It can be a trying time when you have a teething puppy. The pain teething causes for young pups typically compels them to chew on things they shouldn't. In this blog, our Kinston vets offer you tips on how you can relive your puppy's teething pain and cope with this difficult phase of your furry friend'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 to teethe?
This varies somewhat by breed, but puppies typically get their first set of teeth at about 5 - 6 weeks of age. At around 16 weeks old your pup will begin to lose their needle-sharp baby teeth and their adult teeth will begin to 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.
However, those 4 to 5 months of intense teething could be hard for many dog owners to cope with. As puppies in search of pain relief will often chew on almost anything they can fit their jaws around, and because of their small size that can often make expensive footwear, furniture legs, or even your feet or fingers their targets.
So what can you give your teething puppy to help with their discomfort and to keep your valuables safe? Here, our vets at Five Oaks Animal Hospital offer a few suggestions.
What can I do to help my teething puppy?
Keep a Few Puppy Friendly Teething Toys in the Freezer
Similar to teething babies, chewing cold or frozen items can help relieve your puppy's teething pain. While there are a variety of teething-specific toys available at most pet stores, almost every dog toy can be frozen to help give your canine companion some relief. Rubber bones, kongs, and puppy-specific soft toys are all excellent options.
Provide Your Pup With Extra Durable Chew Toys
Specific puppy teething bones by brands such as 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 brands offer edible puppy teething treats and bones to help relieve your fur baby's mouth pain. Your vet may recommend one specifically for your little dog or you can pop by your local pet store and choose from a range of flavors and sizes. Be sure to choose the right size for your pup so they will gain the most benefit from the teething treat you choose.
Give Your Puppy Healthy Frozen Foods to Chew
Practically every puppy loves yummy treats such as frozen bagels, frozen carrots, or other healthy vegetables. If you want to give your teething pooch a frozen treat always consult your veterinarian first to make sure it's safe for your pup.
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 canine friend is nipping and biting at you it's important to put a stop to this behavior before it becomes out of control. 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 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.