When your puppy is teething, it can be a trying time. Teething causes pain in young puppies, which causes them to chew on things they shouldn't. In this blog, our Pico Rivera veterinarians provide advice on how to alleviate your puppy's teething pain and cope with this trying time in your pet's life.
Why is my puppy chewing and biting everything?
The puppy teething process can feel like it's taking forever, especially if your young pup keeps chewing on everything they can fit in their mouth. However, it's important that you do your best to stay calm and keep in mind your new companion isn't trying to be troublesome, they are just trying to alleviate the discomfort and pain they are experiencing. It's just a coincidence that chewing on your favorite purse is the perfect object for making their mouth feel better.
When do puppies start teething?
This varies slightly by breed, but puppies typically get their first set of teeth between the ages of 5 and 6 weeks. Your puppy's needle-sharp baby teeth will begin to fall out around 16 weeks of age, and adult teeth will appear.
How long does teething last in puppies?
When your puppy is approximately 6 - 7 months old they should be past the teething stage. At this time, they should have all 42 of their adult teeth.
Those 4 to 5 months of intense teething, on the other hand, may be difficult for many dog owners to bear. Puppies in search of pain relief will often chew on almost anything their jaws can fit around, and due to their small size, this can often include expensive footwear, furniture legs, or even your feet or fingers.
So what can you give your teething puppy to help with their discomfort and to keep your valuables safe? Here, our vets at Pico Rivera Animal Hospital offer a few suggestions.
What can I do to help my teething puppy?
Here are some tips and tricks to help your puppy during the teething process.
Keep a Few Puppy Friendly Teething Toys in the Freezer
Chewing cold or frozen items, similar to teething babies, can help relieve your puppy's teething pain. While most pet stores carry a variety of teething toys, almost any dog toy can be frozen to provide relief to your canine companion. Puppy-specific soft toys, rubber bones, and kongs are all excellent choices.
Provide Your Pup With Extra Durable Chew Toys
Puppy teething bones from brands like Nylabone are appropriately sized for small, medium, and large breeds and come in a variety of flavors that can tempt your puppy away from boring valuables and over to a tasty chewy treat - encouraging both healthy chewing habits and relieving pain at the same time.
Give Them Edible Teething Sticks for Puppies
Many reputable dog food companies sell edible puppy teething treats and bones to help relieve your furry friend's mouth pain. Your veterinarian may recommend one specifically for your small dog, or you can visit your local pet store and select from a variety of flavors and sizes. Make sure to get the right size for your pup so they can get the most out of the teething treat you choose.
Give Your Puppy Healthy Frozen Foods to Chew
Almost every puppy enjoys tasty treats such as frozen bagels, frozen carrots, or other nutritious vegetables. If you want to give your teething pup a frozen treat, always check with your veterinarian first to ensure it's safe.
My puppy keeps biting me, how can I stop it?
By nature, biting and nipping is how puppies play. When one puppy bites another too hard the hurt pup will let out a high-pitched yelp.
If your young dog is nipping and biting at you, it's critical to put a stop to this behavior before it spirals out of control. When your little friend digs their teeth into you, one effective way to stop this behavior is to mimic the yelp of a distressed puppy. A loud, high-pitched 'OW' should startle your puppy and cause them to back off. When your puppy comes to a halt and backs off, give them a treat as a reward for their good behavior.
If this approach leads your puppy to nip at you more aggressively, quietly stop playing with your puppy and walk away or gently put your pup in their crate from some quiet time.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.