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Puppy teeth
When your pup starts to lose his puppy teeth, he'll want
to chew everything in sight! But if you start him off with
good dog dental care now, he'll have healthy fangs for life
- and your sofa, chair legs and slippers will be safe!
Good puppy dental care actually involves allowing your dog to chew - but encouraging him to chew the right things. This includes bones and appropriate dog toys. Read on to discover how to help your puppy through this uncomfortable time. On this page: When do puppies start losing their puppy teeth? How can I help my puppy get through this? What happens if dogs get bad teeth? How do I look after my dog's teeth? When do puppies start losing their puppy teeth?Puppies start losing their puppy teeth at around the age of 3 or 4 months. By the age of 6 months, all their adult teeth should have come through. During this time, the puppy's gums will be quite painful. It's often hard for humans to recognise this as the poor puppy can't tell you how much it hurts. Your puppy might lose his appetite a little and will usually want to chew everything in sight! How can I help my puppy get through this?To help your puppy shed his puppy teeth - and to save your furniture, shoes and toes from his gnawing! - give him plenty of safe things to chew and encourage him to chew them instead. Here are a few of the things you can use as teething toys:
Anything cold will help to numb the pain so pop your puppy's favourite chew toy into the freezer for a time. Make sure the toys are tough and that the puppy can't break off bits that could choke him. Don't use teething rings or other toys designed for humans.
Some of the substances in these products might be toxic to dogs. By getting your puppy used to chewing on appropriate chew toys and bones while young, you'll be setting up good habits for his future dog health. Now is also a good time to get your puppy used to having his teeth brushed. Although his puppy teeth don't usually need brushing, his adult teeth will need care. So gently reach into your puppy's mouth and rub his gums and teeth with your finger. As he becomes accustomed to this, start using a soft cloth or a special toothbrush designed for dogs. You can buy these at most pet shops. Sometimes, one of the puppy teeth might refuse to fall out, even after the adult tooth has grown behind it. If this happens, take your puppy to the vet. The vet will be able to remove the tooth for you. If left, the puppy tooth could turn brown and rot. TopWhat happens if dogs get bad teeth?The most obvious result of bad teeth is bad breath! Although a dog's breath will always smell a little strong to the human nose, it should never be absolutely terrible. If it is, suspect bad teeth or some other mouth problem, such as a piece of bone caught in the mouth or throat. But bad breath is not all that comes with bad teeth in dogs. Just as in humans, a build up of tartar on the teeth will form dental plaque, which can lead to eating problems, gum disease, and infections that could affect the heart and kidneys. Small breed dogs are particularly susceptible to this as it's sometimes hard to find chew toys and bones small enough for them to handle. They are also more likely to be fed soft foods and sugary treats that are inappropriate for dogs. As part of your general grooming routine, check for these signs of tooth decay in your dog:
How do I look after my dog's teeth?The best way to ensure your dog keeps his teeth in good condition throughout his life is to give him plenty of safe, acceptable items to chew on, such as fresh, meaty bones and specially designed chew toys. Chewing will help to scrape your dog's teeth clean, which is what would happen if he was living in the wild. Ideally, give your dog a variety of items to chew as he might get bored with the same old ones and go looking for something new - and that might be something you'd rather wasn't chewed, like shoes and table legs! Ring the changes with toys that can be filled with small treats. This can keep dogs amused for hours as they patiently chew away to release something tasty. Just chewing might not be enough for good dog dental care, however. It's a good idea to also establish a brushing routine, even if your dog's teeth seem white and clean and his gums pink and healthy. Never use human toothpaste on your puppy.
Substances in human toothpaste can be toxic to dogs. Buy special dog toothpaste instead. Brushing his teeth, even if just once a week for starters, will get him used to the experience and will make the task easier if the teeth need more regular brushing in the years to come. You can use a special toothbrush designed for dogs called a 'fingerbrush' which slips over the end of your finger. Use it with a special dog toothpaste (NOT human toothpaste) and gently rub it over your dog's teeth, and especially along the gum line. Don't rub hard or you can make the gums bleed. Some slight bleeding is normal if your dog has not had his teeth brushed before. If your dog's teeth do become brown - particularly at the gum line - it's best to take him to the vet to have his teeth cleaned under anaesthetic. Many dogs will eventually require this sort of treatment. More puppy care at PuppyPrimer.comYour vet will also be able to tell you about any special care your dog's teeth may need at different stages of its life. Looking after your puppy's teeth is an important part of puppy care.
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