Ah, the sweet steps of a newborn puppy! They certainly steal our hearts. As they develop, and they do so rapidly, there are behaviors that are required for their development, such as learning to potty outside, play fighting to ensure their place in the pack, and chewing on everything to strengthen their new teeth (and that means everything).
A teething puppy can indeed be a terror, but your friends at Animal Kind Veterinary Hospital is here to help you cope with this necessary transition.
What Is Teething?
Your puppy’s teeth are comprised of around 28 sharp baby teeth. These teeth develop at about two weeks old, much earlier than human babies and some other species. This is because a dog relies on their teeth to chew apart their food and sharpen those important oral tools.
As your puppy grows, these small, sharp teeth are replaced with a complete set of 42 adult teeth. This process can be uncomfortable and painful for your puppy, as you may have observed in a human baby. To alleviate this discomfort, your pet will use their teeth to chew on just about everything around them.
This process of teething basically happens around the same time with puppies, but some teething may happen later, depending on breed, size, and so on. The signs of teething include:
- Chewing more than usual
- Bleeding from the gums
- Drooling
- Nipping
- Rubbing at face
- Noticeable pain
Thankfully, at about 6 months of age, your puppy will have their adult teeth and the incessant chewing will cease.
What Can You Do to Help Your Puppy?
Despite how adorbs your little one is, it’s not so nice to come home to chewed heels. It’s also hard to watch them deal with the discomfort of teething. So, what can a loving pet owner do to help?
- Keep several puppy designed chew tooths for small teeth (never offer bones or rawhide)
- Cold dental chews can help immensely, like a frozen Kong with peanut butter or a homemade frozen yogurt treat
- Redirect the nipping to a toy or baby carrot, gently correcting your puppy’s behavior
- Monitor your puppy to avoid the behaviors you don’t want, while praising them for using the right toy to chew on
- Offer plenty of hugs, pets, and snuggles since they are dealing with some pain and discomfort
Are You Dealing with a Teething Puppy?
If you are dealing with a teething puppy and are at wit’s end, we are here for you. Just call us for additional suggestions and ideas, or to schedule an appointment for your puppy’s wellness exam. We look forward to meeting your baby furball.
The post Those Baby Years: Tips to Help You Deal with a Teething Puppy appeared first on Animal Kind Veterinary Hospital.
