When do Puppies Teeth the Worst? Teething Puppies and What To Do About It!
We love our Goldendoodles and realize that teething can be painful for a puppy. Knowing our puppies are uncomfortable can also be painful for those of us caring for them.
For this reason, I wanted to address many of the top questions related to puppies and teething in order to offer a few ideas to help ease the challenges of a teething puppy. I did some research, and this is what I found to be most helpful. I hope you find it helpful too.
When Do Puppies Teeth The Worst?
Puppies start teething at about three to four months of age and generally have all 42 of their adult teeth in by the time they are just six months old. Similar to humans, puppies are born with no teeth. Puppy teeth (also called milk teeth) start appearing when your Goldendoodle is between 2-4 weeks old and are known to be very sharp.
Wondering how many weeks of age it will be before your pups jaws aren’t on everything they see? Here’s what you need to know about puppy teething stages, as well as some tips to keep everything out of puppy’s mouth and how to provide dental care and chew toys to help canine teeth come in strong.
Everything You Need To Know About A Puppy That Is Teething and What To Do About It!
Puppies only grow 28 baby teeth before their 42 adult teeth come in. Fun fact, an adult dog has 10 more teeth than a human!
Puppy Teething Symptoms [Signs Your Puppy Is Teething]
You will know your furry friend is going through the teething stage when they start chewing on everything in sight.
Often, this is when you will come home to find your favorite pair of shoes chewed up or the corner of your great grandmother’s armoire gnawed at.
While they are especially prone to chewing while teething, the urge to chew does not go away so now is the time to redirect them to appropriate items to chew on.
Additional signs of a teething puppy are finding small amounts of blood on their favorite toy or lack of interest in hard, dry food.
Puppy Teething Timeline: What To Expect and When
Since teething for a puppy is more rapid than for a human, I’ve put together the following puppy teething timeline to help guide you through the phases of puppy teething:
Birth to 2 Weeks
- Puppies have no teeth
2 to 4 Weeks
- Incisors, premolars, molars and canines appear
5 to 8 Weeks
- All 28 puppy teeth are expected to be in.
- At about eight weeks the puppy’s milk teeth (puppy teeth) should start falling out.
12 to 16 Weeks
- Adult teeth start to come in and push puppy teeth out.
6 Months and Older
- Adult teeth should be in.
Puppies start teething at about three weeks, but the period between 5-8 weeks for a teething puppy is when they will need your support the most.
Do Puppies Feel Pain When Teething?
Do puppies feel pain when teething? Unfortunately, teething can be painful for our furry friends.
Just like human babies, as the adult teeth are working their way up it can cause pain in their gums and mouth. This can even make it hard for your puppy to eat.
Research has shown that teething can be harder on some puppies and even cause them to lose their appetite, have an upset tummy, soft stools and some puppies can even run a low-grade fever.
If this is the case for your puppy, try giving them warm, soft foods that are appealing and easy to chew for their sore gums.
What Can I Give My Puppy For Teething?
What can I give my puppy for teething? Thankfully there are lots of safe options to give your puppy to ease their teething pain. Frozen treats such as chicken broth ice cubes or freezing a food dispensing toy such as a Kong filled with peanut butter can help numb the pain.
There are also toys available in your local pet store that you can freeze and give to your puppy when they are in pain.
Also, as mentioned previously, if your puppy is having a particularly hard time during this phase offer warm, soft foods that they can easily chew.
In addition, some advice states you can try holding them in your lap and gently massaging their gums with your finger.
Using brushes and a toothpaste designed specifically with dogs can help to eliminate plaque buildup and improve the health of the permanent teeth coming in. Don’t use human toothpaste, since it may have some ingredients that aren’t good for dogs.
BONUS TIP: Check out these favorite DIY treats that are easy to make! Several of these could work well for a teething puppy.
How Do You Stop A Teething Puppy From Biting?
How do you stop a teething puppy from biting? One dog lets another dog know they’ve bitten too hard or played too rough by letting out a yelp, the same can work for you with your puppy. When your teething puppy tries to use you as a teething toy let out a yelp or an, “Ow” to let them know it’s not ok. When they back off, give them a treat and praise to let them know they’ve done the right thing. Don’t hit your puppy or otherwise physically punish them as this can cause more harm than good.
After you’ve practiced the above a few times, keep toys handy and give them a toy so they can start learning what is appropriate to chew on.
For example, if you’re playing and your puppy starts nipping at your fingers or toes, give them a toy to chew on instead. This will help redirect them going forward and eventually they will only chew on their toys.
Closing Thoughts
Having a soft cuddly puppy around is an amazing thing. While the teething phase can be difficult for both of you, with the right care and tools I’m sure you and your furry friend will make it through just fine!
Don’t Forget: Be sure to keep your dog’s teeth clean. Here’s a list of New Dog Toothbrushes Worth Buying!
Related Content You May Find Interesting
Here are some more articles that may be of interest to you if you’re dealing with a new puppy.
