Puppy teething occurs at the age of 3 to 4 weeks, and again at 4 to 5 months, when the baby teeth are exchanged for permanent teeth. Teething can be a painful condition for your pet, so you need to offer him chew toys and treats to stimulate the eruption of the teeth and reduce the discomfort and the pain.
Baby Teeth
The baby teeth start erupting when the puppy is about 3 to 4 weeks old. The first teeth that occur are the canines followed by the incisors or the front teeth and the premolars. By the time the puppy is 8 weeks old, he should have all his 28 baby teeth.
Teething causes pain and discomfort due to the pressure of the teeth on the gums. The puppy is likely to chew on different hard things around the house, to try to reduce the pain.
Permanent Teeth
The baby teeth will be shed when the puppy is 4 to 5 months old. The permanent teeth will start to erupt. By the age of 7 to 8 months, the puppy should have all his teeth. Typically, dogs have 42 permanent teeth.
Recommendations for Teething Puppies
Puppies and dogs like to chew. The chewing will be more intensive when the dog is teething. To prevent possible accidents or the destruction of valuables, you need to control your puppy.
Offer him safe chew toys that are recommended for teething. Get different textured toys, to keep your dog interested: rawhide chewies, rope toys or toys that are filled with treats. Ensure that the toys are suitable for your puppy’s size, as puppies can easily swallow the toys or fracture some bones. If you get any soft toys, make sure they are suitable for kids under the age of 3. Make sure these toys don’t resemble any of your household items and furniture pieces, so that he dog won’t be tempted to chew on these instead of the toys.
Get some gels that can alleviate the discomfort caused by puppy teething. Rub these gels on the dog’s gums, using your finger or a soft brush.
Chew treats can also relieve the teething discomfort, and you can use treats to prevent your puppy’s chewing behavior.
Dental Care for Dogs
Due to the fact that dental problems are very common in dogs and can lead to severe health complications, a proper dental hygiene is highly recommended.
The puppy must get used to daily tooth brushing as early as possible. Dogs typically don’t like to have someone handling their teeth, but if you use a meaty flavored toothpaste and a few kind words or treats, you can convince your dog to accept the daily tooth brushing.
Diet is also important to maintain your dog’s dental health. Kibble food is recommended, as the texture of the food can scrape off plaque deposits, which can turn into tartar if not removed in a timely manner.
Make sure you visit your vet for a dental check up and professional cleaning once or twice per year.