Getting a new puppy into your residence is a very joyful experience. However, amidst all those cute moments, comes a very crucial phase in a puppy’s life that every new dog parent must understand: teething.
If your puppy starts chewing random things, Then it’s a clear sign that your tiny friend is growing teeth.
It’s necessary to know that your puppy might undergo a challenging developmental stage called teething, so it’s a necessary task for the dog owner to keep this complicated phase going smoothly and happily.
So, here is a complete detail on how teething is a necessary phase that a dog parent needs to handle.
The Teething Journey
Much like humans, puppies are born completely toothless. Their first little teeth, or the milk teeth, usually start to make an appearance anytime between three and four weeks of age.
These sharp little teeth are great for nursing. And many new puppy owners will soon find out that they’re excellent at nibbling on everything they see in their new world.
The hardest part is the teething, which means when they start to lose their baby teeth and their very strong, permanent adult teeth come in.
It usually is between the ages of three and six months. Once in a while, you may spot these baby teeth, roughly rice-sized, lying on the floor, in a dog crate, or among their toys.
Very often, however, puppies will just eat those baby teeth without your knowing, and that is perfectly normal and won’t harm them in any way.
Why are Puppies so Much on Chewing during Teething?
The activity of general chewing is a needful practice for any dog, but in times of teething, without it, the adolescent canine struggles.
As the baby teeth fall, the new teeth start emerging, and the entire process becomes frustrating for the puppy.
The pups chew on any random stuff in the beginning to relieve pressure in their gums or perhaps relieve pain. Baby teeth should be massaged out of the irritated gums in some manner.
They soothe themselves down, somehow coping with these strange and sometimes painful sensations in their mouths.
The other unrelated factor is exploration-puppies do use their mouths in exploring everything around them to know how things feel, look, and taste.
Such exploratory chewing attains its peak during teething as the searching for an object that gives the perfect amount of pressure against sore gums.
So now you know-they try to chew on everything from furniture legs to your fingers!
Notice the Signs of Your Puppy Teething
Every puppy is different, but a couple of signs could explain why your friend is going through teething.
Common symptoms include chewing; another symptom is some mild drooling, which happens when the gums start to feel irritated.
Your pup might have some slight redness or swelling in the gums, which you could see if you gently lift his lips.
The common behavior followed by the puppy might begin to eat less, as the chewing might hurt them.
Other pups get increasingly picky and will chew on whatever texture feels the most relief for them.
When the teeth are coming out, you will notice some specks of blood here and there on their chew toys or on the bed, which is usually all right.
When to call the vet?
In the course of teething, it is sometimes advisable to seek professional opinion from your veterinarian.
You could be looking at something more serious if your canine sucks blood from his or her mouth.
If the horrible stench from his or her mouth is accompanied by pus discharge, and if he or she is running a fever.
You should go for an observation session with your puppy, just in case some of his or her baby teeth do not fall out as the adult ones are trying to grow in.
This condition is called retained deciduous teeth.
Retained baby teeth lead to the adult teeth not aligning properly, which can cause many small pockets where food debris can get clogged and lead to dental diseases.
If the puppy is suffering in pain, suddenly stops eating, then immediate veterinary intervention will be necessary.
Conclusion
The real journey of teething is an unavoidable and occasionally hard period for puppies.
Knowing the usual timeline of your puppy’s growth cycle and signs of discomfort, along with methods to be one step ahead, will give the puppy a far less stressful time with far less discomfort.
