Puppies are adorable, but as any owner knows, they can also be quite a handful. One of the most trying times in a puppy's life is the stage of teething. During this time, puppies will lose their baby teeth and grow their adult teeth, and it can be a painful and uncomfortable process for both puppy and owners!
When do puppies start teething?
Puppies are born without teeth and start to develop them around 3 to 4 weeks of age. They typically have 28 deciduous or "milk" teeth, which are replaced by 42 adult teeth. Eeek!
The milk teeth include 12 incisors, 4 canines, and 12 molars in the upper and lower jaw. The process of teething usually starts with the incisors, which are the front teeth, and then the canines, premolars and molars follow in that order. The process can take several months to complete, with adult teeth emerging around 12 to 18 weeks of age.
The adult teeth include 16 incisors, 4 canines, 8 premolars and 14 molars in the upper and lower jaw. You can see that the adult teeth are not as sharp!
The first stage of teething begins around 3 to 4 weeks of age, when puppies start to lose their deciduous, or "milk," teeth. These teeth are replaced by permanent adult teeth, which begin to emerge around 12 to 18 weeks of age. This process can take several months to complete, and during this time, puppies will experience a lot of discomfort and may exhibit signs of pain and discomfort such as biting, chewing, drooling, and whining.
To help alleviate their discomfort, it's important to provide your puppy with appropriate chew toys that can help to massage their gums and relieve pain.
You can also give them a frozen wet cloths or ice cube to chew on, which can help to numb their gums and provide some relief. Avoid giving your puppy hard bones or toys that can break into small pieces, as these can be a choking hazard.
In conclusion, teething can be a very difficult stage for puppies and owners, but with the right care and attention, you can help to make it as comfortable as possible for your furry friend.