My Pup is Teething! How to Soothe a Teething Puppy?

Like babies, your sweet little pup will undergo teething. And as you know, this can get really uncomfortable for them. Your once cheerful pupper is now grumpy, chewing incessantly, and grunting whenever you touch its mouth. As much as teething is a normal phase that dogs go through, you should know how to soothe a teething puppy to help the poor little doggo get over it. Like any other ruff times, this too(th) shall pass! It starts with the help of these toys:

CHEW TOY	CHEW TOY NAME	EXPERT RATING	PRICE
	KONG Puppy Teething Toy		Check Price
	Nylabone Puppy Chew Toys		Check Price

At this point, one important thing that you should know is that it’s quite normal for the pup to chew. Don’t take this as a behavioral issue right away. Puppies need oral stimulation to soothe the discomfort they are experiencing in their gums.

Pro tip: secure your shoes, chewy slippers, and important belongings. A teething puppy spares nothing.

Common problems with a teething puppy

Let’s start with the damage it can bring to your home. Your pup will try to ease the pain by running his sprouting daggers through your upholstery or table. They will also rip anything that they can fit into their mouths. It’s important to give them chewy toys to divert their attention from your pricey Adidas to something yummier and fun. Below, I’ve reviewed two of my personal picks for a teething toy.

Another thing about dog teething is that your pup will mouth you repeatedly. And when the little daggers are already showing, this can hurt you too. It’s best to enforce a disciplinary action when this happens. A loud ‘no’ will do.

Your puppy will become grumpy. It’s important that you won’t act out with the same level of anguish if the pooch resists your commands. They’re undergoing some sort of pain so the least you can do is be patient and provide them with puppy teething pain relief.

Lastly, it’s important that you know the dangers associated with puppy teething. Pups can contract gum infections and misaligned tooth. You should send them to the vet to get it cured right away. Proper dental hygiene should prevent the infections in the first place.

The teething process

Usually, the first phase of teething will last from 1-3 months. After this, there will be a few months of leeway before your dogs’ baby teeth fall off and get replaced with adult teeth. It’s the same concept with us, humans, but faster since dogs have a shorter lifespan.

It’s normal, so to speak, to see blood on your carpet when your puppy is teething. If the second teething phase is taking place, there would be fallen teeth on the floor as well.

If he tries to mouth your feet or hand, don’t be angry. Instead, grab your doggo’s muzzle gently to let him know that what he’s doing is uncalled for. If you become angry, they will consider such an act as a hostile move, thus preventing you from getting close to their mouth. That’s one thing we don’t want to happen here.

Be prepared with all the nipping, biting, shredding, and mouthing. If you get your pup as young as two weeks old, they are yet to grow their baby teeth. These 28 little daggers will stay until the third and fourth month of their young lives. During this point, the puppy should still be in the breeder and mingling with its litter.

For those who got the puppy with a complete set of baby teeth, the fourth month will be the big month for you. The 28 baby teeth will be replaced with 42 adult daggers. This process is painful and irritating for pooches. If you’ve taken care of a teething baby, you’ll know how disastrous this can be at times. You should know how to soothe a teething puppy.

At six months old, all the adult teeth should be in place. If ever some baby teeth didn’t fall off, you should bring the pooch to the vet to get it fixed.

How will I know if my puppy is teething?

The gap between the third and fourth month can be a bit long. Some pups tend to teeth a bit earlier while some undergo the process later than usual. It’s important that you identify some tell-tale signs as soon as possible. Why? So you can prepare and get chewy toys that will help ease the doggo’s suffering.

Here are some of the guaranteed symptoms of a teething puppy:

?Drooling

?Missing teeth

?Blood on toys, bed, floor, or carpet

?Unusual chewing

?Nipping and pulling

Remember, though, that excessive bleeding is a cause of concern. Send the dog to the vet if you observe little pools of blood on his toys. And during regular days, provide the pup something where he can vent out all his chewing desires.

If you’re giving out jerky or rawhide treats as puppy teething pain relief, always monitor your pup whenever he’s in it. The excessive chewing may rip some parts which can cause choking.

My puppy is nipping other dogs!

Nipping is pretty common to teething puppies, especially if they are playing with other doggos. You’ll hear one pooch yelping as the teething puppy bites him sharply. If the nipping is becoming repetitive, you should teach your pup that it’s not acceptable behavior. Say a firm “no” when he nips you or another dog. Reward him with a small treat if the pup retreats.

Aside from knowing that his nipping hurts others, you should also let him know what is allowed to chew and nip. Give him safe toys and if he keeps biting other dogs or you, take the chew toys away as a punishment.

