Not Sure How to Help Your Teething Puppy? This Golden Retriever Owner Has the Answers
There’s no debating about it: Puppies are sinfully adorable. But truth is, these oh-so-cute furry creatures can be a nightmare at times, especially when they’re teething. If your puppy is currently in the turbulent teething phase, it’s likely that you’re fed up with their reckless chewing behaviors.
We feel you.
Teething puppies tend to chew literally anything they get their jaws on. But before you yell at them for shredding your expensive footwear, remember this: chewing is simply their way of relieving the discomfort they feel as their adult teeth come into place.
Thankfully, you don’t have to witness the chewing horror unfold every other day as your puppy deals with their teething woes. There are effective home remedies that can do wonders in soothing your furry friend’s irritated gums so they don’t resort to chewing your stuff. A Golden Retriever owner has shared different ways they help their teething puppy named Teddy, and we’re pretty sure you’ll find these tips super helpful.
In a series of short clips posted on TikTok account @teddys_golden_days, Teddy’s owner reveals the different dog-safe frozen treats they use to address Teddy’s teething discomfort. The good news? They all work! These safe chews include ice cubes, frozen celery, frozen carrots, and frozen apples. According to the relieved owner, the coldness of these treats greatly helps soothe Teddy’s inflamed gums.
In addition, Teddy’s owner recommends freezing a wet rag or your puppy’s favorite stuffed toy (after wetting it) and letting them chew on it.
“Freeze a wet rag and let them chew on it (under supervision). The cold soothes their gums. Tie a knot in it before you freeze to make it easier for them to hold and chew,” reads the caption on one of the videos.
@teddys_golden_days ❄️ Happy chomping! 💡Tip: Tie a knot in it before you freeze it to make it easier for them to hold and chew #fyp #goldenretrieverpuppy #goldenretriever #goldenretrieversoftiktok #puppy #Teddysgoldendays #puppyvlog #puppyteething #tipsforteethingpuppy #teethinghack ♬ original sound – Teddy’s Golden Days
The Basics — What Is Puppy Teething?
Teething is a normal development stage that every puppy goes through during their early months of life. Just like human babies, all puppies are born without teeth. This, however, changes when your puppy is around three weeks old and starts growing milk teeth (also called deciduous teeth, meaning they’ll eventually fall off).
These temporary milk teeth are often quite sharp, which is why you may feel so much pain when your puppy bites you. It’s no wonder many puppy owners refer to these milk teeth with labels such as “razor sharp”, “shark teeth”, and needle sharp.”
Puppy Teething Timeline
By the time your furry friend reaches six weeks old, they’ll have a full set of milk teeth, which are often around 28 in total. Usually, these sharp milk teeth comprise:
- 12 incisors: incisors (the middlemost teeth) are among the first set of milk teeth to erupt. Your puppy will grow six sharp incisors on their upper jaw and another six on the lower jaw.
- 4 canines: Your puppy will grow canine teeth — commonly referred to by many as puppy fangs — around the same time their incisors erupt. Each jaw will have two canine teeth.
- 12 premolars: Premolars are the last set of milk teeth to emerge. Your puppy will grow six sharp premolars on each jaw to aid them in chewing solid food.
Like most pet parents, your mind is probably flooded with questions such as “When does a puppy lose their teeth?” “When do puppies lose their baby teeth? “When do puppy teeth fall out?” or “When do puppies lose their teeth?”
Well, most puppies start shedding their baby teeth when they reach three months old.
When your puppy is around 12 weeks of age, their milk teeth will begin to loosen and fall off. As this happens, their permanent adult teeth will also be erupting, making the entire experience painful for your pup. It is during this period that your puppy will suddenly turn into a little destructive monster. You’ll catch them biting and chewing almost everything in sight, which is their way of easing the soreness in their gums as the adult teeth start to poke through.
It’s not advisable to pull out your puppy’s milk teeth, no matter how loose they appear. Doing so will only cause them unnecessary pain and interfere with their normal tooth development.
Most puppies usually have their full set of adult teeth — 42 permanent adult teeth in total — when they hit six months old. Unlike milk teeth, these 42 permanent teeth are stronger, less sharp, and bigger. So, if you’ve ever caught yourself thinking: “When do puppies stop teething? Or “When do puppies get their adult teeth,” the general answer is when they reach six months of age.
“Mine is six months and just about done. There was one week that was particularly hellish….it was constant biting, nipping, and chewing on everything, especially me. I had a big rethink after a couple of hell days and threw every suggestion I saw here at the problem. Mine didn’t go for frozen Kongs. But he loves whole frozen veg! Carrots, Zucchini, and bell peppers….it made a huge difference by giving him some pain relief,” wrote user @biblio76 in a Reddit discussion on puppy teething.
8 Common Puppy Teething Signs
Now that you’re familiar with the puppy teething age chart, let’s talk about the telltale signs of the teething process. It’s easy to figure out your puppy is teething, and that’s because the symptoms are often obvious.
Here are eight telltale signs to look out for if your puppy is teething:
- Their gums appear red and swollen
- Excessive chewing/nipping tendencies
- Minor gum bleeding (you’ll frequently notice spots of blood on their chew toys)
- Changes in eating patterns (they’ll avoid eating during teething)
- They drool more than usual
- Constant whining/ crying
- Bad breath
“Our puppy had a hard time eating when she was teething. We added some water to her food, and it helped. Stinky breath too; her breath was a little rank when she was teething. And blood on the toys too. You might also start finding teeth around the house,” commented user @nothernlights in a Reddit discussion on puppy teething signs.
4 Helpful Tips for Managing Puppy Teething
So, you’ve just realized your little furry friend is teething…….now what? Here are a few tips to help keep your puppy comfortable and happy as they go through the teething process.
- Offer Puppy Teething Toys
The best Teething toys for puppies are designed to massage your puppy’s sore gums and keep them distracted from the discomfort by making them focus on something they naturally love doing (chewing).
These puppy-safe toys come in a soft yet durable material to cater to your pup’s delicate gums. For added relief, you can consider getting them freezer puppy chew toys.
“N-bone teething rings are a great edible chew, with different flavors that keep my puppy interested. Kongs, frozen or otherwise, also work well. The puppy ones are a soft yet sturdy rubber. Bully sticks are probably my puppy’s favorite,” shared user @Defiant-Enthusiasm94 in a Reddit discussion on puppy teething chew toys.
- Offer Them Frozen Treats
Another effective way to help your puppy cope with teething discomfort is to offer them frozen treats that hit that soft spot between nutritious and pain-relieving.
“Try freezing dog-friendly foods such as small pieces of carrot, blueberries and apples. Your dog might also enjoy chewing on an ice cube. If you are planning to offer your pup frozen treats, always speak to your vet first to ensure it’s a good option for your pup,” says experts from the West Chester Veterinary Medical Center.
- Positive Reinforcement Training
The puppy teething phase presents the perfect opportunity for you to enforce positive reinforcement training to curb your pup’s undesirable chewing habits. If you do nothing about their reckless chewing and biting, they will likely carry these behaviors to adulthood.
“Use treats and lots of praise to reward calm behavior or when they are chewing on their toys rather than household items,” advises Dr. Elishia Dunne in an Instagram post.
- Speak to Your Vet In case of Concerns
If you’re worried that your puppy’s teething symptoms seem to be beyond what you ordinarily expected, it’s best to consult your vet. They’ll be able to assess your furry friend’s teething situation and offer appropriate solutions.
