Teething in puppies is a normal process. It can be painful. You may notice their behaviour changes or they want to chew everything. All puppies are born without teeth. Temporary or baby teeth start to erupt through their gums at 3 weeks old. By 5 weeks old your puppy has 28 baby teeth. Baby teeth fall out at around 3-5 months old. The adult or permanent teeth begin to erupt. By 7 months old your dog has 42 adult or permanent teeth and no baby teeth. During teething, the adult teeth have to move through bone and gum to erupt. This causes the pain of teething in dogs.
Symptoms
These are symptoms of mouth pain:
Chewing - anything and everything
Drooling
Red swollen gums and smelly breath
Behaviour change - becoming more nippy
Changes in appetite
Risk
All puppies go through teething.
Teething pain is most likely in dogs:
Aged 3-6 months
Belonging to short-faced breeds with dental overcrowding
Suffering retained baby teeth or teeth growing in the wrong position.
Diagnosis
Age and symptoms
A physical check
Treatment
Vet treatment is rarely needed for teething in dogs. If pain is more severe:
Anti-inflammatory painkillers
An operation to remove problem teeth
Orthodontic treatment
Provide safe chew toys suitable for puppies
Freeze edible treats like ice cubes, carrots and green beans or cool down toys in the fridge
Soak a clean cloth in water and freeze it. Chewing on this provides relief and distraction.
Start gently cleaning your puppy’s teeth as soon as possible. Use a finger brush or soft cloth with some tasty puppy toothpaste
Apply a soothing gel suitable for dogs - VetIQ Teething Gel
Feed softer food if your puppy is struggling with hard kibble
What to expect
Teething may be distressing for a short period. Teething pain should resolve when all the adult teeth are through by 7 months old.
Prevention
Teething in dogs is a normal process. But reduce risk of infection by keeping their mouth clean. Providing toys to chew and soothe irritated gums will reduce problem behaviours, such as biting and destroying table legs!