What do puppies eat when teething?

Welcoming a puppy into the family is an indescribable joy. Their fluffy little bodies, lively eyes, and the way they wobble around exploring the world capture our hearts instantly. However, as the puppy grows, the teething stage arrives quietly. During this period, the choice of diet for the puppy is of utmost importance. It is not only related to the healthy development of the puppy's teeth but also closely connected to its overall growth and well - being.

Puppies usually start teething when they are 3 to 6 months old. During this time, the baby teeth gradually loosen and fall out, and the permanent teeth slowly emerge. In this process, the puppy's mouth will feel uncomfortable. The gums may be swollen, red, and itchy, and they will relieve this discomfort by chewing on things. At this time, the right food becomes particularly crucial.

For puppies in the teething stage, high - quality puppy food is the basic choice. Puppy food is specially formulated to be rich in nutrients such as protein, calcium, and phosphorus, which can provide sufficient energy for the puppy's physical development, especially playing an important role in the growth of teeth and bones. Protein is an important substance that makes up the teeth and gum tissue, helping to maintain oral health. Calcium and phosphorus are the main components of bones and teeth, and a reasonable calcium - phosphorus ratio can promote the normal growth and firmness of permanent teeth. When choosing puppy food, carefully check the ingredient list and give priority to products that use high - quality animal protein as the main raw material and have a suitable calcium - phosphorus ratio. At the same time, according to the puppy's age and weight, feed it according to the feeding recommendations on the packaging to ensure that the nutritional intake is neither excessive nor insufficient.

In addition to puppy food, appropriate wet food is also a good choice. Wet food has a high water content and a relatively soft texture, which is easier for puppies with not - yet - strong teeth in the teething stage to chew and swallow. Moreover, wet food has a rich taste, which can increase the puppy's appetite. There are many wet food cans on the market that are specially designed for puppies, which are added with a variety of vitamins and minerals to further enhance the nutrition. When feeding wet food to puppies, it can be mixed with puppy food, which can not only increase the palatability of the food but also ensure a balanced nutrition. However, it should be noted that wet food is prone to spoilage after opening, so it should be fed promptly and the remaining part should be properly stored.

During the teething stage, some teething foods and toys are very necessary for puppies. For example, chew toys are a common choice. Chew toys are usually made of natural rubber or other safe materials and have a certain hardness, which can meet the puppy's chewing needs and help them relieve gum discomfort. At the same time, in the process of chewing chew toys, the puppy's teeth are exercised, which helps the permanent teeth to emerge smoothly and be arranged neatly. When choosing a chew toy, pay attention to the appropriate size to avoid the toy being too large or too small to affect the puppy's use. In addition, some air - dried meat jerky can also be used as teething food. Such as chicken breast jerky, beef jerky, etc. They not only taste good but are also rich in protein. When the puppy chews the meat jerky, it enjoys the delicious taste and exercises its teeth. However, it should be noted that the meat jerky should not be too hard to avoid damaging the puppy's baby teeth.

Fresh fruits and vegetables are also an indispensable part of the puppy's diet during the teething stage. For example, carrots are rich in vitamin A and cellulose, which are beneficial to the puppy's vision and digestive system. The carrots can be cut into small pieces and slightly cooked before being fed to the puppy, which is easy to chew and can retain most of the nutrients. Apples are rich in pectin and vitamin C, which help to promote the puppy's metabolism. The apples can be cored and cut into thin slices before being fed to the puppy. But be careful not to feed the core to prevent the puppy from accidentally swallowing it and causing suffocation. Vegetables such as broccoli and spinach also contain a variety of vitamins and minerals, which can provide comprehensive nutrition for the puppy. These vegetables can be cooked and mashed before being mixed with puppy food for feeding.

During the puppy's teething stage, the feeding method and frequency also need attention. Puppies have a small stomach capacity and relatively weak digestive ability, so they need to be fed small meals frequently. Generally, puppies aged 3 to 4 months can be fed 4 to 5 times a day. As they grow older, the number of feedings gradually decreases. The amount of each feeding should be moderate to avoid over - feeding leading to indigestion. When feeding, place the food in a fixed position to let the puppy develop good eating habits.

Watching the puppy become slightly fussy due to tooth discomfort during the teething stage, we feel very distressed. Every time we carefully select food for them and patiently guide them to eat, it reflects our deep love for the puppy. During this stage, we should not only pay attention to the types and nutrition of food but also the puppy's eating situation. If any abnormalities are found during the puppy's eating process, such as refusal to eat, difficulty in chewing, etc., consult a veterinarian in a timely manner.

The teething stage of puppies is an important stage in their growth process, and a suitable diet is the key to their healthy passage through this period. We should understand their needs with our hearts and care for their growth with love. By providing puppies with nutritionally balanced and suitable teething foods, we can help them have a healthy and strong set of teeth, laying a solid foundation for a better life in the future.