Remember the day when you first brought your puppy home? The puppy eyes & cute little paws gave you a puppy crush! That wiggly walk and wagging tail was a treat for sore eyes. And who can forget the first awooos!
Everything about a puppy is special till they enter the teething phase. Once your puppy realizes how tasty your shoes or your work documents are, it is a funny disaster but there is always a way to correct this situation
What is Teething?
Teething is a process when your furball starts getting baby teeth. This is very unsettling for these small babies, as they’re driven by a constant urge to bite almost each and everything they see! This exercise can be painful for both the pet and the pet parents.
At what age does teething start?
Teeth start to show in dogs from the age of 3-4 weeks and this process ends when they are around 5-7 months old.
Generally, dog owners face the issue of teething when they first get their pups, at about 2 months of age. The struggle continues till the baby teeth start to fall apart and are replaced with adult teeth.
What is the teeth count in puppies & dogs?
To have their dental count, pups have 28 teeth that are incisors (front teeth), canines (fangs) and premolars. Adult dogs have 42 teeth, consisting of incisors, canines, premolars and also molars.
The following chart will help you to understand how teeth eruption takes place over the years -
|
Puppy Teeth |
Adult Teeth |
|
|
Incisors |
2-4 weeks |
3-4 months |
|
Canines |
4-6 weeks |
4-5 months |
|
Premolars |
6 weeks |
4-6 months |
|
Molar |
---- |
5-7 months |
What are the symptoms of teething?
The most common and visible symptom of teething is excessive biting.
Pups will start biting anything & everything which is visible to them. For example: your shoe, sofa, pillow, even your hands & fingers.
How to make them stop?
-
If they attempt to bite, you may scold them and stop giving attention to them for 15-30 mins as their punishment.
-
Another trick is to act like you are really hurt and make them realize that they have made a mistake.
-
Choose an appropriate toy for your dog to chew on.
- Divert your dog's attention if he/she is chewing on any inappropriate or non-chewable thing and praise them for their successful attempt.
How to choose the right toy?
Choosing an appropriate toy for your fur baby is essential to maintain their dental health. Sometimes the wrong toy can be life threatening for your pet.
Choosing a wrong toy can lead to -
- Choking
- Ingesting toxic items like rubber, lace (after chewing a shoe) or a low quality rubber ball
Go for a toy which -
- Does not shred any rubber after chewing and is of good quality
- Is not very hard or can cause harm to their teeth as it can lead to irregular teeth
- Opting for calcium bones is a vet recommended solution to calm down their unsettling chewing behavior and it will also help in fulfilling the calcium needs in the early puppy stage
Chewing, licking and mouthing are some normal behavior in dogs. It is a part of their lives & remains with them forever. Excessive chewing or tearing can take place up to 15-18 months of age which can be controlled by giving them proper dog training. Pet parents can also maintain their dental health by opting for calcium supplements. For any further queries or information regarding training guidelines or vet-checkups, you can contact us on +91 8431620000.
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