Puppy
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8 min
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It’s heart-warming to learn just how many of a dog’s life stages mimic our own - and teething as a baby is no exception. Puppies start to grow milk teeth from the ages of three weeks to six months old, and lose them all as adult teeth start to come through. Just like with human babies, this is a new and uncomfortable sensation for the little pup, and they may even go off their food in the process.
Let’s delve into puppy teething a little further, so that if your puppy doesn’t seem as hungry all of a sudden, you can recognise it alongside the other signs of teething and rest assured that everything is happening as it should be.
Teething can be painful, often causing a sore mouth and jaw and inflamed gums. For this reason, it’s very common for puppies to stop eating as their teeth cut through, especially if they eat dry puppy food which becomes hard work to crunch. You might even see baby teeth around a puppy’s feeding area and food left in the bowl - a sure fire sign that teething is putting your pup off their kibble.
If your puppy doesn’t seem to want to eat, remember that they could be suffering from food poisoning or sickness. If you notice any of the following signs at the same time, however, you’re probably dealing with teething:
Puppies grow quickly - they will start teething as early as three weeks old, and have usually grown all their adult teeth by about six months. So you and your puppy will be going through the teething stage for around five to six months in total.
If your puppy refuses to eat while they’re teething, don’t panic or berate them in any way. It’s completely understandable that they don’t want to bite down when their poor mouth is feeling so sensitive and sore - you’d be acting the same way!
What you can do is make the food more palatable for your pup - perhaps by adding a bit of warm water to their kibble to soften it, crushing it up into smaller pieces with a fork or rolling pin, or even mixing with a small amount of wet food.
Chat to your vet for recommendations over what kind of food may be suitable for your puppy at this stage (we also have some suggestions below) - and don’t completely switch your puppy’s food, as this could result in stomach upset.
A teething puppy will try to ease their discomfort by chewing and mouthing on all kinds of things - including furniture, clothing, items around the house or even your hands or ankles. To discourage them from going to town on your sofa or table legs, you can offer more appropriate things for them to chew on.
Dog chew toys made specifically for teething are irresistibly chewable to puppies, and you could even try putting one in the fridge or freezer to add some soothing coldness before giving it to your young pooch.
Edible dog chews are also a great idea, such as dental dog treats. Not only will the chewing and meaty flavour distract your puppy from teething pain, but it will brush their teeth and freshen their breath, too.
It’s normal for your pup to turn their nose up at food when they’re teething. To get a teething puppy eating again, try the following food boosting tricks:
Take your usual recipe of healthy dry puppy food and add some warm water. This should soften the food making it easier to chew, and release those yummy meaty flavours and smells so your pup won’t be able to resist.
Another tip is to mix your usual puppy food with some wet food, again making it easier to swallow and much more palatable for your (temporarily) picky pup. Don’t completely replace your puppy’s food with wet food if they’re not used to eating it, as this is likely to upset their tummy.
As mentioned, puppy teething treats such as a tasty dental chew for dogs is a great way to ease your pup’s discomfort while releasing ingredients for good dental health.
It’s vital that puppies get the right amount of nutrients as they grow and develop - and that includes when teething. If you’ve softened your pup’s food with water or added some wet food, a boost of puppy probiotics or other puppy food supplements will help strengthen your pup’s adult teeth as they cut through, and ensure your growing puppy is as happy and healthy as they should be.
Follow the advice above, and before you know it, your teething pup will have a mouthful of grinning adult gnashers - and most certainly have their appetite back!
Do you have any other questions about the teething stage for your puppy? Get in touch with us and we’d be happy to help. Until then, nourish your fast-growing pup with Pooch & Mutt’s range of tasty grain-free puppy food and supplements.
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Comments (13)
Do puppies get extra sleepy when teething? Our 3 month old chihuahua mix has been very lethargic and sleeping a lot more than normal. She is teething and this just started yesterday.
Hi Melissa, vet Linda has come back with the below in relation to your question:
“Most dogs handle it well and have no real signs (other than chewing everything in sight!).
Uncommonly, dogs are quite uncomfortable and we may notice mild lethargy and drooling.
In this case, a vet visit is best in case the dog would benefit from some pain relief and/or anti inflammatories”
If you have any further questions please get in touch with the team [email protected] :)
My puppy will eat some treats but not her food,however I made her some scrambled egg,and she ate that. Is this ok? She’s teething like mad and 5 months old.
Hi Toni,
If they are refusing to eat their food, it could be that this is a little too hard on their gums whilst teething. If feeding kibble, you can try soaking this a little to make it softer and easier for them to chew whilst their gums are sore. :)
My dog does not even taste his food nor drink water. It makes me quite worried. Is it OK to sprinkle water into his mouth?
Hi Jeny,
We wouldn’t advise doing this and your pup should drink when they are thirsty. If you have any concerns, we would advise reaching out to your vet to discuss this further.
My puppy is teething and we are struggling to get him to eat. We have mixed his food with water and wait for it to go soft. He just keeps walking away from it. Is there anything I can add to it to get him to eat it??
Hi Lauren,
You could always try adding some of the wet food to their meal, this enhances the smell and would make the meal more appealing. :)
Hi My puppy just get his teeth in hes about 4 months he’s refusing wet and dry food.he been getting sick here and there.not so active latley and not pooing.he does pee and drink water.is this normal for teething.thank you
My puppy loved his kibble until a yesterday. I’ve tried everything. I soaked his food to moisten it. I added wet food. I added toppers like blueberries and apples. He only ate the toppers and left his food alone. What do I do?
Hi Brenda,
This is relatively normal, some pups really go off any hard food if their gums are very sensitive and you can always speak to your vet regarding any advice on this. You can soften any kibble with water or move over to just wet food for the moment, which will be easier on their gums. :)
Hi my chihuahua, sausage dog cross is 6 months old and she lost a tooth 4 wks ago, then another 2cwks ago and a double one today. Should I be worried? Am I giving her food that’s too hard? I give her small pieces of carrot, celery, apple.
Thanks.
Hi Deb,
If these are her baby teeth, this is absolutely normal and we would expect them to loose teeth whilst eating even the softest of foods. If you are concerned, we would always advise speaking to your own vet. :)
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