Change up your puppy’s toys regularly. They have shorter attention spans and are intrigued by anything new and unfamiliar. If the toys don’t have a flavor, try spreading a dollop of peanut butter on them to attract your puppy’s attention. Tough rubber toys are best for teething because they’re soft enough to chew safely but hard enough to withstand the chewing.
Bully Sticks and pig ear chews are all popular options. There are also vegetarian chews for puppies if you’re looking to change the flavors a little.
A tasty alternative to plain ice cubes is freezing chicken or beef broth in ice cube trays for your puppy to chew on.
Kongs and edible teething rings are popular choices to store in the freezer and then give to puppies.
To get your pup used to a new food, start by adding a small amount of wet food to the pup’s kibble. Over the next week, steadily increase the amount of wet food and reduce the amount of kibble until your pup is eating only wet food. Alternatively, you can add water to hard food and soften it up.
If you need to acclimate your dog to the massage (and later teeth-cleaning), touch the finger toothbrush to their teeth and offer them a reward, continuing to do so until the pup is comfortable with your finger in their mouth. [8] X Expert Source Osama MaghawriProfessional Dog Trainer Expert Interview. 9 September 2020. You won’t need to start brushing your puppy’s teeth until their adult set has fully grown in. However, massaging their gums will make it easier to transition into teeth-brushing later.
It’s also essential to monitor your puppy when they play with regular toys. No toy is 100% safe for dogs, given how easily a pup can tear and swallow small pieces.
It’s also important to understand that there are unpleasant but totally normal aspects to teething. For instance, drooling more than usual or small, pink-tinged blood spots on toys are common side effects of teething. [12] X Research source
Though it can happen to any dog, smaller breeds like chihuahuas, pugs, and Shih-Tzus are more likely to have retained baby teeth into adulthood. Puppies whose parents had retained baby teeth are also more likely to have the same problem. Learn about the parents’ medical history to know what to look for.
