Everyone knows that teething is a natural process that happens in early stages of every puppy’s life, and the fact is that it’s often done without any complications. However, dog owners may come across some problems if they aren’t well-informed. When Joey, my Golden Retriever, was teething, I made sure to know everything I possibly can, but the truth is that I learned something along the way. Stay with us and keep on reading if you want to learn about some of the most important things when it comes to your puppy’s teething process!

How long do puppies teeth and what are the most common symptoms?

Puppies begin to teeth between 3 and 6 weeks of age. At 3 weeks, baby teeth will begin to come through the jaw, and most of them will be through by 6 weeks. At 8 weeks, all of the baby teeth will be through, whereas permanent teeth will start erupting from 3 months of age. If this sounds overwhelming, don’t worry, you will learn how to take care of your new puppy step by step. The first sign that your puppy is teething is a little blood on his favorite chew toys – and that’s exactly how I found Joey’s baby teeth that have fallen out. However, make sure not to panic, because bleeding is minimal and it’ll stop by itself. Some other symptoms include drooling, eating very slowly, and increased chewing behavior. Also, you should pay attention to your puppy’s gums, since they’ll probably be red and swollen.

Should I or should I not intervene?

Generally, you shouldn’t intervene too much when your puppy starts to teeth, simply because that’s a completely natural process which needs to happen. Of course, you can always help by giving them soft toys that can relieve the pain. If you think about brushing their teeth during the teething process, trust me – it’s a bad idea. There’s almost no buildup of plaque and tartar in the early stages of your puppy’s life, so brushing isn’t recommended. Rope toys are also an amazing choice because they’re inexpensive and easy to clean, and what’s even better – they can promote your puppy’s dental health by cleaning teeth and strengthening gums.

What should I do with their diet?

When searching for the most appropriate food for your pup, it’s completely okay to try different options; however, you should make sure to stick to the same brand you trust. My Joey loves natural Royal Canin dog food and it’s actually the only one he was given from the moment I got him. On the other hand, I did try to adjust Joey’s diet when he started teething, since I wanted to make this process easier for him. Once I realized he had difficulties chewing, I started preparing cooked meals. What I didn’t realize was the fact that soft food actually won’t help your teething pet – instead, it can slow down the whole process and make it more painful for your pup. Our local vet explained me the importance of dry dog food and I was really grateful when Joey’s teething was done without any complications.

Are there any potential complications?

In case your pup’s baby tooth simply doesn’t want to fall out, despite the force of the erupting permanent teeth, there can be some potential complications. If you notice that in your dog, be sure to take him to the vet as soon as possible, because his biting ability can be compromised later on due to poorly aligned jaws. Besides that, your dog may experience an increased amount of pain, so pay a visit to your local vet and seek advice if that happens.

As you can see, going through your puppy’s teething is a process that won’t happen overnight, so be sure to get informed and know everything about it. Once that’s done, both you and your puppy will get through this process without any troubles!