If you’re the proud parent of a puppy, you’re going to want to make sure that you provide your pooch with the best care possible to ensure that he grows into a strong dog, healthy adult canine. Puppies have different needs than adult canines; for example, if your puppy is still really young, you might need to offer him a puppy milk replacer to ensure that he’s getting the essential vitamins he needs. And even when he’s reached the age that he can safely consume dog food, offering him a specially formulated dry dog food or wet dog food for puppies from one of the most trusted dog food brands is essential. But beyond ensuring that his nutritional needs are being met, young canines require additional special care; like assistance through the teething phase.
That’s right; just like human babies, canine babies teethe. At about 12 weeks of age, puppies start to lose their baby teeth to make way for their adult teeth. During the teething phase, the gums can become inflamed, red, and irritated; and as you can imagine, it can be pretty uncomfortable. In an effort to soothe their sore gums, puppies chew on anything they can find – couches, shoes, and even their own dog bowl, dog bed, or dog crate! Needless to say, when those super sharp teeth baby teeth are constantly gnawing at things they shouldn’t be, serious damage can occur.
It’s important to remember that your pup isn’t chewing out of spite; he’s chewing out of necessity. Teething, quite literally, bites! If your fur-baby is gnawing on anything he can get his mouth on, it’s important not to scold him. But, how do you avoid destruction? Here are some tips that can help to ease your puppies teething pain that will benefit him, you – and your entire home!
- Toys. Offer your pup a selection of puppy teething toys, chew toys for dogs, and other sturdy toys that he can withstand serious gnawing, like durable rubber dog toys and plastic dog toys. Do keep in mind, though, that you should try to avoid offering him too many toys at one time, because it may teach him that he can chew on anything, which can lead to problematic behavior.
- Dental chews. Dental chews can also help to ease teething pain; plus, they can help to promote proper dental hygiene, as they remove plaque and tartar buildup.
- Cold treats. You can also offer your puppy cold dog treats, ice cubes, or even frozen carrots to soothe his irritated gums.
It’s important to note that whatever option you choose, make sure you keep a close eye on your puppy. If he snaps off a piece of whatever he is chewing on, he could choke. Always stay within close proximity of your puppy while he’s chewing so you can offer assistance, if necessary. Also, inspect his toys, dental chews, or anything else he may be chewing on; replacing anything that’s broken or that has become too small, as they can become choking hazards.
Image Source: PetBucket.com
