Do Shiba Inus lose their baby teeth?

Yes. Shiba puppies lose all 28 baby teeth between roughly 4 and 7 months of age, replaced by 42 permanent adult teeth. Many owners never find the tiny teeth because puppies usually swallow them during meals.

How can I tell if my Shiba still has baby teeth at 6 months?

Lift the lips gently and look at the canines, the long fangs on either side. If you see two canines stacked very close together, the baby tooth has not fallen out. Persistent baby teeth, especially canines, should be extracted by a vet by 7 to 9 months to prevent bite problems.

Is it normal for a Shiba puppy to bleed while teething?

A small amount of blood on a chew toy or a single drop in the water bowl is normal as baby teeth fall out. Heavy bleeding, swollen gums that bleed easily, or blood in multiple locations warrants a vet visit to rule out infection or a clotting issue.

When should I start brushing my Shiba Inu's teeth?

Start brushing as soon as your Shiba puppy comes home, using a finger brush and dog-safe toothpaste. Even a few seconds a day builds the habit. Once adult teeth are fully in at 7 months, switch to a soft-bristled dog toothbrush and aim for 2 to 3 times per week to prevent the periodontal disease common in older Shibas.

When Does a Shiba Inu Finish Teething? Full Timeline & Care Guide

Shiba Inu puppies finish teething around 6 to 7 months of age, once all 42 adult teeth have erupted. The adult incisors and canines typically come in by 5 months, with the full set complete a few weeks later. Most Shibas are done chewing destructively by their first birthday.

If you just brought home a Shiba Inu puppy and your favorite shoes have paid the price, take heart: teething is a phase, not a life sentence. A Shiba Inu finishes teething at roughly 6 to 7 months of age, when the full set of 42 permanent adult teeth has replaced the 28 deciduous (baby) teeth. By their first birthday, the urge to chew destructively is usually history.

The Shiba teething timeline is similar to most medium-small breeds, but because Shibas are famously mouthy, "similar" can feel relentless. Understanding the stages helps you survive them and protect your puppy's bite for life.

The Shiba Inu Teething Timeline

2 to 4 weeks: Deciduous (baby) teeth begin erupting through the gums. By 6 to 8 weeks, the 28 baby teeth are usually in place, which is also when most Shiba puppies go to their new homes.

3.5 to 5 months: Baby teeth fall out and are replaced by adult incisors (the small front teeth) and canines (the long fangs). You may find tiny tooth-crowns on the floor, or your puppy may swallow them harmlessly during meals.

4 to 6 months: Premolars and the first molars erupt. Chewing intensity peaks here because the molars are large and the gums are sore.

6 to 7 months: The final adult molars come in, completing the set of 42. Teething is officially over. Some Shibas keep a softer mouth and a taste for chewing into adulthood, but the painful, compulsive phase ends.

How to Tell Teething Has Ended

The signs are subtle but reliable:

All adult canines are fully in place and lock into a smooth scissor bite (a Shiba breed standard requirement).
Gums are uniformly pink and tight, not red or puffy.
Your Shiba stops obsessively gnawing everything in sight and shifts back to normal play chewing.
The incisors line up neatly in a slight curve; retained baby teeth should be gone by 7 months.

Soothing a Teething Shiba Puppy

Shibas are stoic and rarely complain, so the chewing speaks for them. Effective relief options include:

Frozen Kongs stuffed with kibble and wet food, then frozen for 2 to 4 hours.
Cold carrots or frozen wet washcloths (twisted into a knot) for sore gums.
Soft rubber chew toys like KONG puppy rubber or Nylabone puppy keys. Skip hard nylon bones; these can crack adult teeth.
Frozen blue ice packs wrapped in a thin towel for heavy chewers.
Frozen goat milk or bone broth cubes in a tray, as an occasional treat.

Avoid antlers, hooves, and hard plastic bones during teething. Cracked enamel is one of the most common dental injuries in young Shibas and can lead to expensive root canals later in a breed already prone to dental crowding.

Managing the Destructive Chewing Phase

The Shiba's high prey drive and independent streak mean they will find something to chew if you don't. Practical management beats correction:

Puppy-proof obsessively: Hide power cords, secure baseboards, and remove shoes, remote controls, and books from floor level.
Rotate three to four chew toys so your Shiba doesn't get bored and invent one from your furniture.
Use bitter apple spray on wood chair legs and table edges.
Crate train early. A tired Shiba with appropriate chews in a safe space is far less destructive.
Exercise the brain. A 15-minute sniff walk or scatter-feeding dinner tires the mind more than a 45-minute run and reduces problem chewing by half.

When to See the Vet

A few issues warrant a call to your veterinarian:

Retained deciduous teeth, especially the canines. If a baby fang is still in place at 6 months, the adult tooth will grow in crooked. Extraction is usually recommended between 7 and 9 months.
Malocclusion (misaligned bite). Shibas with level or overshot bites should be evaluated, as this is a disqualifying fault in the show ring and can cause uneven wear.
Broken or discolored adult teeth from hard chews. Pink or gray dentin means a trip to a veterinary dentist.
Puppy chewing that continues past 12 months with full intensity. This usually signals boredom, anxiety, or insufficient exercise rather than teething.

Schedule a dental check at your Shiba's 6-month puppy visit. Your vet will confirm that the bite is correct and that no baby teeth are crowding the permanent set, setting your dog up for the 13 to 16 years of healthy teeth typical of the breed.

Final Thought

Teething is a six-month sprint, not a marathon. Stock the freezer, hide your shoes, and you'll have your calm, dignified Shiba back by the time the adult molars settle in around 7 months of age.