It can be a difficult time watching your puppy struggle through the teething process. In this post, our Medford vets share some tips to help relieve your puppy's tooth discomfort and make the teething process as easy as possible.
Puppy Teething
When your puppy chews on absolutely everything they can find, the teething process can seem like a long endeavor. It is important to remember that they are not doing it to be bad or intentionally destroy your belongings, they are simply trying to ease discomfort and pain as their adult teeth grow in.
Unfortunately for owners, chewing on your shoes, furniture, and other possessions, can be the perfect relief for your puppy's tooth discomfort.
When Do Puppies Start Teething?
Puppies typically get their first set of teeth at about 5 - 6 weeks of age, although this can vary depending on your dog's breed. At around 16 weeks old, your pup will begin to lose their needle-sharp baby teeth and their adult teeth will begin to erupt.
By the time your pooch is about 6 - 7 months old, they should have all 42 of their adult teeth, and this time should be the end of your pup's teething.
That said, those 4 - 5 months of intense teething can be a difficult time for many dog parents. Puppies looking to relieve the pain will often chew on almost anything they can find, and because of their small stature, that can often mean chewing on furniture legs, expensive footwear, or even your feet or fingers.
So, how can you help relieve your puppy's discomfort and protect your belongings? Here are a few tips and tricks from our veterinary team at Siskiyou Veterinary Hospital.
Teething Puppy Help & Advice
Edible Teething Sticks for Puppies
There are plenty of reputable dog food brands that offer edible puppy teething treats and bones to help relieve your puppy's teething pain. Your vet may recommend one specifically for your puppy, or you can swing by your local pet store and choose from a range of flavors and sizes. Be sure to select a treat or bone that is appropriately sized for your puppy.
Store Teething Toys in the Freezer
Much like teething human babies, puppies can often find relief in chewing on cold or frozen items. While there is a range of teething-specific toys available from most pet stores, almost any dog toy can be frozen and offer a soothing sensation. Kongs, rubber bones, and dog-specific soft toys are all great choices.
Offer Your Pup Extra Durable Chew Toys
Specific puppy teething bones by brands such as Nylabone are sized appropriately for small, medium, and large breeds. They can also be flavored to help encourage your puppy away from your valuables and over to a tasty chewy treat. This will encourage both healthy chewing habits and relieve pain simultaneously.
Frozen Foods for Puppies to Chew
Many puppies enjoy tasty treats such as frozen bagels, carrots, or other healthy veggies. If you are planning to offer your pup frozen human food, speak to your vet to confirm it is a healthy option.
Preventing Your Puppy From Biting
Nipping and biting are naturally how puppies play. However, if your young pup is nipping and biting at you, it's important to curb this behavior before it gets out of hand and becomes part of their everyday behavior.
When one puppy bites another too hard the hurt pup will let out a high-pitched yelp. One effective approach for stopping this behavior is to mimic the yelp of a hurt puppy when your little friend digs their teeth into you. A loud little 'OW' in a high-pitched voice should startle your puppy and cause them to back off. When your puppy stops and backs off be sure to offer a reward for their good behavior.
If this approach doesn't reduce your puppy's biting or even makes them act more aggressively, quietly stop playing with your puppy and walk away or gently put your pup in their crate for some quiet time. Once they realize they are no longer playing and have had time to relax, they should begin to bite and nip at you less and less.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. Please make an appointment with your vet for an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition.