Table of Contents
What is Dog Teething and How Can You Help Your Dog?
Teething is an important milestone in a dog’s life and can be complicated. It’s essential to understand what teething is and how you can help your dog through it. Teething involves your pup losing baby teeth and replacing them with adult ones. It usually starts around 4-6 months of age but can vary from breed to breed. During this time, your pup may experience discomfort due to sore gums or swollen jaws as their adult teeth come in. You can help your dog by providing them with chew toys designed for teething puppies, brushing their teeth regularly, and giving plenty of dental chews. With the proper care and attention, you can ensure that your pup has a comfortable teething experience.
When do Puppies start Teething?
Like human babies, puppies are born toothless. The only thing seen is their gum surface, allowing them to feed without causing any harm to the mother.
Teething with puppies happens over two phases – the initial phase when they get their baby teeth, and the later stage, where they lose those baby teeth to be replaced by adult teeth. The entire process is relatively quick compared to humans.
At around 21 to 30 days old, puppies grow their first teeth, also known as deciduous or temporary. This process, called erupting, can happen simultaneously for individual pups of the same litter and even across other dog breeds.
At around six weeks old, puppies will have 28 milk teeth in their mouths. The initial set of teeth that appear is the incisors in the front upper and lower jaws. They often start to show up after 14-21 days, but they can also take up to a month to appear.
After the thirty-day milestone, needle-like canine teeth, or fangs, appear in a puppy’s mouth. Between days 21 and 45, the premolars and molars will usually follow right after.
At around eight weeks, the second teething phase begins: adult teeth start to come in. Most breeds will have all their permanent teeth at 6 to 7 months old.
Teething pains are usually at their peak for puppies between the ages of 12 to 20 weeks.
What are the Signs to look for when a Puppy is Teething?
During teething, puppies may experience discomfort and pain, and this might be because of the soreness and swelling in the gums before a tooth erupts from the gum line, which can lead to behavioural changes. As a pet parent, it is vital to be aware of the signs that indicate your pup is teething so you can provide them with the comfort and care they need during this time.
- She was pawing or chewing at the feet, legs, or other body parts.
- She was chewing on a toy, chewable rawhide stick, or another inanimate object.
- Compulsive licking of objects and surfaces
- Lethargy, decreased activity
- Scratching excessively
- Aggression toward people or animals
In some cases, puppies may chew to reduce the discomfort in their gums caused by teething. It can lead to reluctance in puppies when it comes to eating and drinking since their mouths may be aching.
What can you give a puppy for teething?
Teething is an essential part of a puppy’s development, and there are plenty of things you can give your pup to help soothe their gums and keep them entertained. Many options are available to help your puppy through the teething process, from chew toys to special treats. In this article, we’ll explore some of the best items you can give your puppy for teething and how they can benefit your pup’s development.
Instead of the usual snacks, give your pup frozen fruits like strawberries or bananas. This kind of “cold therapy” can help reduce pain and discomfort, although it might be messy. There are also unique puppy-friendly toys, like Chilly Bone and Kong, that when frozen, add relief.
Do puppies need teething toys, and What type of Toys help with pain?
Teething toys are essential for puppies as they help them to get through the teething phase. Puppies need these toys to chew on and soothe their gums as their teeth come in. Teething toys also provide puppies with an outlet for their pent-up energy, helping to prevent destructive behaviours. They can also help puppies learn how to play and interact with other dogs and provide a safe way to explore the world around them.
Are you helping Your Puppy While he is teething?
Puppies usually start teething between 8-12 weeks, which is also when most puppies are adopted. The process continues until they are around six months old and have all their adult teeth in place. If your pup is going through teething, here are some tips to make it more comfortable for them:
- Offering appropriate chew toys to your puppy is essential during teething. Look for toys that are durable enough to withstand chewing but still soft enough not to damage the teeth coming in. Be sure that the material used cannot swallow.
- Plush toys provide plenty of fun and joy, but they come with the risk of being shredded & swallowed, which can pose a life-threatening foreign body ingestion.
- For teething pups, freezing sure treats can help reduce inflammation in the gums and be a fun activity to chew. At the same time, they are in the freezer. They are freezing Banana Popsicle s Blend a banana, a few tablespoons of peanut butter, and some water until you get a smooth dough-like consistency. Roll into balls and freeze on a tray. Once frozen, roll in cinnamon sugar or freeze for 3 hours to make homemade ice pops.
