How to Help a Teething Puppy

Is your puppy teething? Needing some advice on how to best help your wee bundle of fur? Pet Insurance Australia takes a look at puppy teething and how to help your puppy through this painful process.

It’s no wonder puppies love to chew and bite! In the space of six months your puppy’s mouth will erupt with 28 milk teeth that will eventually be replaced by 42 adult choppers…OUCH. The only way to soothe this dull ache and annoying pain is to chew, chew, chew.

But how can you help your puppy through this painful stage of puppyhood and how long does it last?

Puppy Teething Symptoms 

The main symptom of puppy teething is chewing. A teething puppy will try and chew on anything in sight, including your hand. The chewing offers your puppy some slight relief from the aching pain around their gums and teeth. Some pups will also go off their food during this stage.

At this age it’s important to offer a good selection of chew toys. Rotating these toys daily will also keep your puppy entertained and less likely to find something inappropriate to chew – cue your best leather shoes!

If you do notice your puppy chewing something inappropriate, a simple “AH AH” command – remove the object and replace with a chew toy – “good dog”. This is the time to teach your puppy the right and wrong things to chew. You should never punish a puppy for chewing. This behaviour is a very natural part of puppyhood. There are some wonderful puppy chewing aids on the market, some are extra soft and gel like, while others a little firmer for those super-active gnawers. Depending on the teething stage, you pup will prefer different textured chewing toys.

Puppy Teething Toys

With all chew toys ensure they are the correct size for your puppy and always remove the toy if broken or worn. To prevent choking – never allow an older dog to play or chew on puppy-sized chew toys.

Puppies are known to be extremely playful and impatient. This can cause a lot of germs and dirt to come in contact with the tender gums and teeth of your pet. It is recommended that you clean your dog’s teeth as often as possible, so pet owners will reach for any item they can find when picking out something for their pup to chew on.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of things you can give your dog to chew on that can be harmful. Some items contain chemicals that can damage the gums and teeth of your pet, so it is important to choose the right things to keep them away from all harm.

Best Puppy Teething Toys

Luckily for you, there are plenty of quality dog teething toys out there that will be safe for your puppy and stimulating for them as well. Most of these toys are made from a high-quality material that is soft, so you don’t have to worry about your pet swallowing pieces or choking on them.

The best puppy teething toys will also be safe for your pet to chew on for a long time, because many of these products are built with chewable knobs. These toys are especially good for younger pups as they will last longer and won’t break as soon as they begin to play with it.

The best puppy teething toys provide comfort to your precious pooch while also cleaning their teeth and gums. These products are also beneficial during the early stages of chewing and preventing the regrowth of adult-sized teeth.

Worried about the safety of multi-ingredient toys?

If you have a dog that has severe sensitivity to any particular ingredients, there is a chance that the toy will cause an allergy. Some of the best dog teething toys are made from fine fleece, which is hypoallergenic and odourless. You can check out our puppy teething toys list. The best puppy teething toy will be fine to use as they are all made from non-toxic materials.

The following material is used in the manufacturing process: Bristle (mineral): Bristle is not harmful to your pet, but you need to be careful that your pet does not swallow too much. Therefore, it is best to select toys that are made from bristles, rather than too many small pieces.

Sisal (natural fiber): Sisal is a natural material that comes from the Agave plant. This plant grows in South America and is known for being extremely durable. The fibers of this plant also make it a perfect material for making dog teething toys as they are safe for the mouth of your dog and can withstand chewing for an extended period of time.

Jute (natural fiber): Jute is another natural material that originates from India and Bangladesh. This material is strong but very soft to the touch. This makes it the perfect material for making a teething toy that your dog will like to play with.

Bones: Bones are another great sort of toy to give your pup. The best bone also came from the natural world, and it is made from cow bone. This is a great source of calcium and phosphorus, which are important for strong teeth and bones.

Rope: Rope toys are popular because they provide comfort to the pet, yet are stimulating for the pet’s jaws and teeth. Ropes have no harmful chemicals in them, so your dog can chew on them for an extended period of time without any discomfort.

Hemp: Hemp, made from the stalk of the hemp plant, is a natural fiber that your pooch will love to chew on. This is an ideal material for making dog teething toys as it is durable and safe for them to chew.

Silicone: Silicone is a material that doesn’t contain any harmful chemicals or additives, so using it to make dog toys will not harm your pet. The best silicone puppy teething toy will have no lasting effects on your pet after they have chewed on it for a long time.

Dental Tips For Teething Puppies

Now is also a great time to start a good dental regime with your pup. They will simply love a good gum rub during this stage so introducing a puppy toothbrush is easy. Remember to NEVER use human grade toothpaste as this is toxic to dogs. Only use specially formulated dog toothpaste.

During puppy teething it’s also recommended to check your pup’s teeth regularly to monitor the teething process and watch for any issues such as retained teeth or pungent breath. If you are concerned about your puppy’s teeth; seek veterinary advice.

When Do Puppies Start Teething? 

Week 2-4 – your puppy will still be nursing from their mother when their puppy teeth erupt through their gums. These teeth are very sharp and will eventually fall out, just like human baby teeth. By the end of week six, your puppy should have around 28 puppy/milk teeth. This is normally the time they will also start to wean from their mother and start to eat soft puppy food.

Week 8-18 –This is usually the time those puppy/milk teeth begin to fall-out and if you are lucky enough, and the vacuum cleaner doesn’t get them first, you may find a few of these puppy-keepsakes laying around the floor. This is the time most owners notice their puppy’s huge desire to chew…anything… including couches, skirting boards, shoes and the like. It’s very important to offer your pup lots of different things to chew during this stage, so they don’t discover the chair-leg as being their favourite teething toy!

4–6 months – this is when all of your puppy’s adult teeth will be starting to push through. During this eight-week process your pup will be in pain, and simply adore their gums being rubbed and chewing on a range of things. You may even notice a faint smell of blood on their breath.

7-8 Months – by this stage your growing puppy should have shed all of their puppy/milk teeth and have a whopping 42 adult teeth! This includes 12 incisors, four canines, 10 molars and 16 premolars.

Happy Teething!