All puppies will eventually start teething when their baby teeth become loose, fall out, and their adult teeth start to appear. During this stage, your puppy’s mouth might bleed, the pup could whine, and will undoubtedly start to chew items to alleviate the discomfort.
Signs of Teething
When your puppy starts to teeth, they may show the following symptoms:
- Drooling
- Chewing
- Biting
- Red gums
- Facial swelling
- Whining
- Fever
- Slow eating habits
- Bad breath
- Bleeding gums
While your pup's teeth are erupting, be sure to check to see if there are any problems such as a broken tooth or a crooked or misaligned tooth that might be causing excessive discomfort. Your veterinarian might have to remove the problem tooth to make way for the adult teeth to come in or even pull an adult tooth that is not growing in correctly.
What to Do When Your Puppy Starts Teething
If your puppy has started teething, then it's time to provide them with plenty of teething toys. Chewing is essential for a pup teething. It helps ease the pain of the process and loosen the baby teeth so the adult ones can more easily break through.
Always pick chew toys that are proper for puppy's size. If the chew toy is too large or hard then the pup will not be able to safely chew the item. Also, if it's too small then a large dog might accidentally swallow the toy and choke.
Even with ample available chew toys, your pup might still want to chew on inappropriate items so you’ll need to puppy-proof your home by ensuring the young dog cannot chew on electrical cords or other harmful items.
When a puppy is going through the chewing phase, you should consider confining the pup to a crate when unsupervised. Also, pick up shoes, clothing, pillows, and other inappropriate items that might tempt the pup. You can also invest in a gate to section off areas of the home where your pup can safely play. Just make sure all items are picked up that the pup might chew.
Oral Health Maintenance
Many owners think that supplying chew toys for their dogs will ensure oral health. However, you should also keep a regular dog dental care routine. Brush your pup’s teeth with canine approved toothpaste and a toothbrush. You should also make regular appointments with your dog’s veterinarian for frequent cleanings. Establishing a baseline of dental care early in a puppy’s life helps to set up a firm foundation of best oral health later in life.
Sometimes, when a puppy starts to teeth and chew up your household items, you might feel like the stage will never end, but eventually a pup will grow out of the teething phase. Although, it is always a good idea to keep ample chew toys around because even adult dogs enjoy chewing as a recreational action.
