Puppies are notorious for sleeping almost constantly. At the peak of puppyhood, some puppies sleep for 20 hours a day, waking only to play or eat! But what about during periods of growth, like teething? Do puppies sleep more when teething?
Or does the discomfort of teething keep them awake and on edge? In this article, we’ll explore how teething can affect your pup’s sleep and how you can keep your puppy more comfortable during this time.
What can I expect when my puppy is teething?
Teething is at least a little painful for your puppy now and then. As those tiny teeth fall out, your puppy’s gums will become tender and swollen.
So, your puppy will seek out things to chew. Chewing is comforting and relaxing for any dog. But when your dog is teething, chewing also helps to relieve gum inflammation and soothe teething pain.
Many dogs also show an increased tendency to drool during teething, even if your dog is not from a heavy drooling breed.
What symptoms will my puppy have when teething?
Puppies whine a lot, even under normal circumstances. But as teething begins in earnest, your puppy will probably start to whine a lot more. This can be partially due to the pain they’re in, and sometimes due to the excitement of chewing on their toys.
You may also spot some drops of blood on your pup’s bedding and chew toys. This is perfectly normal, too, but do contact your vet if you think your dog’s bleeding, whining, or pain is severe.
Due to both the lack of teeth as well as the pain and discomfort of teething, your puppy may begin to have difficulty eating. Your puppy may simply be slow to eat, may prefer to use a different bowl or different food texture, or may avoid eating altogether.
If your puppy starts to struggle with eating, your vet will give you advice on different kibble sizes or wet foods, or they may even prescribe a nutrient gel if your puppy simply can’t eat.
How do I keep my puppy safe when they’re teething?
Your puppy will want to get their brand new teeth – and swollen gums – into anything and everything when they’re teething. Unfortunately, puppies can choose dangerous objects.
Many puppies enjoy chewing on sticks when they’re teething, For example. Sticks are not inherently dangerous. But do inspect the stick to make sure it’s robust enough. Remember, your puppy’s baby teeth are unbelievably sharp. So, if any bits of bark are hanging off, or the stick is soft and easy to bite, choose a different stick.
The same goes for objects around the house. Underwear, socks, and harder objects like skirting boards, stationery, remote controls, and wooden toys are all favorite make-do chew toys among teething puppies. Even wooden table legs and door corners are not safe from those sharp and pointy puppy teeth!
The best way to prevent your puppy from taking a bite out of more hazardous objects around the home is to provide lots of durable rubber chew toys while they are teething.
You can only keep an eye on your pooch for so much of the time, however. So, always make sure that all of your puppy’s toys are intact too, with no bits and pieces falling off and no stuffing poking out.
How can I make my puppy comfortable during teething?
Yes, teething is pretty uncomfortable for your puppy. But thankfully, simple measures can keep your puppy a lot happier as their adult teeth grow in.
As we touched upon earlier, your puppy will want to chew all day long. You’ll see your pup with something in their mouth most of the time. But it’s your job to make sure that your puppy is chewing on the right things.
Rubber teething dog toys that you can put in your freezer are a great option. Not only does the act of chewing help your dog’s teeth to develop, but the cool temperature also provides pain relief, while the texture massages your dog’s gums also. You can even get deliciously flavored puppy chew toys!
Recommended teething chew toys
- Nylabone X-Shaped Dog Bone Chew Toy for teething Puppies
- Arm & Hammer For Pets Ora-Play Dental Chew Toy
Another option is chewy puppy treats and chew sticks. When your puppy is a little older, these treats and chews help them get used to their new teeth. Also, since the treats are formulated especially for puppies, these chews help your young dog get the calcium they need to grow.
How can I keep myself and others safe when my puppy is teething?
As we’ve mentioned numerous times, your puppy’s baby teeth are unbelievably sharp. In combination with your puppy having an increased need to chew during the puppy stage, this fact means that you and others are at risk of getting badly bitten.
To decrease this risk, be sure to keep your hands far away from your dog when playing with them and tell others to as well.
When they lived in the litter, your puppy would have bitten their siblings while playing. Not having teeth yet, this wouldn’t have hurt much. As their teeth began to grow, the puppies would yelp or growl loudly when bitten. This helped littermates learn what amount of biting force was acceptable when playing. It also helped them know that biting hurt!
So, if your teething puppy does actually bite you, be sure to teach them that biting hurts. You don’t have to bark exactly, but loudly saying “Ow!” is usually sufficient for your puppy to understand that they’re hurting you.
So, do puppies sleep more when teething?
All the rapid growth that occurs during puppyhood is exhausting, and your pup likely sleeps a lot normally, anyway. Teething is known to make puppies extra listless and lethargic at times since there isn’t much for a pup to do but wait it out.
But equally, teething can make your puppy frenetic and hyper too, running around, biting and chewing things, and wanting to play at all hours to use their new teeth!
When do puppies start to sleep more?
Though exhausted growing puppies do sleep a lot, many an owner waits for the day when their puppy sleeps soundly through the night and through the owner’s day at work or school. Well thankfully, you’ll only need to wait until your pooch is 16 weeks old until they’re sleeping solidly for a whole 7 hours or more!
