What to Avoid During Puppy Teething
Teething is a critical developmental phase in puppies, typically occurring between the ages of 3 to 7 months. During this time, puppies lose their baby teeth and their permanent adult teeth begin to emerge. As natural and necessary as this process is, it often comes with discomfort, behavioral shifts, and the urge to chew. Understanding what to avoid during puppy teething is essential for ensuring your puppy's oral health and overall well-being.
Why Teething Happens
Like human infants, puppies are born without teeth. Around 3 weeks of age, their baby teeth (also called deciduous or milk teeth) begin to erupt. By 6–8 weeks, they typically have all 28 baby teeth. Between 12 to 16 weeks, these baby teeth start falling out, and by 6 to 7 months, most puppies have grown in all 42 permanent adult teeth.
Common Teething Symptoms
- Excessive chewing and gnawing
- Drooling
- Swollen or sensitive gums
- Bleeding from the gums (mild)
- Nipping and biting behavior
- Loss of appetite
What to Avoid
Providing inappropriate items or engaging in certain practices can endanger your puppy’s dental development. Here are specific things to avoid:
- Hard bones and antlers: These can fracture your puppy’s tender developing teeth and cause pain or infections.
- Rawhide chews: Difficult to digest and potentially a choking hazard, rawhide can also damage soft puppy gums.
- Very hard rubber or plastic toys: If a toy doesn't give when pressed with your fingernail, it's too hard and may crack new adult teeth.
- Small or broken toys: Pieces can become lodged in your puppy's throat or digestive tract.
- Frozen items not intended for dogs: While frozen carrots are safe, avoid offering objects like ice cubes or household plastic items.
Recommended Chewing Alternatives
During teething, puppies chew to relieve gum discomfort. Offering safe, beneficial options will soothe their pain while protecting their dental health:
- Soft rubber toys: Specially designed teething toys provide relief without damaging teeth.
- Freezable chew toys: Cooling the toy helps reduce gum inflammation.
- Frozen carrots: A healthy and soothing snack option safe for most breeds.
- Dental chews: Formulated to promote oral health while satisfying chewing urges.
Signs of Dental Issues
Teething usually proceeds without major issues, but complications can arise. Monitor for:
- Excessive or persistent drooling
- Bad breath
- Difficulty eating or loss of appetite
- Swelling of the mouth or face
- Loose adult teeth
- Retained baby teeth: If a baby tooth doesn’t fall out naturally, it may crowd the adult tooth or cause malocclusion (misalignment).
If any of these signs appear, consult your veterinarian. Retained teeth usually require removal under anesthesia to prevent long-term dental problems.
Preventing Bad Habits
Teething puppies often nip as part of their natural exploration and comfort-seeking. To manage biting:
- Teach bite inhibition: When your puppy bites too hard during play, let out a high-pitched “ouch” and temporarily stop the play session.
- Redirect biting: Always have approved chew toys available and encourage their use.
- Avoid physical punishment: This can increase fear or aggression, making teething troubles worse.
- Supervised socialization: Gentle interaction with people and other dogs helps teach appropriate mouth behavior.
Establishing Good Dental Hygiene Early
Begin caring for your pup’s teeth early. Use dog-safe toothpaste and introduce gentle tooth brushing to get your puppy used to dental care. Schedule regular vet check-ups to monitor oral health, especially during the transitional months of teething.
Key Developmental Timeline
- 0–2 Weeks: No teeth, exclusively nursing.
- 3–4 Weeks: Incisors and canines begin erupting.
- 5–8 Weeks: Entire set of 28 baby teeth present.
- 12–16 Weeks: Baby teeth begin falling out; adult teeth erupt.
- 5–7 Months: Full set of 42 adult teeth usually complete.
Conclusion
Puppy teething is a foundational stage in their growth, and your care during this period plays a major role in your dog's future oral health. By avoiding harmful objects, providing appropriate chewing options, teaching bite inhibition, and ensuring dental care, you set your puppy up for a lifetime of healthy smiles. Keep in touch with your veterinarian if you observe any irregularities beyond minor teething issues.