- Puzzle toys are a fantastic way to keep your fur baby entertained and preoccupied. The Kong and Buster Cube are excellent examples of toys you can fill with goodies like kibble, soft food, or peanut butter. Not only will they provide a fun activity, but they’ll also help ease the teething process. Young pups can take quite a while to figure out how to get the treat from their hiding spot. They can spend a few minutes up to several hours trying to locate & retrieve it.
- Although popular, rawhide chews can be dangerous as they can turn into large chunks when chewed and eaten. Therefore, they are not suitable to be use as chew toys.
- Exercise is a great way to keep your pup engaged and happy. Playing games like fetch and taking them for a walk are great ways to start. Training your pet on commands like ‘sit,’ ‘stay,’ and ‘roll-over’ can also help increase their activity levels.
- Switch up your pup’s toys to keep them engaged and entertained. If they have lost interest in a specific toy, replace it with something new, then cycle it back in when needed. If the toy is a puzzle, fill it with treats for an extra challenge!
Homemade Natural Dog Treats for Teething
You can ease your pet’s discomfort and help them during this period with some natural, homemade treatments! These dog teething remedies can gently and effectively get your furry pal back on track.
Milk-Bone Chicken Jerky: Combine your dog’s favourite teething biscuits with a pureed green veggie to create a healthy, tasty treat!
Ingredients:
1/2 cup unsalted butter
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 Cup all-purpose flour, including more for dusting hands if needed
3/4 teaspoon cornmeal or wheat flour, plus more for dusting hands if needed
1 egg yolk that’s beaten with 1 tablespoon water
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup cornmeal
1 1/2 cups packed fresh spinach, coarsely chopped
Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 475 degrees.
2. Melt butter in a saucepan. Add olive oil and stir until smooth. Add the flour, cornmeal and salt to the pan and cook for 1 minute, starting with a whisk or wooden spoon, until pale golden brown. Remove from heat and stir in beaten egg yolk mixture until combined well.
3. Form into small round 2-inch balls (about 10 to 12 balls), then roll them in cornmeal before placing them on an un-greased baking sheet about 1/2 inch apart. Bake until golden brown for 10 to 12 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.
Toothpaste & Baking Soda
Mix four tablespoons of baking soda with water and use this as toothpaste for your pet. Brush your dog’s teeth the same way you would if they were human! Try coating their gums with coconut oil. It will help relieve discomfort because it is cooling. Coconut oil also changes colour when it becomes rancid, so you can tell when it is needed again!
Pineapple Bits Treats
It is a great way to help relieve gums and reduce inflammation when your dog is teething. Cut pieces of canned pineapples and freeze them in an ice tray for your pup to enjoy as a cool treat! Food allergies can be tricky, so you must know the symptoms before they begin. However, these remedies should keep the itchiness at bay while you wait for medical attention if your pet needs it.
A Mixture of Frozen Fruit & Veggies
If you want to keep your pup happy and distracted from their teething pain, give them something tasty and icy! Frozen strawberries, banana slices, apple slices and small carrots are great options. Avoid giving your canine companion any frozen grapes – it’s very toxic. Plus, avoid giving them ice chips, too; these can cause considerable harm to their health.
Homemade Puppy Icicles
You can create something unique and delicious by combining frozen fruits & veggies with ingredients like peanut butter or yogurt! However, be sure not to use any vegetables toxic to dogs. All that’s needed to make this yummy treat is blending the ingredients and freezing them in an ice tray.
The puppies can enjoy these cool treats without worries since they’re softer than ice yet hard enough to relieve them. Some people even add Aloe Vera juice to the mix.
Conclusion
A new puppy can bring you immense joy, but the teething stage might be challenging. Some puppies get through this period without problem, while others may experience pain and distress. It’s essential to be understanding and make sure your pup is comfortable during this turbulent time.
All young puppies experience the need to chew while they’re teething. It helps reduce pain in the gums and allows them to transition from baby to adult teeth successfully.
Every pet parent wants to know; how many toys a puppy should have. Too many toys can be overwhelming, but providing your pup with sufficient playthings is vital. Finding the balance between too many and insufficient is critical here at Bark Avenue by Cucciolini.
