Helping your puppy through teething can be tough; their discomfort often leads to chewing on everything. Our vets in Clearlake discuss how to help your puppy through this difficult stage.
Why is my puppy biting me and chewing on everything?
Like human babies, puppies will bite and chew on items while teething to try and relieve the discomfort. However, safeguarding your belongings (and fingers) from their little jaws may feel like a never-ending challenge. But 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?
As your puppy grows to 6-7 months of age, they have all their adult teeth, and teething will become a thing of the past. In the meantime, our Clearlake 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
Much like teething babies, puppies often find that chewing cold or frozen items helps to relieve teething pain. While there is a range of teething-specific toys available from most pet stores, almost any dog toy can be frozen to help provide relief for your pup. Kongs, rubber bones, and dog-specific soft toys are all great options.
Offer Your Pup Extra Durable Chew Toys
Specific puppy teething bones by brands such as Nylabone are sized appropriately for small, medium, and large breeds and come flavored. 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 gain the most benefit 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 to new "human" food.
My puppy keeps biting me, what should I do?
Puppies play by nipping and biting naturally. When one puppy bites another too hard, the hurt pup will let out a high-pitched yelp.
If your puppy is biting you, stopping this behavior early is important. One way to do this is by mimicking a help when your puppy bites. 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 doesn't work and your puppy bites harder, stop playing or put them in their crate for some 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.