Teething puppies can become a real hassle for pet parents. Unfortunately, the pain caused by their teeth growing in can lead to your sweet puppy starting to bite everything. Our Springfield vets are here to help.
Why Is My Puppy Biting Everything?
The puppy teething stage can feel like it's dragging on for an eternity because you are constantly monitoring them so they don't destroy all of your belongings. It is important to remember to stay calm, your puppy is not doing this to be bad, they are simply trying to find a way to soothe their aching gums. It just so happens that chewing on your new sofa's leg may be the perfect thing for making your pup's mouth feel better.
When Do Puppies Start Teething?
Breeds vary somewhat 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 Do Puppies Teethe?
By the time your pooch is about 6 - 7 months old, they should have all 42 of their adult teeth and teething should be a thing of the past.
That said, those 4 - 5 months of intense teething can be a real struggle for many pet parents. As puppies looking to find relief from the pain will often chew on almost anything they can find, and because of their small stature that can often mean furniture legs, expensive footwear or even your feet or fingers.
So what can you do to help relieve your furry friend's discomfort and protect your valuable belongings? Here are a few suggestions from our veterinary team at Noll Veterinary Hospital.
What You Can Do To Get Through The Puppy Teething Stage
Your puppy's gums are going to hurt no matter what you do so they will want to bite everything. But here are a few things you can do to help soothe their soreness and get through this stage with minimal damage to your belongings, or your ankles.
Store Puppy-Friendly Teething Toys in Your Freezer
Much like teething babies, puppies often find that chewing cold or frozen items help to relieve teething pain. While there is a range of teething-specific toys available from most pet stores almost any dog toy can be frozen to help provide relief for your pup. Kongs, rubber bones, and dog-specific soft toys are all great options.
Give Your Pup Extra Durable Chew Toys
You can buy bones and toys that are specifically designed for teething puppies. Make sure you purchase ones that are appropriately sized for their breed, and you can even choose a flavor that your pup will love to encourage them to choose these over your furniture. This will not only help their sore gums, but it will also help set the foundation for healthy chewing habits as they grow up.
Offer Your Puppy Edible Teething Sticks
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.
Provide Healthy Frozen Foods For Puppies to Chew
Many puppies enjoy tasty treats such as frozen bagels, frozen carrots or other healthy veggies. If you are planning to offer your pup frozen food make sure you run it by your vet first to ensure it's a good option for your pup, and that the food is not toxic to dogs.
My Puppy Won't Stop Biting Me, What Should I Do?
Puppies will naturally want to nip and bite during play. When one puppy bites another too hard the hurt pup will let out a high-pitched yelp.
If your young pup is nipping and biting at you it's important to put a stop to this behavior before it gets out of hand. 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.
In the odd case, this technique could have the opposite effect. If this causes your puppy to bite you more, stop playing immediately and walk away from them, or gently put them in their crate to settle down. If the problem persists, you can always contact a dog training professional for teething puppy help so these behaviors don't blossom out of control.
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.