Vet Jennie answers your questions about pet care in this weekly advice column, created in partnership with the Bahrain Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BSPCA). We will also be highlighting each week some of the animals in the BSPCA sanctuary, in the hope of finding each of them a loving home.

Question: I have recently bought a little Shih Tzu puppy. She is five months old and very playful. The other day I noticed that she has lost two little teeth from the front. She is eating well and it doesn't seem to bother her, but should I be worried?

Answer: Puppies, like babies, are born without teeth. The teeth usually appear at one to two months of age. However, these teeth are not permanent.

Like us, the baby, or deciduous teeth are gradually replaced by the adult or permanent dentition. In puppies this tends to occur between three and seven months of age and gives us a great way to age new puppies as the teeth change follows a predictable pattern.

The first teeth to change are the central incisors; the tiny peg-like teeth at the front, and this tends to happen when the puppy is three to four months old.

The next two incisors typically follow and then the last two incisors. The canine teeth normally change around six months. The back teeth, or pre-molars and molars, also change usually between four and seven months of age.

Not all puppies will follow this rule, however, and smaller breed dogs may show delayed dentition change.

Small breed dogs also tend to retain baby teeth despite the adult teeth growing through. It is important to have these retained teeth removed as they can cause problems later on.

In the majority of cases the change from baby to adult dentition takes place without complication, and often without us noticing. However, if you do notice that your dog is missing a tooth (and this applies to adult dogs also), then check the gum line around the missing tooth. If it appears swollen, red and painful, then you should probably visit your vet as an infection may be developing.