Teeth] 2 94 [Teeth 



second and third ones. The corresponding 

 teeth on each side of the jaw, as, for instance, 

 the fourth molar on the left and right sides, are 

 erupted simultaneously. By the time puppies, 

 such as St. Bernards, mastiffs, retrievers, and 

 others of similar size, are about four months old, 

 the process of dentition is complete. Fox-terriers, 

 and other dogs of this size, are in some cases 

 a fortnight later, and small toy dogs are often 

 from six to eight months of age, or even later, 

 before the mouth is fully furnished. 



It is impossible to tell the age of a dog with 

 any certainty after dentition is finished, but up to 

 then one can judge the age to within a fortnight, 

 if it is borne in mind how the teeth are erupted. 

 After this time, and up to a year or eighteen 

 months, if, together with the condition of the 

 incisor teeth, whose middle prominences at this 

 time show signs of wear, one takes into con- 

 sideration the general appearances of a dog, a 

 fair judgment as to age may be formed. 



Later, the wear of the teeth gives no good 

 idea of the age, because so much depends upon 

 the kind of food the animal eats, whether it is 

 hard or soft. When a dog is fed on bread and 

 gravy or meat, the teeth will show little or no 

 signs of wear when he is two or three years old, 

 while the incisor teeth of another dog of the same 

 aofe will commence to become blunted if biscuits 

 form the staple food. The teeth become still 

 more worn if a large number of bones are given 

 as a part of the diet. And again, dogs who are 

 always playing with and carrying stones often 



