Teething Puppies: How To Calm And Comfort Your New Dog
Posted on: 21 August 2015
Believe it or not, puppies have baby teeth and lose them just like human babies do. While this is a natural process that dogs normally don't need any help with, there may be periods of discomfort and anxiety that go with the teething process. This guide will help you to care for your puppy during this time, reduce their anxiety, and prevent them from being destructive by biting.
When Dogs Lose Their Teeth
Puppies generally begin to lose their deciduous teeth at around eight weeks of age. This process can take several weeks to be complete, but you can expect to start finding loose baby teeth that have fallen out of your dog's mouth starting at eight weeks. This is a completely normal process, and if your dog manages to swallow a tooth, it won't hurt them. However, you should collect any teeth that have fallen out, as you don't want to purposefully let your dog eat their own teeth!
What Behaviors You Can Expect
Puppies, like human babies, experience a bit of pain while they're teething. It's understandable: sharp teeth are pushing their way up through the gums, which can cause a bit of bleeding and some general discomfort. Puppies will naturally be more eager to chew on objects, including your belongings, in order to speed up this process. They may also paw at their mouths or spend time whimpering a bit.
What You Can Do To Help Reduce Pain
Your dog shouldn't be in agony, so if they seem to be in a lot of pain, go to a vet, such as Spring Hill Veterinary Clinic. Mild discomfort is normal when a dog is teething, so use these ideas to help them to get through it.
- Cold Water & Ice Cubes - Cold can help to numb the pain and reduce inflammation, so offer your dog refrigerated water or water with ice cubes in it.
- Cold Toys - If your puppy likes chewing on rope, try wetting the rope and then refrigerating or freezing it. If you freeze it, let it thaw slightly so it's a bit pliable and your dog can easily chew it. Your dog will naturally be inclined to chew at this time, so freezing their toys is like giving them an ice pack to chew, and will help with any swelling and discomfort.
Protecting Your Home
Your home is at a higher risk than ever of getting chewed to bits at this time. To discourage your puppy from chewing your furniture, make sure they have a wide variety of toys that they enjoy chomping on. Engage them regularly in play, tug-of-war, and other exciting exercises that will tire them out. A tired puppy won't have the energy to destroy your home, and games like tug-of-war will help the teeth to burst through the gums.
Your puppy will soon be past this awkward process, and things will become a bit easier soon. But for now, try these steps to help your puppy's teething process to be as simple and easy as possible.
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