Bringing a puppy home means a lot of new and exciting things. Fun play moments, a soft puppy belly to cuddle with and a small fur ball that falls asleep on the sofa at first ... Then all of a sudden a period starts when neither slippers, the hall mat nor chair legs are left alone from the puppy's sharp little teeth. But what does a puppy's mouth actually look like, and what can you do to make the puppy feel better and let the chair legs be left in peace? This article goes through the following areas:
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The puppy's mouth and milk teeth
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Get your puppy used to being handled in the mouth
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Concerns about the puppy's teeth
The puppy's mouth and milk teeth
The puppy is born completely without teeth, and the first milk teeth start to break through at around 3 weeks of age. Gradually, 28 super sharp little milk teeth break through the puppy's gums. Over time, the milk teeth are replaced by the permanent 42 teeth.
Most puppies start to lose their first milk teeth at around 4 months of age, and the whole set of teeth is replaced with permanent teeth at around 6 months of age - in other words, there are two months when the puppy's teeth are growing and itching. During teething, the puppy may also bleed a little from the gums. It is not always noticeable when the puppy has lost a tooth, as they are sometimes swallowed or so small that they simply disappear somewhere. Swallowing them is not dangerous - they come out the natural way.
How can I make teething easier for my puppy?
During teething, the puppy has an increased need to chew on things, for example: rugs, chair legs, the sofa, the dog bed and everything else that comes its way, including its owner's ankles.
The best thing you as a pet owner can do is to have fun chew toys close at hand, so that you can offer a better alternative when the puppy starts to chew on something it should not, instead of trying to make it stop chewing. Be patient - chewing is a completely natural and necessary behaviour. If you have things at home that you really care about, it is better to hide them away for a couple of months and replace them with chew-friendly activities for the puppy.
During this period, the puppy may also have a slightly poorer appetite because its mouth is sore. You can make it easier for the puppy to eat by soaking the puppy's dry food in water, or by offering softer food during the period.
Get your puppy used to being handled in the mouth
The milk teeth do not need to be brushed to stay healthy, but it is good to start training this routine early. Remember to stay calm while handling the puppy and take it step by step - rather focus on slowly but surely getting the puppy used to you touching and handling the mouth, lips and teeth. If your puppy has a sore mouth, take it easy, so that the handling is not linked to any discomfort for the puppy.
Use lots of praise and treats to link the handling of the mouth to something positive! Read more tips on tooth brushing here, but again, do not expect to succeed with everything at once with your puppy.
Concerns about the puppy's teeth
While you get the puppy used to being handled, it is also excellent training for you to learn what the puppy looks like inside the mouth and how teething is progressing. If you think it looks like a tooth is broken or oddly placed, for example rubbing against the palate or another tooth, it is always good to spot it early so you can have it examined by your vet.
A common problem among small breeds is also that they do not lose all their milk teeth. All teeth should be replaced by around 6 months of age, regardless of breed, and if you see that some milk teeth remain even though the permanent tooth has come through, you need to contact your vet. If the milk teeth stay in place for too long, they can cause both problems with the jaw and damage to the permanent teeth. The teeth that most often are not replaced are the canines in the upper and lower jaw.
Good luck with your new little family member, and remember - the puppy period is a time of patience, mischief, cuddles, love and even more patience.