My Dog Has Double Teeth That Won’t Fall Out

1 How Double Teeth Form

Many owners overlook dog teeth, not even knowing puppies have a teething stage. When the baby tooth has not fallen but the adult tooth has erupted, you get ‘double rows’. Left alone, this causes bad breath, gum inflammation, even poor chewing. In short, it is a retained baby tooth.

Normally a pup starts teething at about 2–3 months; the baby root is absorbed and the tooth loosens, then the adult tooth takes its place. If the root is not absorbed enough, the old and new sit side by side. Causes: a soft-food diet with no chew toys (roots wear too little); small-breed genetics (little room to push the baby tooth out); and calcium or vitamin D deficiency weakening root absorption and eruption.

2 Why It Matters

More than ‘ugly’: gaps between the two rows trap food and plaque that daily brushing misses, building tartar and gingivitis and, worse, periodontitis with red, bleeding, loose gums.

Bad breath: fermenting debris smells — brushing alone will not fix it until the double row is resolved.

Crooked bite: the retained baby tooth steals the adult tooth’s space, misaligning it and harming chewing, even risking jaw-joint trouble.

Mouth sores: some retained teeth are sharp and rub the inner cheek or tongue, causing ulcers.

3 What to Do

During teething (4–6 months), act early: give chew toys of medium hardness, treat balls, or chew sticks so biting naturally pressures the baby tooth loose; raise the dry-food ratio or offer big crunchy veggies (carrot or apple sticks, cored) and dental snacks; if the pup tolerates it, after washing your hands gently wiggle the baby tooth 1–2 times daily for 1–2 minutes.

After teething (over 7 months), extract: if the double row has not improved and the baby tooth still clings, take it to the vet for extraction — a quick, safe procedure under local or general anesthesia, usually 10–20 minutes. Even if you choose not to extract, brush at least three times a week to limit residue and protect oral health.