How Can I Help My Dog With His Teething?

A teething puppy should not have to deal with the pain alone.

Teething is the process by which the teeth come up through the gums in babies. This process is exactly the same for your puppy, and it is just as painful as it sounds. While your puppy is teething, you might notice a great bit of discomfort, whining and excess chewing of household items. The chewing is the only way your puppy knows how to deal with the pain. Never punish your teething puppy for this behavior. Instead, learn how to help your dog through the teething.

Things You'll Need

• Chew toys
• Natural peanut butter
• Washcloth
• Water
• Fingertip toothbrush

Instructions

1. Give your dog lots of chew toys. Chew toys can help ease teething pain and provide puppies with something other than furniture and shoes to chew on. Make sure the toys are safe for puppies and do not resemble household items.

2. Add natural peanut butter to the chew toys if your puppy does not prefer them. Most dogs love peanut butter.

3. Wet a washcloth and place it in the freezer. Once it's frozen, give the washcloth to your puppy to chew on. It will ease the teething pain. However, you need to supervise your puppy while chewing on the washcloth to make sure no pieces are swallowed.

4. Massage your puppy's gums with a fingertip toothbrush that is made for teething puppies. This will sooth the pain and encourage the teeth to grow in.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not punish a puppy for chewing on household items while teething. When a puppy chews on household items, it means you are not doing a good enough job of helping through the teething process. Punishments, especially those inflicted after the damage is done, will confuse and upset a puppy, which can lead to more serious problems.

References

• Vet Info.com: Puppy Teething -- How to Ease the Pain
• The Humane Society of the United States: Chewing -- The Why's and How's to Stop a Gnawing Problem