Features of the change of milk teeth in kittens

Every new owner of a kitten goes through this cute but difficult stage of their pet’s early development. The transition of milk teeth is one of the major turning points in this period. Kittens experience teething, just like newborn humans do, which can have an impact on their behavior and general health.

Although kittens are born toothless, they begin to erupt their first set of milk teeth by the time they are two weeks old. Their small, keen teeth enable them to investigate their surroundings and start making the switch to solid food. But as their adult teeth erupt, they will start to lose these teeth at four months, which can be uncomfortable.

By being aware of this normal occurrence, you can assist your kitten during its teething period. There are various ways to make sure your pet remains happy and healthy during this change, from giving them suitable chew toys to keeping an eye on their eating patterns. Let’s explore the characteristics of this critical phase in your kitten’s development.

Age	Teeth Change
3-4 weeks	First milk teeth appear
8 weeks	Most milk teeth fully grown
3-4 months	Start losing milk teeth
5-6 months	All adult teeth should be in

Milk teeth in kittens

Kittens have no teeth at birth. The first milk teeth appear at two weeks of age and are structurally different from permanent teeth.

Features of the structure and difference from permanent teeth

The term "milk teeth" refers to completed dental teeth that are white in color and straight (though in adult cats, they are strong and slightly curved). They also have a sharp point, much like tiny needles.

The distinctive features of the milk canines appear by the first month and change closer to the five-month mark. They are curved and extremely thin. Additionally, a second tooth that is visible and falls out after the change is present on the inside of each canine.

A kitten has twenty-six milk teeth in total. By the time a child is two months old, all twelve incisors, four canines, and ten premolars should be fully developed. The milk teeth dental formula is shown below.

Veterinarians use simple dental formulas: incisors are denoted by the letter I, canines by the letter C, premolars by the letter P, and molars by the letter M.

You should consult a veterinarian if one or more teeth fall out by the designated age, as this issue may indicate a more serious illness.

Table: timing of milk teeth eruption in kittens

Teeth	Numbering	Terms of teething
Incisors	I	2-3 weeks
II	2.5–4 weeks
III	3-4 weeks
Fangs	3-4 weeks
Premolar	II	8 weeks
III	4-5 weeks
IV	4-6 weeks

Change of milk teeth to permanent

Three months is when kittens start to lose their native teeth in favor of milk teeth. Six or seven months is when this process usually ends, but if your kitten takes longer, don’t worry. These variations are typically linked to a cat’s breed or specific developmental characteristics.

It is not appropriate to break the symbol for a tooth replacement. The cutters should be replaced first, followed by the fangs, and then the molars and premolars in the final turn.

But you really need to speak with a specialist if your pet is experiencing discomfort due to an increase in new teeth on the milk. After the primary change, baby teeth can fall out peacefully and painlessly, so if the animal is not bothered by this increase, a trip to the vet can wait.

Teeth change schedule

Thirty permanent teeth (twelve incisors, four canines, ten premolars, and four molars) are ideal for a healthy adult cat. Every one of them has a distinct function; for instance, canines aid in the capture of prey, while incisors are required for tearing food.

After six months, a cat’s permanent dental formula is developed. Three incisors, one canine, three premolars, and one molar are located on top; three incisors, one canine, two premolars, and one molar are located below. All coefficients are doubled during computation, resulting in thirty permanent teeth in the end.

This is the ideal appearance of an adult, healthy cat’s jaw after prompt and appropriate tooth replacement.

Table: schedule of permanent teeth eruption and their functions

Teeth	Number (lower/upper jaw)	Eruption period	Function
Incisors	6/6	3.5–4.5 months	Grasping
Canines	2/2	5 months	Tearing
Premolars	6/4	4.5–6 months	Cutting
Molars	2/2	4–5 months	Cutting

Symptoms of teeth changing

Considering that kittens typically don’t feel pain, you might not even notice when their teeth are changing. The most common way to identify a tooth shift is to discover a lost baby tooth.

However, there are a few indicators that can guide you and help you identify when the process of teeth changing over time begins:

1. When a kitten"s teeth are changing, an unpleasant odor from the mouth may appear, which is often associated with improper nutrition. Nothing needs to be done about this, it will quickly disappear after the teeth are renewed.
2. When new teeth are directly cutting through, kittens may experience discomfort, so the animal"s behavior will change slightly. For example, a slight increase in temperature is likely (the norm is a temperature of 38 ° C to 39 ° C, for small kittens a higher temperature of up to 39.5 ° C is typical). As a result, the kitten feels the cold more strongly and tries to spend more time next to the warm body of the owner: on the lap or in the arms. At night, pets can climb under the blanket, even if this was not typical for them before.

The pet may be experiencing discomfort during teething if they suddenly develop a preference for lying under the blanket.

