| It seems that no amount of rawhide bones, nyla bones, or chewy toys
you provide will keep a teething puppy from finding something to chew on that
they shouldn't chew on. I thought I had learned from experience to provide an
abundance of chewy items. I thought I had provided my pup with so many items that
it made my nocturnal meanderings a life taking risk. Yet, my pup found, chewed
and punctured my tracking boots. Thus providing me with another topic to write
about. Puppies should have a full set of 28 baby teeth by the time they
are 8 weeks old: fourteen teeth on each of the upper and lower jaws. During the
next five months the baby teeth will be replaced by the adult teeth. There are
42 adult teeth, 21 on each jaw. If you have a dog that you may be considering
showing in conformation, you need to monitor the growth of the teeth ensuring
that they do fall out and grow in on time. Like human children, if the baby teeth
are not replaced on time it may cause deformities in the adult teeth. A veterinarian
may need to extract a tooth so that the other teeth will grow in straight. Sometimes
the owner of a dog may help by working on loosening a tooth, much the same way
as a child works on loosening a tooth so that the Tooth Fairy comes. Chewing
on items is a form of massaging the gums for puppies. Not only does it reduce
discomfort but it also helps loosen a tooth and also helps break the skin on the
gums so that a new tooth can come through. Providing ample items to chew on will
help. However, be careful what you provide. Do not give old shoes and socks, as
puppies cannot differentiate between old and new items. Keep all chewable items
off the floor and out of reach of the pup. Nothing is safe from a chewing pup
including furniture and walls. When you cannot be observing your pup, it is wise
to crate it. Provide plenty of chewy items so that it doesn't become bored and
chew on itself or the crate. If you have any concerns regarding the growth
and development of your puppies teeth, contact your veterinarian who can provide
you with advice and timelines for when to expect each of the teeth. -------------------------------------------------
// ------------------------------------------------ Reprinted with permission
by Terrie Simpson | 
