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Hi Brandi!  This is a great question because most pet owners are unaware that their pets have actually lost any teeth until their veterinarian lets them know during an examination.

Cats have 26 baby (deciduous) teeth and 30 adult (permanent) teeth.  Dogs have 28 deciduous teeth and 42 permanent teeth!  In both dogs and cats, the deciduous teeth erupt between 3 and 8 weeks of age.  In cats, permanent teeth erupt between 11 and 24 weeks of age; 12 to 26 weeks for dogs.  Any deciduous teeth remaining beyond 6 months of age are considered ‘retained’ and should be monitored as they may require extraction. 

Food and other material can get trapped between permanent teeth and retained deciduous teeth and can lead to early periodontal disease or other problems.  Cats and dogs should never lose their permanent teeth.  If your pet does lose permanent teeth, there could be a problem and you should take them to your veterinarian for an examination and consultation.  Periodontal disease is unfortunately a very common problem in dogs and cats and can lead to other problems, even heart disease, if left unchecked.  Get in the habit of handling your pet’s teeth and mouth at an early age.  This will allow you to brush their teeth regularly (which is the best way to avoid dental problems) and will get you looking at your pet’s mouth regularly, allowing you to pick up potential problems sooner.

Thanks for the great question!

Craig Galbraith, DVM