Keeping The Teeth Healthy
Now that your puppy has a full mouth of pearly white chompers, your job is to keep them that way. Dogs dont have the sense to use their tongue to dislodge chewed food from their teeththat combined with plaque in the mouth can lead to dog with stinky breath, if periodontal disease occurs, serious medical problems.
By brushing your pups teeth regularly, you can prevent or decrease the need for veterinary cleanings, which usually require anesthetizing the dog.
Begin by gently scrubbing the teeth with a finger brush or gauze pad. Later you can graduate to a toothbrush and canine toothpaste. Toothbrushes should be soft, and toothpaste must be formulated for a dogs system . Toothpaste made for people can cause an upset stomach if your pup swallows it. Teeth can also be cleaned with a paste made of baking soda and water.
Also, certain foods, treats, and other products are available to help reduce plaque. Look for products that have a seal of approval from the Veterinary Oral Health Council. A list is available here. For more help with your teething puppy, check out our puppy teething pack which includes toys, treats, and more!
Good luck on guiding your new puppy through these exciting first few months of his life!
For more help on keeping your dogs teeth healthy, watch the video below.
Signs Of Teething In German Shepherd Puppies
Here are other signs that your German Shepherd puppies are teething:
Tiny puppy teeth
As youre cleaning the house, youll probably find your puppys baby teeth on the carpet, floor, jabbed into their favorite toy, or laying around their food or water bowl.
Bloodstains or blood spots on the toys
Teething can be both uncomfortable and painful for your little German Shepherd pup. To get through that pain or as a way of relieving that pain, your puppy may chew their toys more. While they are biting their toys, youll see bloodstains or bloody spots. Thats because their gums can be irritated and sore as well.
Chewing more than usual
During the teething phase, youll want to keep your pooch in parts of the house that does not contain expensive furniture or items. Its normal for your German Shepherd puppy to chew a lot during this stage of their dental development stage.
Chewing also helps them cope with the pain. We highly recommend buying some chew toys to keep them biting on the toys and not the valuable items in your house.
Frequent drooling
During this time, your puppy may drool more than usual. Dont be surprised to find saliva drooling out of your puppys mouth.
Behavioral change due to pain of teething
Due to the pain, frequent gum irritation, and discomfort, your German Shepherd puppy may act out. Youll want to provide them with love, patience, and attention during this time. Its not easy for them and its best to give them chewing toys to keep them distracted.
At What Age Do German Shepherds Become Protective
It is a natural instinct with most GSDs. The pups until age of 6 months are playful bundle of fur. However, just like a human toddler, soon they develop a strong feeling about their identity and territory, and a deep association with home, family and the household pets of whom they become fiercely protective.
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Reaching The Source Of The Problem
In most cases your veterinarian may want to do dental radiographs even if your pet does not show signs of infection or discomfort. Radiographs rule out a dead tooth that looks neat on the outside but is not significant on the inside, causing later problems.
Toothache in dogs is so subtle that it also eliminates exposing your pet to toothpaste causing hidden pain.
German Shepherd Puppy Teething Guide: Stages When It Stops & Managing Biting
Its a stage most German Shepherd puppy owners always ask about teething.
Common question people might have in regards to teething might include:
When does it start
And, what can be done to manage chewing and biting
Weve put together some general information and tips on the above questions
You might consider this information for this period of your puppys growth.
Youd definitely want to ask your local vet about your puppys teeth at their regular check up to get professional advice that everything is going as it should be, and to understand the stages better.
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How Do I Know If My German Shepherd Is Healthy And Growing Well
One of the reasons German shepherds are such a delight is their unique size. Many German Shepherd owners are keen to see that their puppy meets all the milestones at each stage until the German Shepherd stops growing, so how can you tell if your German Shepherds size is not over or underweight?
Moreover, Les Anges Gardiens states that some of the frequently asked questions of German Shepherd growth and health are, how big will my German Shepherd grow, when will my German Shepherd stop growing and how can I tell whether my German Shepherd is healthy?. The answer to these questions lies in the study of the German Shepherds weight.
According to Alexandra Animalso, studying the weight a German Shepherd puppy should attain by the time they reach a certain age gives you a better understanding of whether your German Shepherd is healthy and still growing.
From this, a German Shepherd owner can tell when exactly their German Shepherd will stop growing completely and what weight they will have attained by that point.
Do Dogs Get Sick When Teething
Teething can also make puppies sick, causing a decrease in appetite, upset stomach, or unusual stools. However, these symptoms shouldnt be long-lived if your puppy is displaying these symptoms for a prolonged period of time, act accordingly. You should consult your veterinarian if you have any concerns.
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How To Tell If Your German Shepherd Puppy Is Teething
With all the various phases your German Shepherd puppy goes through, it can be hard to keep track of all their developmental growth.
