Chewing and gnawing on furniture, bathroom doors and even your new Italian shoes are a right of passage for all pups as they transition into adulthood.

It’s been awhile since we’ve had a puppy in the house and our little dapple dachshund daughter, Aries, is a great addition to the family.  Her wild spirit brings a breathe of fresh air to our household, but what we failed to remember was how all children (both human and canine) go through that teething phase.

A few nights ago I was brushing her teeth and saw something fall out of her mouth.  As I went to investigate I found a little canine tooth.  So many thoughts raced through my mind, like how quickly she was growing up and if I had any money in my wallet to put underneath her pillow for the tooth fairy.  I’m only semi-joking about the latter.

Then it hit me.  How uncomfortable the teething process must be for her.  Earlier in the day she didn’t eat as much, and when I looked in her mouth again I saw several teeth that were loose.  At only five months old, she has a bit longer before her adult teeth come in.

Teething Stages

Your puppy is born with 28 milk teeth, and an adult dog has 42 teeth (fun fact: humans only have 32 adult teeth).  By 8 months of age, your puppy should have all of their adult teeth and should be done with the teething aspect.  Sometimes smaller breeds take a bit longer than 8 months and conversely larger breeds tend to stop earlier.

• 2-4 weeks-The incisors begin to emerge in your pup’s mouth.  With six (6) on the top and six (6) on the bottom.
• 4 weeks-The canines (very sharp) begin to come out.  With two (2) on the top and (2) on the bottom.
• 6-8 weeks-The premolars and molars start to grow behind the canines.
• 12-16 weeks-During this time you’ll notice some teeth falling out and the adult teeth emerging. Your house may start looking like a war-zone and it would be wise to begin puppy proofing things and giving them some chew toys to ease the pain.  Now would be the perfect time to start brushing their teeth and getting them used to the feeling.
• 6-8 months- All baby teeth should have fallen out and the adult teeth have fully emerged.  If all the baby teeth have not fallen out by this time you should contact your veterinarian.  A deciduous (baby teeth) pet tooth extraction may have to be done.  If you choose to leave the baby teeth in, it could cause several problems.  Such as decay and gum disease (from food buildup between the teeth) and risk of fracturing adult teeth (since deciduous teeth can affect the alignment).

Easing The Pain

Bleeding gums, bouts of aggression and a bit of lethargy are normal when a puppy is teething.  But what can we do to help with the soreness? Other than letting them chew on your favorite pair of shoes, there are a few things that can help.

• Aloe Vera Juice- Aloe vera is a natural anti-inflammatory.  You can buy the juice form in nearly any health food store (be sure it’s 100% organic and free of any preservatives).  We have a natural solution that we use to brush the fur kids teeth, and it contains aloe vera juice, which helps to ease the pain of teething.  Some people also freeze the aloe vera juice in slushy form and let their pups lick it up.
• Rope Chew Toys-Not only are they used to play tug of war and fetch, but it helps to strengthen gums.  Great part is that they are also relatively inexpensive.
• Ice Cubes-The cold helps numb the pain of the gums and not only that, it’s quite fun for them to play with it as well.
• Massaging-Sometimes we will massage our pups mouth gently.  Take your hands and gently rub (in a circular motion) the top and bottom of their gums.
• Chamomile Tea- This is also a natural anti-inflammatory. In addition it will help calm and relax your little one.  Boil some tea in water and let it cool.  You can either take a gauze and rub the tea on your puppies gums and teeth.  Or take a syringe and have them orally ingest some.

As for that tooth fairy?  We’re unsure when they’re paying a visit, but seeing as Aries lost another tooth today, we can only assume the fairy is on their way.  But before they get here, we need to make it to the ATM.  😉

What other remedies or suggestions do you have for teething puppies?  Comment below and let us know!