
Every animal with teeth has a pattern in which the teeth are supposed to follow. In dogs, this pattern is known as an occlusion. A Rottweiler’s teeth have a normal occlusion known as a scissor bite; however, if a tooth, or several teeth, end up taking a different pattern than that which has been set, this event is known as a malocclusion or overbite.
An overbite occurs when the baby teeth are not pushed out by the adult teeth. The reluctance of the baby tooth to pop out forces the adult tooth to grow right beside it, or in a weird direction.
Detecting an Overbite
To detect an overbite, you must constantly check on the Rottweiler’s teeth development before they fully develop their jaw.
Between the 3rd week and the 9th month of age, your puppy’s jaws are still developing. After the baby teeth start falling off, start checking your puppy’s dental regularly to ensure there are no overbites present.
At this stage your puppy’s jaws are still developing, it is easier to handle an overbite at this stage. Therefore, pay close attention to your Rottweiler’s teething process as it allows you to detect an overbite in advance.
What type of teeth do adult Rottweilers have?
Rottweilers will have their baby teeth fall off and their adult teeth grow in place of those. Instead of having 28 teeth, as before, the adult Rottweiler’s teeth will total up to 42, twenty on the top jaw, and twenty-two on the bottom jaw. These teeth are also known as permanent teeth comprised of four types of teeth: the incisors, premolars, molars, and canines.
Incisors
These are the front teeth located in between the canine teeth. An adult Rottweiler has 12 incisors, equally divided between the upper and lower jaws. These teeth typically start-out small but continue growing as the puppy growth. When you observe these teeth, the two teeth at the center are typically smaller than the rest of the incisors as you progress towards the canine teeth. This means that the biggest incisor teeth are next to the canines.
Without these teeth, both the Rottweiler puppy and adult would not be able to nibble and tear food.
Canines
When you look at a Rottweiler’s teeth, some resemble fangs; these are the canine teeth.
In a Rottweilers mouth, these teeth are located between the incisors and premolars. They are four in number, equally divided between the upper and lower jaws. This means that there are two on the upper jaw, and two on the lower jaw. They are used to hold and tear food.
Premolars
These Rottweiler teeth are located behind the canines and before the molars. An adult Rottweiler has 16 premolars equally divided between its upper and lower jaws; however, a Rottweiler Puppy does not have all the premolars.
In an adult Rottweiler, four premolars are on either side of both the upper and lower jaw. They are used for cutting, holding, and sharing food.
Molars
These Rottweiler teeth are positioned at the back of an adult Rottweiler’s jaw after the premolars. They are usually 10 in number divided between the top and lower jaw (Four at the top and 6 at the bottom). They are used to grind food into small pieces so that the swallowing process is easier.
Note: Puppies do not have molars.
With proper development and placement of each of these teeth, a Rottweiler should have the perfect dentition with a scissor bite as the ultimate marker of the same.
Is the teething process painful for a Rottweiler?
Just like in humans, a Rottweiler’s teething process can be very uncomfortable.
For the baby teeth to fall out, they are essentially pushed out by the adult teeth growing beneath them. These teeth literally cut through the puppy’s gums because they are much larger and harder than the initial rice-shaped baby teeth.
You may observe a little swelling of the Rottweiler’s gums. Additionally, the puppy will want to chew on something to soothe the uncomfortably associated with the teething process.
What to expect during Teething
As you are aware, the teething process is normally quite painful and causes a bit of discomfort for your puppy. During this process, however, you may also note other behaviors.
Excessive Chewing
Your Rottweiler puppy may start chewing on things outside of his chew toys such as nylabones. He may start chewing on your shoes, the chair, couch, cushions, and other items or surfaces. This can be dangerous and disastrous for you and your puppy. Think of all the items you may have to replace.
When your puppy gets to this point, consider teaching what he is allowed to chew and what he cannot touch. Provide chew toys and ensure you show your puppy that they are his. If you find the puppy chewing on something that is not his, swap that item with one of his chew toys.
Remember, the puppy is attracted to things that smell like you, so ensure to keep your bedroom door locked, your clothes cabinet locked, and your shoes out of reach. Also, ensure you do not leave your cell phone, remote, sunglasses, or any personal item near your puppy.
Loss of Appetite
As we mentioned earlier, the teething process is extremely uncomfortable. Your puppy may be too distressed to eat. Do not worry this will typically last for about one to two weeks.
Excessive Whining
Your puppy may also start whining more than usual; this is his/her way of saying I am in pain, or, feeling some type of discomfort.