Here are some surefire signs that your German Shepherd puppy is teething:
- Milk teeth are visible and you often find them on the floor, in their food bowl or near their toys.
- Your German Shepherd is drooling a lot more than usual.
- You notice little spots of blood on the carpet, their toys or on anything theyve been chewing.
- The puppys gums are red or inflamed.
- The puppy keeps chewing on anything it can get its paws on. This is not a discipline problem. Teething is a difficult time for puppies. Chewing helps them deal with the pain of teething.
- The milk teeth in their jaw look wonky or misaligned.
- The puppy is in a little pain or seems physically distressed.
- If your German Shepherd chews on any harmful objects, it might develop a fever or get stomach issues like diarrhea or vomiting. It is best to consult your veterinary doctor if this happens.
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When Do German Shepherds Start Teething
Just like human babies, German Shepherd puppies are born without teeth. Once the puppy reaches three weeks old, it may start to grow in its milk teeth. All of its puppy teeth, including puppy canines and incisors, should be grown in by the end of the 8th week.
At this point, your German Shepherd will likely start teething, though it might start teething slightly sooner. Although some German Shepherd puppies milk teeth grow in within two weeks, its more likely for teething to start around the three- or four-week period.
One of the first signs that your German Shepherd puppy is teething is finding small amounts of blood on your carpet or dog toys. This is a completely normal event because the blood is often due to the loose baby teeth or the baby teeth falling out completely.
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Puppy Teething Signs And Puppy Teething Symptoms
Its important to know how long a German Shepherd teething usually lasts. If you know the duration then you will understand your puppys behavior better. Be aware of these usual teething signs and symptoms so you dont misinterpret them as behavioral problems:
- Increased Chewing: When a German Shepherd puppy begins to teeth, he begins to chew on anything he can get in his mouth such as chew toys. If you dont give him something to chew on, he may start chewing your expensive shoes. He does this to ease the pain associated with teething.
- Missing teeth: For your German Shepherd puppy to grow his adult teeth, he must first lose his baby teeth. Dont be surprised when you see a tooth on the floor or gaps in your puppys gums.
- Bleeding or swollen gums: A bit of blood can come out when a tooth is dislodged. Sometimes you will also notice blood traces on your puppys toy. Theres nothing to worry about because this is normal and the gums will soon heal.
- Excessive drooling: Frequent excessive drooling can be messy but this happens when your puppy is teething. If you notice his face or bed is usually wet or bed, its an indication of teething.
- Physical distress: Your German Shepherd puppy might refuse to eat which results in weight loss. He may also lose interest in playing. He might have diarrhea if he chews inappropriate objects. He may even have a low-grade fever. If this happens, consult your vet so he can prescribe some medicines to relieve the pain.
The Stages Of Teething In German Shepherd Pups
First of all, we need to note that you do not need to be concerned or worry if you see tiny blood spots on the toys of your German Shepherd, or if you start finding loose teeth in your carpets or rugs.
This is a totally normal process when your dog is teething. What we really want to tell you through, is when you should expect this to start, and when you should expect this to stop as well.
Now, it is time for us to give you a much-needed overview of the teething stages you can expect to experience from your German Shepherd puppy.
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What Causes Destructive Chewing In German Shepherds
Firstly, lets look at why your German Shepherd chews. Heres a 3-minute video from dog training expert Jez Rose explaining exactlywhy dogs need to chew and the benefits chewing brings:
As we learned in the above video, chewing to relieve the discomfort from teething in puppies or strengthen teeth and jaws in adult German Shepherds is normal canine behavior. But chewing becomes abnormal and destructive if it takes the following patterns:
- Your German Shepherd is 6 months of age or older and, therefore, not teething but is still manifesting excessive chewing behavior.
- When your GSD chews any object in your home, including valuable objects such as couches, bed pillows, and furniture.
- When your GSD chews to the point of causing harm to himself, which could be symptomized by vomiting, diarrhea, bloodstains on his toys, loss of appetite, or a general condition of inactivity and low energy after chewing stuff.
- When your German Shepherd is chewing non-stop for the entire day and will even resist your calls to engage in other activities such as play or the daily walks.
- Your GSD is overly protective of his chew toys and becomes aggressive if they are touched or taken away.
So, what causes your German Shepherd to turn to destructive chewing? Here are 5 major causes of destructive chewing in German Shepherds:
Stages Of Teething In German Shepherds
Teething has four phases. Familiarize yourself with these stages so you can cope with teething effectively.
Each step has its challenges, and German Shepherd teething in individual puppies will have different signs and symptoms.
Inform yourself about these symptoms as your puppy relies on you for help and guidance during this challenging period.
The early stages
German Shepherds puppies are born without teeth. From the age of 6 to 8 weeks, they begin to develop their milk teeth.
The incisors are the first to appear. The canine teeth come next, followed by the premolars.
