Dog Health Care Article: How To Care For a Teething Puppy

It seems that no amount of rawhide bones, nyla bones,Sometimes the owner of a dog may help by working
or chewy toys you provide will keep a teething puppyon loosening a tooth, much the same way as a child
from finding something to chew on that they shouldn'tworks on loosening a tooth so that the Tooth Fairy
chew on. I thought I had learned from experience tocomes.
provide an abundance of chewy items. I thought I hadChewing on items is a form of massaging the gums
provided my pup with so many items that it made myfor puppies. Not only does it reduce discomfort but it
nocturnal meanderings a life taking risk. Yet, my pupalso helps loosen a tooth and also helps break the skin
found, chewed and punctured my tracking boots. Thuson the gums so that a new tooth can come through.
providing me with another topic to write about.Providing ample items to chew on will help. However,
Puppies should have a full set of 28 baby teeth by thebe careful what you provide. Do not give old shoes
time they are 8 weeks old: fourteen teeth on each ofand socks, as puppies cannot differentiate between
the upper and lower jaws. During the next five monthsold and new items. Keep all chewable items off the
the baby teeth will be replaced by the adult teeth.floor and out of reach of the pup. Nothing is safe from
There are 42 adult teeth, 21 on each jaw.a chewing pup including furniture and walls. When you
If you have a dog that you may be consideringcannot be observing your pup, it is wise to crate it.
showing in conformation, you need to monitor theProvide plenty of chewy items so that it doesn't
growth of the teeth ensuring that they do fall out andbecome bored and chew on itself or the crate.
grow in on time. Like human children, if the baby teethIf you have any concerns regarding the growth and
are not replaced on time it may cause deformities indevelopment of your puppies teeth, contact your
the adult teeth. A veterinarian may need to extract aveterinarian who can provide you with advice and
tooth so that the other teeth will grow in straight.timelines for when to expect each of the teeth.