Two things that are perfectly natural, but can really annoy a dog owner. Our 10 month old foster dog is getting her very last set of teeth and is in full chew mode. In order to get through this puppy time it is important to remember not to take chewing personally, keep things picked up, and TOYS, TOYS, TOYS!
If you don't give your pup things to chew he'll find them on his own. Variety is the key here. Soft toys, rope toys, plastic toys, even wood dowels can feel good on sore gums. I learned a nice trick when my Border Collie was teething, and that is to cut apples in half and freeze them. Not only do they get to chew, but the cold helps ease discomfort.
*Remember to keep a very close eye on your dog. When those teeth start hurting they will go for the closet thing they can get in their mouth, make sure it's one of their toys and you won't be so stressed. Keep things you want safe picked up, and talk to your vet about gels that can help relieve their gum discomfort. And, if you don't want to deal with the chewing phase...DON'T GET A PUPPY. It's not if your puppy will chew, it's when.
Oh geez, I just called you about EXACTLY this issue. Our 10 month old APBT is driving me insane with the destruction lately, and I want so much to be able to trust her and turn my back. *weep*
ReplyDelete