200 



AGE OF THE DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 



pinchers, while the tusks and other teeth remain fresh and white 

 in color. 



Eighteen Months to Two Years. — At about this time the 

 tubercles of the inferior pinchers become worn down and those 

 of the other incisors commence to be used, (Fig. 182.) 



Two and One-half Years to Three Years. — After two and 

 a half years the tubercles of the inferior intermediate teeth are 

 worn away, the incisors of the upper jaw show signs of use, and 

 all of the teeth commence to lose their fresh, white appearance 

 and become yellowish and discolored. (Fig. 183.) 



.-.«/ it.. 



Fig. 182. 



Teeth of dog eighteen months old, showing 

 use of the hifeiior pinchers. The tushes are 

 still fresh and white. 



Fig. 183. 



Teeth of dog two and a half years old, 

 showing use of inferior pinchers and inter- 

 mediate teeth. 



Three and One-half Years to Four Years. — The pinchers 

 of the upper jaw become Avorn down and are followed by the 

 wearing of the superior intermediate teeth. 



The discoloration of the teeth increases and the tusks be- 

 come yellow and dirty in appearance. 



After this the leveled and broken teeth give no indication 

 of the age. A Great Dane, which for twelve years had only 

 been fed at the table on tid-bits, and a poodle of thirteen years, 

 had teeth as fresh as those of an ordinary dog at four or five ; 

 and bull-terriers and others at four or five may have tlie incisors 

 nearly worn away. 



The leveling of the teeth of the dog consists of the wear- 

 ing away of the middle tubercle to the level of the lateral 



