Has the nippiness of your beloved pup increased lately? He might be going through the discomforting process of puppy teething.
We will give you the lowdown on how to minimise puppy teething pains, but before that, you need to learn about the teething process to understand how it affects your canine friend.
Puppy Teething Timeline
Teething in puppies is not a one-time occurrence. Much like human babies, young dogs experience teething twice: once for their deciduous teeth, aka baby teeth, and again for their permanent teeth.
The puppy teething process has 3 stages:
- Baby teeth erupt
- Baby teeth fall out
- Adult teeth erupt
So, how long does teething for a puppy last? The duration of puppy teething can last up to 6–8 months. We have created a short timeline detailing the teething process.
Puppy Teething Stage 1
3–4 weeks
What age does puppy teething start? Puppies start teething once they reach 3–4 weeks of age. Their incisors are the first set of teeth to erupt through the gums.
4–6 weeks
The rest of the puppy’s baby teeth begin to grow, starting from the canine teeth and followed by the premolars.
6–8 weeks
All 24 baby teeth of the puppies have filled out the gums. Around this time, puppies are slowly weaned and gradually introduced to consuming solid food.
Puppy Teething Stage 2
12–16 weeks
When do puppies lose their baby teeth? Puppies begin to lose their baby teeth when they are around 2–3 months of age, starting with the incisors.
Many dog owners also ask: “When do puppies teeth the worst?” Puppies are likely to experience teething at its worst once they reach 12 weeks old, and this will continue until they turn 20 weeks of age.
Puppy Teething Stage 3
4–5 months
The canine teeth begin to fall out when the adult teeth start to erupt through the gums.
6–8 months
All baby teeth completely fall out and are replaced with 42 adult teeth, comprising 12 incisors, 4 canines, 16 premolars, and 10 molars.
Another frequently asked question is: “When do puppies stop teething?” The answer is that when they are around 8 months old, puppies stop teething. However, it is not unusual for some to complete their teething process within 5–7 months.
Most Common Puppy Teething Symptoms
Is teething painful for puppies? Yes, teething is a painful process for puppies because it causes their gums to become swollen and sore as the teeth push out.
So what are the symptoms of a teething puppy?
- Increased mouthiness or nippiness
- Excessive drooling
- Whining
- Red, inflamed gums
- Decreased appetite
- Slow in finishing meals
- Specks of blood on dog toys
Regularly check puppies’ teeth to ensure they are not crooked or broken. Some dogs, particularly toy breeds, are prone to double teething, wherein the baby teeth do not fall out after the permanent dog teeth have erupted.
If any of these issues are present in your teething puppy, reach out to the vet immediately for proper treatment.
5 Ways to Alleviate Puppy Teething Pains
Most of the time, teething is not gentle for puppies. With your help, the pain and irritation caused by the process can be minimised. Here are some things that you can do for teething puppies:
Puppy Teething Tip #1: Puppy-proof your home.
How to help a teething puppy? When helping a teething puppy, the first step is to ensure that he does not chew on dangerous items in your home. We advise you to:
- Always unplug power cables and tie them up. Then use a sturdy cord concealer or PVC pipe to cover the wires.
- Place your clothes in the dresser and keep laundry baskets off the floor. Never leave them lying around as puppies might accidentally tear and ingest them whilst chewing, potentially causing intestinal blockage.
- Remove toxic houseplants if you have any for your puppy’s safety. Keeping non-toxic plants indoors is okay, but place them in an elevated area.
- Although they cannot cause poisoning, puppies might chew and ingest the stems, which may result in choking and stomach obstruction.
- Place sharp objects such as blades and knives and choking hazards like coins and paper clips inside high cupboards, preferably with childproof latches.
You may also like: How to Stop a Puppy from Chewing?
Puppy Teething Tip #2: Distract your puppy with dog chew toys.
Chew toys are great tools to distract your puppy from teething pains and prevent him from nibbling on furniture. If your furry pal has just started teething with their baby teeth, opt for soft teething toys such as rubber dental rings.
Avoid ones with a hard texture since you do not want your puppy losing teeth or breaking them. Also, do not give them plush toys as he might rip them open and choke on the stuffing.
When puppies are on their second teething, they require more durable puppy teething toys. Kong toys and bully sticks are great options for teething puppies.
Keep in mind to choose to chew toys that are bigger than your puppy’s mouth so he cannot swallow them. As much as possible, supervise him to prevent any untoward accidents.
Puppy Teething Tip #3: Try freezing treats and toys.
What can you give a teething puppy for pain? Feeding your teething puppy with frozen chunks of dog-friendly fruit or vegetables such as carrots and bananas will help soothe his aching gums.
You can also freeze a Kong toy filled with peanut butter and mixed it with pureed berries for your furry pal to chew.
Some pet owners use ice cubes as a gum soother for teething puppies. We do not recommend this method as ice cubes can crack the teeth. When swallowed, they can get lodged in the airway and cause choking.
Others recommend using puppy teething gel to soothe the pain. Only administer it after getting the vet’s advice. Beware, as some brands contain ingredients like essential oils of peppermint and clove, which are harmful to teething puppies.
Puppy Teething Tip #4: Brush their teeth.
Tooth brushing does not only protect your puppy’s oral health but also helps in stimulating the adult teeth. The massaging motions encourage them to push through the gums sooner, shortening the puppy teething process and alleviating pain.
To find the right dog toothbrush for teething puppies, inspect the bristles. They should be soft to avoid damaging their gums.
When choosing a toothpaste, make sure that it is specifically made for dogs. Never pick brands intended for human use as they contain toxic ingredients to canines like xylitol.
Puppy Teething Tip #5: Brew chamomile tea.
How do you soothe a teething puppy? Chamomile is a herb with calming properties and pain-relieving agents that will soothe your puppy’s irritability as well as his teething pains. Thus, hitting 2 birds with 1 stone.
Make chamomile tea by steeping 1 teaspoon of dried chamomile in 1 cup of boiling water. Allow the tea to cool down to room temperature before offering it to your furry pal.
Consider mixing a small amount of sodium-free chicken broth into the tea if he is reluctant to drink the tea. Another option that you can take is to squirt the drink carefully in his mouth using a syringe.
Puppy Teething Tip #6: Play fun games.
Keep your puppy from focusing on the discomfort of teething pains by providing him with physical and mental activities. Take him outside for a fun round of agility or obstacle course. Or you can play hide-and-seek, puzzle games, and fetch when indoors.