During this time, consider comforting your puppy by either petting them or holding them. However, ensure you do not make a habit of this, for your puppy may start associating whining with loving pets and cuddles from you.
Presence of a fever
Your puppy may also run a low fever. It is nothing to worry about, but consider consulting your vet if you get too uneasy about it.
Blood on Toys
You may also spot some small amount of blood on your puppy’s toys during this time. Be vigilant and ensure you continually wash and disinfect these toys during this time. It is quite easy for your puppy to get an infection.
What can I do to Comfort a Teething Rottweiler?
You may be feeling a tad distressed seeing your puppy going through the teething process. If you would like to help your little champion, consider using the following tips:
Make him Chicken broth and put some ice cubes in it. The puppy, while happily drinking the Chicken Broth will be interested in trying out the ice cubes. Since they are cold, they will offer some sort of relief to the inflamed gums.
Give him a frozen food dispensing toy. Instead of ice cubes, consider stuffing food into a chew toy and placing it in the freezer. Once the food in the toy freezes, give it to your puppy to chew on. As the puppy nibbles on the toy, the frozen food will be dispensed bit by bit and the cold will soothe the puppy’s sore gums.
Massage the puppy’s gums. If you notice, your puppy is getting anxious due to the discomfort then consider this solution. Hold the puppy on your lap and slowly massage or rub his gums. This will give your puppy some sort of relief and ease their anxiety.
Feed him. If your puppy losses his appetite, consider feeding him by hand as a way to ensure he gets something in his tummy. You wouldn’t want him to starve.
Offer warm, soft foods. Since the puppy is not in a chewy mood, consider offering food that does not take a lot of chewing and is not too hot that the puppy ends up burning itself.
How do I Maintain My Dogs Dental Hygiene?
Teething for all dogs is a process that exposes your dog to all types of dental problems if it is not handled correctly. This is quite true for Rottweilers. According to the American Kennel Club, Rottweilers are more prone to dental problems that other dog breeds.
Dog owners are being advised to take a keen interest in their dog’s teething process since there is a chance your dog could contract any number of oral diseases if dental hygiene is not properly maintained. While veterinarians recommend a yearly dental cleaning for your Rottweiler, you can also practice the following at home:
Brush your Dog’s teeth
This is not the easiest thing in the world, but it is among the most effective ways to maintain dental hygiene for your dog. Your Rottweiler’s teeth may have some items stuck and decaying in between them. Consider brushing them from time to time. This process would require you to buy a toothbrush and toothpaste for your canine. The toothbrush you Select must not be too hard for your Rottweiler’s gums, especially if they are teething.
Also, and this is important, do not use human toothpaste to clean your dog’s teeth. Human toothpaste contains certain ingredients that are harmful and/or toxic to dogs.
Use dental Chews to Clean your Rottweiler’s Teeth
Alternatively, if you are not willing to manually brush your Rottweiler’s teeth, consider a dental chew.
Attaining quality dental chews can be very beneficial for your dog’s dental health. With a dental chew, you can be assured that your Rottweiler’s teeth are receiving the cleaning they deserve. It is said that these chews clean as effectively as toothpaste and toothbrush preventing tooth decay and giving your dog fresh breath in the process. They also make for a delicious treat that your dog can enjoy for a very long time.
Give the dog a balanced diet
By ensuring that your dog has the proper nutrients in proper proportions, you are assured that your dog’s health is maintained. This includes nourishment of the teeth making them grow stronger.
In summary: Rottweiler Teeth Guide
Taking care of a Rottweiler is not easy work. Aside from the provision of food, there are also other factors to look at and one is teeth development.
You can tell whether your Rottweiler teeth is healthy by simply checking its scissor bite. Rottweiler’s teeth are one of the hardest things to maintain as they are usually curbed with a lot of issues.
To top it all off, if the scissor bite is not properly developed, the dog can have problems eating and grabbing food and also closing its mouth.
If you are thinking of adopting or own a Rottweiler, then take up the advice in this article. Read up on the teething process. Understand when it begins, what to expect, and what you can do to make the process more bearable for your Rottweiler puppy.
Also, consider having a good selection of chew toys that your Rottweiler can use to ease their discomfort. Moreover, ensure you check the progression of the teething process from the time your Rottweiler’s baby teeth start falling off to the time its adult teeth become fully developed.
Check early enough to ensure there are no malocclusions and visit the veterinarian if you notice any overbite. Lastly, remember to train your Rottweiler puppy not to chew on your stuff, otherwise, you will buy a lot of shoes, socks, phones, and other items in the process.