Knowing how to soothe a teething puppy doesn’t include hurting or shouting at the pooch. This instills fear and not discipline. If you don’t know how to handle your pup’s behavior, you can always talk to a trainer or a vet about it.

Puppy teething pain relief

Easing the pain that your pup feels is the least that you can do at this point. Teething can last for two months and can become unbearable, especially if infections get in the way. The first thing I’ll suggest is to provide your pup with chew toys. This is a staple if you don’t want him to consider your shoes as easy pickings.

Here are more things you can do to take that pain away:

?Cold chews

Aside from the commercial chew bones that you can purchase, you can also make cold chews at home. You can freeze carrot cubes and give it to your pup when he’s starting to chew. The coldness will numb the gums and stop the bleeding. You don’t have to worry because carrots are totally safe for dogs. Just make sure that your cuts won’t cause choking.

You can also freeze clean rag sticks and give it to your dog as a chew. This is cost-effective and safe. Still, you can skip the hassle by purchasing toys that can be frozen.

?Ice cube

If you observe that your doggo’s gum is bleeding, you can give him a few ice cubes to toy around. You can also pour out some on his water dish. The cold water can help stop the bleeding. This little tip from your dentist can also help your pooch.

?Use some herbs

Before you administer any herb to your dog, make sure that your vet approves it. Usually, lavender and chamomile are used due to the soothing and calming effect it gives to the body. You can make a tea out of it and pour it into your dog’s water dish once the concoction cooled.

You can also freeze the tea into ice cubes which you can give to your pooch as a treat later on.

?Drinkable aloe vera

A drinkable aloe vera can help ease the soreness of the gums while preventing any possibility of an infection. You can put some on his water dish or freeze some until it’s a bit slushy. Chances are your dog won’t like its taste. I suggest that you use a squirt bottle to apply it to his gums directly.

Massage it to your pup’s gums gently and try not to touch the bleeding parts. If the pup wriggles violently, let go of him and let him lick the aloe vera juice.

?Vet care

Nothing beats the advice and care of a veterinarian when your dog is teething. The dog doctor can provide you with painkillers that will help your pup. Also, consulting to an expert will help you dodge possible infection on your doggo’s mouth. Remember, dental problems are more prominent during this period. Only the vet knows how to soothe a teething puppy properly.

Taking care of your pup’s new teeth

Once all the adult teeth are in place, you should know how to take care of your doggo’s teeth. Like humans, the adult set is the last teeth your pooch can ever have. It’s important that your keep decay, cavity, and infection at bay.

Even before your doggo starts teething, you should’ve made him accustomed to the oral stimulation of brushing. This way, the pup won’t fight back once he grew bigger. Once the adult teeth are in place, purchase a dog toothbrush and dog toothpaste. Note: never use human toothpaste, unless you want an ER visit for your dog.

Brush your pooch at least once a week, and if you want to avoid cavities, do it every day. Let your doggo leak the toothpaste after brushing. Most types of dog toothpaste nowadays have savory flavor. With this, the pooch will leak and spread the paste in his mouth.

The Best Chew Toy for Your Teething Puppy

Planning to buy chew toys as puppy teething pain relief? Here are two personal picks:

KONG Puppy Teething Toy

KONG is the leading dog toy maker and you’ll never go wrong with their classic teething toy. It’s made from soft rubber that will allow your pooch’s daggers to bury into it. The best part is that the material is durable enough to take the beating of constant chewing.

What I love the most about this KONG toy is the hollow center which you can fill with frozen carrots and other treats. This way, you can encourage your dog to chew the toy rather than your precious pair of kicks.

Colors vary for this toy. Also, make sure that you get the right size for your pup. Too small and it may choke him; too large or he will find it hard to munch.

Personally, I’ve used KONG toys for many years now on my pooches and it’s always a great buy. Just beware of knock-off products.

Nylabone Puppy Chew Toys

If your pup wants something flavorful, you can get him the Nylabone Puppy Chew Toy starter pack. It’s composed of three-ringed chew toy packed with bacon flavor that your pup can’t resist. A big plus here is that the rings also help clean your doggo’s teeth.

It’s made from a safe nylon material that’s durable enough for puppies. If you’re worried about choking, you should observe your pup while he plays with it.

Texture-wise, this is gentle but you may want to watch out for over-chewing. If your pup’s gums tend to bleed with this, stick to the soft KONG toy. My pooches went well with this toy, but it’s always a different thing for different dogs.

Knowing how to soothe a teething puppy isn’t a hard task. You just have to know some simple hacks that will ease their discomfort. If you have any concerns, a veterinarian can always help. When it comes to your doggo’s dental health, you can’t take chances.