Soothe Your Puppy's Teething Mount Pleasant MI

Teething is a natural process that occurs when your pet’s deciduous (baby) teeth are replaced by adult teeth.  This process usually starts in puppies between the age of 3 and 6 months.  All puppies go through teething because it helps them relieve the discomfort that is associated with the process.  In addition, it may help the new tooth penetrate the gums.  Teething is something that you should not prevent.  Below are 6 tips to help your pet go through this experience with less discomfort and without having to sacrifice your favorite shoe and everything else in the house where he can sink his teeth into:

1.  Do not leave anything that can be tempting for him to chew on where he can easily get into.  Also, tape down all visible electrical wiring and keep all household chemicals outside of his reach.  A curious teething puppy can be very clever at getting into things.

2.  All puppies have the need to chew just as they have a need to eat and drink.  Give your pet a few toys to satisfy this behavior.  This is a good way for him to stop putting his attention to everything else that he is not supposed to chew on.  A simple chew toy is enough to keep your puppy busy for hours and satisfy his craving.  To make chew toys more enjoyable and tempting, soak them in broth or coat them with peanut butter.  You can also rub the toy all over with your hands.  Your puppy loves your scent and is more likely to put his attention and chew on something that smells like you.

3.  If you catch your puppy teething on something he should not, give him a firm “No!”  Replace it with the appropriate chew toy and say “Good boy” when he starts chewing on it.

4.  If you happen to find bite marks on your favorite book, do not scold your pet unless you actually catch him in the act.  Otherwise, he will not know why you are yelling at him.

5.  Giving your puppy a mouth massage is a great way to ease the pain and discomfort of teething.  Start by sitting slightly behind your pet.  Support his chin with one hand while gently stroking the outside of his mouth until he is relaxed.  Lift him up a bit and slowly circle your fingertips back and forth along his upper and lower gums using light to medium pressure.  Doing this to your puppy for even just a few minutes does a lot in easing the pain.

6.  Give your puppy more attention.  By giving your puppy a lot of extra attention, he will less likely to do extra chewing.  Exercise is also a great way to satisfy them and distract them from chewing.