At the age of three to four months, a puppy starts teething and goes through the teething period. This period could last until your pup is around six to eight months old. It is the first and only time they have a change of teeth.
Teething is a normal phase in every puppy’s life. Although painful, puppies have to go through this as part of growing up. This time can be a challenge for dogs and owners.
As a natural process, we cannot stop our puppies from teething. But as responsible pet parents, we can educate ourselves on how to go about helping our pup overcome this stage.
In this blog post, we share with you some puppy teething tips.
What Are The Symptoms Of A Puppy Teething?
When your pup is around 3-4 months of age, it is time to observe your pup for common puppy teething symptoms, as most puppies start teething at 12 weeks of age.
It is important to identify the symptoms of puppy teething. Teething can be a painful experience for your pups. Being able to recognize the symptoms, you can immediately provide the appropriate action to alleviate your pup’s discomfort.
There are a few signs that would tell you that your pup has started teething. The most common symptom of teething in pups is their penchant for chewing on almost anything they could take a bite on. The teething process is not always pleasant and leads to nibbling on clothes and furniture from time to time.
Excessive drooling is also one sign that your pup is teething. Other symptoms of teething are sore gums, inflamed gums, lack of appetite, fever, and restlessness.
The Teething Process
In larger breeds, the change from baby teeth to adult teeth starts a little earlier and is often faster than in smaller breeds. First, the sharp puppy teeth begin to fall out. With the puppy’s baby teeth out of the way, there is room for the adult tooth to grow.
The milk teeth fall out naturally, similar to humans. If the pup’s baby tooth is a bit more difficult to loosen, the puppies will often try to lick their mouth to speed up the process. Some dogs swallow the puppy teeth or lose them while walking.
This can be nerve-racking for them and make the little ones a bit restless. The teeth that slip can cause pain and result in sleepless nights. In some cases, puppies refuse to eat.
All in all, the change of teeth is a natural process. Depending on the dental health of our furry friends, the whole teething process can last up to 3-5 months from its onset.
How Can I Help My Teething Puppy?
Puppy teething can be a painless or painful process for our little pups, depending on their overall dental health.
While the teething pain is completely normal, there are a few remedies that would help relieve teething pain. Many pet parents found that a puppy pacifier helps. Puppy pacifiers provide comfort for puppies during their teething days.
Teething Toys
Loose milk teeth fall out a lot easier when your dog chews a lot. Many puppies find the need to chew on something when teething.
Provide your new puppy with soft chew toys designed for teething puppies. Allowing puppies to chew on these puppy-proof toys would provide relief without causing damage.
Don’t use pulling or rope toys. They can break off teeth and cause pain and problems.
Frozen Toys
Frozen toys would also do the trick. Lots of them, like this one, come in flavors that your pet would surely love.
Soft Puppy Food
At this time, our pup’s food should not be too hard to chew on. Offer teething puppies foods that are easy to eat like this one or any other high-quality wet food.
Alternatively, dry food can be soaked in water to make them more chewable. The choice of food depends entirely on your puppy’s needs.
Frozen or Cold Food
You may offer your puppy slightly frozen or cold food. This can help alleviate the pain. Cooling chew toys can also cool the gums and ease the pain. Anyone who has had ice cream to relieve a toothache can probably confirm this.
Calcium Supplement
And finally, supplements with calcium support the growth of healthy bones and teeth. Yet, as always, it is best to always ask your vet for advice before giving your puppies any supplements.
What To Do If Puppy Teething Causes More Problems?
During their teething stage, complications may also arise. These complications include increased temperature or fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, listlessness, restlessness, and salivation.
If it does come to the point where you need to help your puppy with his teeth, there are a few small things you can do.
Alternatives to a Chew Toy
In case your dog finds chewing toys rather boring, offering rumen, pig ears, etc., is a great alternative. However, note that it is best to check if he can already digest these foods and whether they meet his nutritional needs. Otherwise, these foods may cause digestive problems for your fur baby.
Visit your Vet
If these little puppy teething tips and tricks do not help, you should visit a vet. He can definitely help. If he finds it necessary, he will remove your retained baby teeth to give way to the growth of permanent adult teeth.
Usually, the tooth change is quite harmless. However, if serious problems occur, such as cracked teeth, inflamed gums, or falling out of a pup’s adult teeth, it is advisable to consult an expert.
Dental Care
When the teething timeline is finally over, dental care should be regularly practiced. So that your four-pawed furry companion has long fun with his new teeth, there are things you must do.
Too much plaque causes tartar, which in turn can lead to gum inflammation and periodontal disease. Regular tooth brushing with his own toothbrush and a good dog toothpaste would improve the dental health of your furry pets.
Toothbrushing
Regular brushing of your dog’s teeth should be practiced at an early age. A dog toothbrush and toothpaste should be used when cleaning your dog’s teeth and mouth. Never use human toothpaste on brushing your pet’s teeth.
While most dogs have no problem with their grooming habits, some dogs find it difficult to keep calm while brushing their teeth. As a responsible pet parent, if you are unsure about the best way to clean your puppy’s teeth, your vet can help you.
Prevent Tartar and Plaque Buildup
Chew sticks or chew balls are particularly suitable for the prevention of tartar and plaque buildup. These sticks rub off the tartar and plaque and keep the teeth clean. Another advantage of chewing products is that they strengthen the teeth and have a relaxing effect on dogs.
Final Thoughts
Caring for your puppy while he is teething is one of the first adventures of many that you will experience with your four-legged companion. Lavish your dogs with love and attention, especially during the teething period, to help them manage the pain and discomfort. Spend extra time playing with them or just cuddling them. Provide them with tasty treats to let them know they are loved.
We hope these tips help while your puppy is teething!