Take great care to prevent your kitten from beginning to gnaw on wires or other potentially harmful objects.

The author of these lines recently watched his kitten go through the process of getting new teeth. Every animal has distinct symptoms, and owners who are familiar with their charges can quickly identify behavioral changes when issues occur. For instance, my kitten didn’t typically play with certain toys or hide under the blanket. He tried to bite the scratching post and chew rubber sticks nonstop while his teeth were growing in. In this instance, baby teeth erupt after the fangs have changed rather than right away.

Video: kitten teeth loss

Caring for a kitten during the period of teeth change

For a novice owner, the teeth-changing phase can truly become a test. But it’s important to realize that the animal is healthy and doesn’t require medication or recurring trips to the vet. For the most part, cats experience everything painlessly, if not unnoticeably.

The kitten should not be allowed to chew on furniture, ruin items, or, most importantly, bite or scratch you. It’s possible for this habit to develop into a major issue down the road. Since an animal’s natural process involves changing its teeth, the original behavioral guidelines ought to be followed.

Nonetheless, it is the duty of every conscientious owner to ease the animal through this time by providing appropriate food, brushing, and special toys.

Special nutrition

A kitten requires a balanced, complete diet. Even with so much food produced especially during the tooth-changing phase, an abrupt change in the animal’s diet could cause it to react adversely. As a result, you must ensure that your pet’s food has the essential vitamins and minerals for the development of strong permanent teeth.

When a kitten is having teething problems, there are certain dietary guidelines that need to be followed:

First of all, you need to give up overly soft food: kittens can swallow fallen teeth along with soft food, which can lead to damage to the esophagus. The food should be large and a little rough. Regular dry food for kittens is ideal.

The greatest option when having teeth extracted is dry food.

In addition to being a vital component of the diet, bones keep the kitten from gnawing on your belongings.

Veterinarians advise against combining dry food with natural foods like meat, fish, and vegetables. You should continue feeding your kitten dry food if you switched them over to it at a young age. Because these foods digest differently, the kitten may experience bloating or even colic if they are combined.

Consult a veterinarian before selecting a feeding strategy: Since every pet is different, many may not be good candidates for natural or dry food.

Vaccination during the period of tooth change

Owners frequently have to decide whether to vaccinate or administer other vaccinations during the tooth-changing period. Veterinarians agree that a kitten’s new teeth are a significant burden already. Given the combined effects of fever and discomfort, vaccinations may not be the best choice. This delays the animal’s growth and has a negative impact on the immune system of the kitten.

Immunization is not advised during the tooth-changing phase.

Following the veterinarian’s recommended vaccination schedule for pets is crucial. The vaccination schedule is customized for each individual, taking into consideration the physical attributes of age and physiological state.

My kitten missed its first vaccination by a long shot. This was because numerous tests were required to evaluate his health after he was discovered on the streets. His vaccination had to be delayed (at least until the slight gum inflammation goes away and the temperature drops) because it fell on the same day as the scheduled tooth extraction.

Brushing teeth

Too many owners don’t brush their teeth. Ongoing dental care, however, will support the animal’s strong teeth. The cat must be weaned from its early months of life in order for it to understand the importance of brushing its teeth later on. Pet stores sell special gels for cleaning the oral cavity if the cat is resistant to conventional brushing with a toothbrush or powder. They can be taken in conjunction with certain foods and vitamins that contain fiber. Brushing your teeth once every three to four weeks is advised.

Teeth brushing is a crucial practice that a kitten must become used to.

Kittens’ gums can get inflamed during tooth replacement, so you’ll need to buy a gel that also has an analgesic and anti-inflammatory ingredient, which will help your pet’s condition a lot.

The change from milk teeth to adult teeth is an important stage in a kitten’s growth. This process can continue until the infant is approximately six months old, and it usually starts around three to four months of age. Your kitten may start chewing more frequently during this period, which is a normal teething symptom of discomfort.

During this stage, it’s critical to monitor your kitten’s dental health. Potential problems, such as infections or misalignment, can be avoided with proper maintenance. Making sure everything is growing as it should can be accomplished by routinely inspecting their teeth and gums. It is imperative that you speak with a veterinarian if you observe any warning indicators, such as severe bleeding or an unwillingness to eat.

Early dental care can lay the groundwork for your kitten to have a healthy mouth for the rest of their lives. Little actions like giving them dental toys and brushing their teeth can have a significant impact. You can assist your kitten in developing into a happy, healthy adult cat by continuing to pay attention to their needs.

This post will discuss the crucial process of a kitten’s milk teeth changing, emphasizing how this normal development normally takes place between three and six months of age. We’ll talk about the telltale symptoms of this transition, like discomfort and teething habits, as well as the importance of getting the right dental care at this time. Pet owners can better support their kittens during this critical developmental stage by being aware of these characteristics.

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