Watch out for signs of diarrhea and loss of appetite as they appear as German Shepherd teething may cause your puppy some discomfort.
This discomfort may cause them to act out in numerous ways to relieve their distress.
Milk teeth
From the age of 8 to 12 weeks, the premolars emerge. At this point, your GermanShepherd puppy will have twenty-eight milk teeth.
First, take your puppy to the veterinarian to ensure that all the primary teeth have emerged.
Falling out
From 12 to 16 weeks, your puppy begins to lose its baby teeth. His incisors start to fall out one by one. The canines come next, followed by the premolars.
Check to see whether the puppys baby teeth arent going to fall out owing to their persistent chewing.
To preserve oral health, your veterinarian may conduct dental extractions. Ensure that you visit your veterinarian at this stage to prevent the puppy from swallowing its teeth.
Adult teeth
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Is It Dangerous To Have A Siberian Husky With Baby Teeth
At first, when your Siberian Husky is still just a puppy with baby teeth, biting can seem somewhat harmless and you might be inclined to even think of it as playful. But, as your dog grows older this formerly charming habit will become potentially dangerous, not only to you and your family but other people and animals too.
German Shepherd Teething Tips
All dogs are different, and some will have a better experience than others when it comes to German Shepherd teething. Hopefully, your pup will be one of the lucky ones!
Either way, its never nice to see them suffering, so its good to have some idea of what to do to help them. Here are a few ways to ease their journey through this difficult time and help their sore gums.
Dog chews are similar to toys but are usually made of natural materials. Many experts warn against using rawhide chews these days because of the dangers of choking and blockages of the digestive tract. However, there are dozens of safe alternatives on the market.
Ice cubes can be a great help, as long as you take precautions. This has been quite a controversial subject since an unverified report circulated on the internet claiming that a dog died from bloat after drinking water with ice cubes in it. Some people will advise against giving your pup ice cubes, while others will heartily encourage you to do so.
There are fears that the ice is so hard that it might crack a tooth. The best thing to do is make ice cubes from stock or meat jelly and crush them slightly. Alternatively, you can rub ice on your dogs gums.
Many people allow dogs to chew on knucklebones, antlers, animal hooves, and marrow bones to help with teething pain. Most dog experts agree that this is unwise, especially for puppies, as they can easily break canine teeth.
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Looking After Your Dogs Teeth
Understandably, German Shepherd owners often ask, when do German Shepherds stop teething? It can be a trying and distressing time for the dog and the owners.
Once theyve got their new teeth, then its up to you to look after them!
Only use the best quality dog foods, and always remember to brush your dogs teeth to keep them clean. Tartar build-up on teeth can cause serious damage over time, which leads to gum disease and tooth decay.
This can also result in serious infections that may even be potentially fatal.
Always try to be aware of what your dog is chewing on. Sticks, dog chews, and toys are one thing, but some items can cause a lot of damage, including fractures and tooth loss.
Lets finish with a quick recap:
Youll get your pup between the ages of 8 and 14 weeks if you get them from a breeder unless you have a whelping mother at home.
This process can last until the dog is around six months of age.
Your job is to keep a close eye on how theyre coping, and if they seem to be suffering or displaying any severe symptoms, you need to intervene.
Give them things to chew on, but take care that the chewing doesnt become a habit. Obedience training is your way out if it does!
Otherwise, enjoy spending time with your German Shepherd pup, and use the time to strengthen that bond of loyalty and affection.
Youll soon be able to put the days of teething behind you and look forward to many happy years ahead.
How To Tell Your Pup Is Teething
So, now we know how and why German Shepherd pups teethe, we understand the timeline of their teething and when they can switch to solid foods. Now we want to look at the signs of them teething.
Using dates to anticipate their teething can be useful, however, looking for signs can give you a better idea of what your dog is going through personally. It can also help you get an idea of how you can help them through this process. It is not fun for anyone involved.
We all know the most obvious and first sign of a teething pup is them chewing on everything and anything they can find, but what other signs are there? Lets take a look.
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How To Stop Your German Shepherd From Chewing Something Inappropriate
Even if you take every precaution, there still might be times when you walk in on your German Shepherd chewing on something inappropriate or even harmful for them.
Always keep your calm in these situations. Even the best-trained puppies make mistakes sometimes. Being a pet owner requires a ton of patience.
Never resort to yelling or physical punishment. It simply does not workdogs dont know what they are being punished for.
If you want to discourage your German Shepherd from chewing on a particular object, you need to catch them in the act.
Once you see them, distract them with a toysomething they are allowed to chew on. This teaches the puppy what they should do when they feel like chewing something.
It will be much easier to teach your puppy what to chew on rather than trying to teach them what not to chew on.
If you choose the right toys and treats and encourage positive behaviors, your life will become much easier.
It will also provide a good environment for your German Shepherd to grow up in.
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