Help your puppy teething with tips from our Benicia vets. Puppies chew on things to ease the pain caused by teething, making it a challenging time for pet parents.
Why is my puppy biting me and chewing on everything?
Similar to how hum babies do, puppies will bite and chew on items while teething to try and relieve the discomfort they are feeling in their mouths. Dealing with a teething puppy might feel like a never-ending task for safeguarding your belongings (and fingers) from little chompers. Still, it's important to remain calm and remember they are just trying to make themselves 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. Around 4 months of age, your pup will begin to lose their needle-sharp baby teeth, and their adult teeth will begin to appear.
How long does puppy teething last?
By the time your puppy reaches 6-7 months of age, they should have their full set of adult teeth, and teething should be a thing of the past. In the meantime, our Benicia vets offer some puppy teething advice to help you and your pup get through this rough stage:
Store Some Puppy Friendly Teething Toys in the Freezer
Just like babies when they're teething, puppies can ease their teething discomfort by chewing on cold or frozen objects. You don't necessarily need special teething toys for dogs; you can freeze regular dog toys like Kongs, rubber bones, or soft dog toys to help soothe your pup's sore gums.
Offer Your Pup Extra Durable Chew Toys
Specific puppy teething bones like Nylabone come in sizes for small, medium, and large breeds, with tasty flavors. This helps to encourage your puppy to chew on a tasty treat rather than your boring-smelling valuables—instilling healthy chewing habits and relieving pain at the same time.
Edible Teething Sticks for Puppies
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 benefit most from the teething treat.
Healthy Frozen Foods For Puppies to Chew
Along with chewing on frozen toys, many puppies enjoy frozen treats they can actually eat. Frozen carrots or apple slices are a good option. Always speak to your vet before introducing your pup new "human" food.
My puppy keeps biting me, what should I do?
When puppies play, they often nip and bite. If one puppy bites too hard, the hurt pup will make a high-pitched yelp.
If your puppy 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.
If this makes your puppy bite harder, stop playing and either walk away or put it in their crate for 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.