Similar to human babies, puppies are born without teeth. So, these cute creatures also need to undergo the excruciating process of teething!
If you are wondering why puppies are toothless, this is because they feed on their mum’s milk, so their bodies don’t naturally need them at first! However, upon exiting their mum’s womb, puppies start to develop their baby teeth and adult teeth within their jaws.
It’s quite interesting, right? Well, there’s more to know about teething in puppies!
Signs and symptoms of teething puppies
Pawrents, teething can be easy-peasy if you know what you should look out for! Check out the following signs and symptoms in your puppies:
- Excessive chewing or nipping
- Crying or whining
- Drooling
- Fever
- Red or swollen gums
- Slower-than-normal eating
- Small blood spots on your dog’s toys
In case you see your dog’s teeth crooked or broken, you must contact your veterinarian to seek any advice or treatment. There is a possibility that the veterinarian may have to remove your dog’s baby teeth that are stuck, as they may prevent adult teeth from coming in.
When does teething start and stop?
It is advisable to become aware of a pup’s teething timeline. This is for you to prepare your furbaby through it.
Generally, puppies start to experience teething between twelve (12) and sixteen (16) weeks. Here’s a timeline:
Puppies teething timeline:
- 2 to 4 weeks: Your dog’s baby teeth begin coming in.
- 5 to 6 weeks: All your dog’s baby teeth are expected to come in already.
- 12 to 16 weeks: Teething begins. Your dog’s baby teeth start to fall out, and adult teeth emerge.
- 24 to 30 weeks: All your pup’s baby teeth are expected to have fallen out and be replaced with adult teeth. Meaning the teething process has stopped by this period, along with its associated behaviors.
However, you need to remember that every dog is different. Hence, it may be possible that your pup deviates from this timeline a little.
In case you notice that your pup is way off from the general teething timeline, it is best to consult with your veterinarian, most especially if your pup still has a lot of baby teeth intact after six (6) months of age.
More about puppies’ baby teeth falling out
Unlike human babies, puppies get their teeth much faster—in fact, as early as two weeks old! When puppies turn around three to four months old, their teeth begin to fall out to be replaced by about 42 adult teeth.
Of course, the falling out of teeth can be awfully painful for your pup, making his gums sore. Upon the start of the teething process, you can notice that your pup may drool or see little spots of blood on his toys.
What does a proper bite look like for dogs?
To help your pet chew their food properly, you must ensure they have a normal eating “bite.” In order for you to know, check the following on your dog’s teeth.
- The lower canine teeth should be situated in front of the upper canines.
- The upper incisors should overlap the lower incisors.
- The upper premolar points should fit into the spaces between lower premolars.
- The upper carnassial teeth should overlap the lower ones.
The term ‘malocclusion’ refers to the abnormal bite in dogs. However, take note that malocclusion can be considered normal for certain dog breeds because of the differences in the shape of their jaws and mouths.
Some examples of such dog breeds are Bulldogs, Boxer Dogs, Shih-Tzus, Boston Terriers, and Lhasa Apsos.
How to feed a teething puppy?
As much as we want our puppies to eat great food, there is a limitation on what they can eat when experiencing teething. For instance, puppies may become uninterested in dry food during the teething process.
However, we don’t recommend switching to a new formula to boost your puppy’s appetite. Most of the time, changing the type of food during the teething process can only cause more stress and intestinal upset for your cute pups.
In feeding your teething puppy, you may want to consider the options below:
- Combine their regular or premium dry food with a premium canned puppy. When you do this, you help soften the dry food, which can be more appealing to your puppies.
- Consider adding moist food to your puppies’ meals.
- Soak the regular or premium dry food in warm water for about 15 to 15 minutes before giving it to your pup.
How to help your teething puppy?
Teething toys can do the trick!
If there’s one thing dogs love, it’s playing! They love to play and have fun. You can take advantage of this to help them with their teething stage by providing them with a teething toy.
With the teething toy, puppies can have something to bite or chew when they feel uncomfortable. However, pawrents should supervise giving puppies the toy as they can rip off the toy and may swallow small parts of it.
Hence, it is also better to buy teething toys that have:
- Soft rubber dental rings;
- Soft plastic chews; and
- Teething sticks.
Also, you should avoid buying plush toys. Teething toys for puppies must be enough to withstand hard chewing, so plush toys are not really ideal.
Make your home puppy-proof
During the teething process, your dog would want to chew everything! Your slippers, shoes, sofa, and rug seem more sparkly for teething puppies! They would really want to bite those, so it is better to make your home puppy-proof.
Here are some steps you can follow:
Place your personal things in a hidden place – here’s another fascinating fact about dogs: they are in love with the scent of their owners! When we say in love, they are drawn to their owner’s smell, most especially during their teething stage.
As a result, puppies would go to your shoes, closet, laundry basket, and phone to bite and chew! So, it is really advisable to put your stuff in a secure place.
Secure electrical cords – move your electrical cords out of reach from your dog as much as possible. Whether electrical, wire blinds or curtains that are on the floor or within reach, they are another chewing temptation for pups!
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