O Tooth, my Tooth

Why Does My Petite Mini Goldendoodle Still Have Their Baby Teeth? He's Almost 7 Months Old!

My vet says their adult teeth should have erupted!

First, vets know A LOT of things, and they often see many puppies of all sizes and developmental stages. However, they also see many different breeds, and the majority of the puppies they see weigh 15 lbs and over. That’s a lot to know—and honestly, only Google knows that much!

So, vets typically have a general knowledge base of when puppy teeth should fall out and when adult canines should erupt. But they may not have the same specific knowledge as that puppy’s breeder. Let me elaborate.

Ethical breeders have A LOT of knowledge about their specific breed, and more importantly, that breed’s particular size. A good breeder knows a ton about the puppies they’re raising. They understand their genetic tendencies, structural development, teeth, coats, temperaments, training needs—you name it. The list goes on, but you get the point.

Second, smaller dogs like your petite Miniature Goldendoodle take longer to get their puppy teeth, and also take longer to lose them. A few may retain their puppy teeth into adulthood (most do not), or they may lack adult counterparts to push those baby teeth out.

Dogs missing adult counterparts may retain their puppy teeth for life. This is not common but can be normal for smaller breeds. Sometimes it's genetic; sometimes it's just due to mouth size.

So What Happens When Puppy Teeth Are Delayed?

Here are a few things that can occur:

• Overbite or underbite (depending on which canines are delayed)

• Late eruption of adult teeth—between 6–8 months, instead of the typical 4–6 months

• Retained puppy teeth as adult canines push through (you’ll see a double row, like a shark’s mouth)

If the puppy teeth haven’t fallen out after 8 months, and the adult teeth have erupted, this can cause:

• Crowding

• Food and debris accumulation

• Tartar buildup

• Gingivitis and periodontal disease

• Enamel wear

• Weakening of the teeth

• Abnormal growth and jaw development

• 
  

Retained baby teeth alongside erupting adult canines, as you can see, can—and often do—lead to dental problems. But don’t worry! There are things you can do to help.

How to Help Puppies Lose Their Baby Teeth

STICKS! Yes—freshly fallen tree branches.

Puppies LOVE chewing on them, and they’re soft enough to get between their teeth. The gentle wood can help wedge out baby teeth—even those that aren’t visibly loose.

Important: This is only helpful before adult teeth fully come in. Once adult teeth are in place, chewing sticks can wear down enamel and damage their gums—so it's a temporary solution.

Also: No, they won’t swallow the wood. Puppies typically chew the branch and then spit out the wood and any loosened teeth.

This trick has worked on every single one of my older puppies who’ve retained baby teeth and had adult canines starting to erupt. In my 15 years of breeding Toy Poodles, I’ve had about one puppy per year with this issue. When I notice it—or when a new owner calls about it—I always recommend fresh yard sticks as part of the tooth-loosening process.