When puppies teethe, they experience pain. To help alleviate their discomfort, puppies often start chewing on things they shouldn't. In this post, our Los Angeles County vets share some tips that can help you manage your puppy's teething pain and get them to chew on appropriate items.
Why Your Puppy Is Chewing Everying & Biting You
Puppy teething can feel like a very long process, especially if your young pooch is chewing on everything they can fit their jaws around. But it's important to do your best to stay calm and remember that your pup isn't trying to annoy you, they only want to relieve the pain and discomfort they are experiencing. It's just a coincidence that chewing on your new shoes is the perfect way to make their mouth feel better.
At What Age Do Puppies Start Teething?
While this can vary somewhat between different breeds, puppies generally get their first set of teeth when they are approximately 5 to 6 weeks old. When they are about 16 weeks of age, your pup will start to lose their needle-sharp baby teeth and their adult teeth will start to come in.
How Long Puppies Teethe
Your puppy should have all 42 of their adult teeth when they are roughly 6 to 7 months old they, and teething should be a thing of the past.
Although, lots of pet owners find those 4 to 5 months of intense teething a real struggle. Since puppies try to get pain relief by chewing on almost anything they can find (and their small stature), furniture legs, expensive footwear, or even your feet and fingers become key targets.
So how can you help relieve your furry friend's discomfort and protect your valuable belongings? Our veterinary team at Animal Hospital of Redondo Beach has provided a few suggestions below.
Tips For Helping Your Teething Puppy
Keep a Few Puppy Teething Toys in the Freezer
Similar to teething babies, puppies find chewing cold or frozen items helps relieve teething pain. While there are many teething-specific toys available at most pet stores, you can freeze almost any dog toy to help give your pup some relief. Kongs, rubber bones, and dog-specific soft toys are all great options.
Provide Your Pup With Extra Durable Chew Toys
Specific puppy teething bones by brands such as Nylabone are sized appropriately for small, medium, and large breeds and come in yummy flavors to help tempt your puppy away from boring smelling valuables and over to a tasty chewy treat - encouraging both healthy chewing habits and relieving pain at the same time.
Offer Your Puppy Edible Teething Sticks
Lots of reputable dog food brands offer edible puppy teething treats and bones to help alleviate your young pup's mouth pain. Your vet may suggest one specifically for your little dog or you can visit your local pet store and choose from a range of flavors and sizes. Remember to select the appropriate size for your dog.
Healthy Frozen Foods Your Puppy Can Chew
Puppies often love tasty treats such as frozen carrots, frozen bagels, and other healthy veggies. If you are planning on giving your furry friend frozen food, ask your vet first to make sure it's a good option for your pup.
What To Do If Your Puppy Keeps Biting You
By nature, puppies play by nipping and biting. When one puppy bites another too hard, the hurt pup will let out a high-pitched yelp.
If your puppy is nipping and biting at you, it's imperative to put a stop to this behavior before it gets out of control. One effective method for stopping this behavior is to mimic the yelp of a hurt puppy when your little pooch digs their teeth into you. A loud little 'OW' in a high-pitched voice should startle your puppy and make them back off. When your puppy stops biting and backs off, offer them a reward for their good behavior.
If this approach makes your puppy nip at you more aggressively, quietly stop playing with your puppy and walk away, or gently put your pup in their crate for 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.