Most puppies will cry when teething. The teething process is very uncomfortable for pups, so it’s your job to help ease the discomfort. To relieve his pain, buy him a frozen chew toy or some chicken-flavored ice cubes. The cold will help numb the pain, and the items are harmless for him to chew on.Â
Although puppies are energetic, fun, and bring joy to everyone around them, the first few months of their lives can be difficult. In those first few months, they are separated from their family, put in a new place with new people, and have to follow new rules. Just when they start to get used to everything, they begin teething. All of this is enough to make anyone cry.
Puppies cry for many reasons including, loneliness, fear, boredom, hunger, and the need to go outside. However, if your puppy is at the proper age (three to four months) and shows signs of teething, he may be crying from the pain.
This article will go over the various reasons why puppies cry, the symptoms of teething (to help you determine if your puppy is teething), and some ways you can ease your puppy’s pain.
What You'll Learn
Why is Your Puppy Crying?
There are many reasons why puppies cry. If it’s not apparent that your puppy is crying from teething, then it’s important to rule out other options.
Below are common reasons why puppies cry.
Hungry
If your puppy’s cries are primarily around mealtime, he is probably letting you know he is hungry. It’s normal for a puppy’s appetite to change as he grows. If you think your puppy is not eating enough, consult your vet about changing his food or increasing the amount of food he eats.
Lonely/Misses Parents
Sometimes your puppy just wants some affection! Puppies need lots of attention, and they may cry to get it.
This is especially true for newer puppies that were just separated from their parents. Until the moment you adopted your puppy, he was always around his parents and siblings.
He had plenty of others to play with at a moment’s notice. Moving to a new home can be a bit of an adjustment, and your puppy may be feeling lonely from the lack of playmates.
If you believe your puppy just wants attention, try spending more time with him. Snuggle, play with a toy, or go for a walk. These are all great ways to cure your puppy’s loneliness and make him feel loved.
Fear
There are many reasons why a puppy might be afraid. If your puppy is new to your home, he may need to adjust to the new environment. Puppies are also scared of loud noises such as vacuums or thunderstorms.
If your puppy shows a pattern of crying when there is a loud noise, or during a particular situation, he may be afraid of something.
Bored
Sometimes puppies are just bored and want to play with someone. As mentioned before, puppies are raised with their siblings, who are constant companions for them.
Your puppy may be bored after moving to a new home because he does not have that continuous companionship. If it seems like your puppy wants to play every time he cries, he may just be bored.
Needs to Use the Bathroom
Almost everyone knows that puppies cry when they need to go outside. Most of the time, they will be near the door when they cry, but sometimes they won’t. If your puppy is whining, head to the door to see if he becomes excited. If he is whimpering and wants to go outside, he probably has to pee.
Teething
Teething is a painful process that all puppies (and many other animals) must suffer through on the way to adulthood. The pain from his teeth and gums will make your puppy cry and whine in pain.
If teething is the cause of your puppy’s pain, there are a few things you can do. The most important thing is showing him love. Your puppy is crying to let people know he is hurting, and showing love to him shows him that you care about what he is going through.
Symptoms of Teething
Many reasons could explain why your puppy is crying. However, if your puppy is about three or four months old and shows other symptoms or behaviors related to his mouth, he may be teething.
To ensure that your puppy’s crying is because of teething and not something else, keep an eye out for the following symptoms.
Eating Slowly
When your puppy is teething, he is going to be in a lot of pain. This pain is going to make it much more challenging to eat. Therefore, he will eat much more slowly and chew on his food longer. Some puppies even stop eating altogether to avoid the pain.
If your puppy stops eating, take him to your vet for help. Your vet will be able to suggest some softer foods or ideas on how to get your puppy eating again.
Losing Teeth
Part of the teething process will include losing teeth. Puppies need to lose their baby teeth so their adult teeth can grow in. There will be some awkward phases where your puppy will be missing a few teeth. You may even find a few teeth on the ground around your home.
Though this may seem concerning, rest assured that your puppy will have adult teeth and look normal in no time.
The teething process begins when a puppy is three to four months old and finishes by the time he is six months old. Therefore, your puppy should have a mouth full of adult teeth around the time he turns six months old.
Chewing
Your puppy will chew on anything to relieve the pain in his mouth. Toys, furniture, shoes, you name it. The teething phase is a great time to start puppy-proofing the house. If you’re not prepared, your puppy may begin chewing on things you don’t want him to!
To relieve his pain, buy him a frozen chew toy or some chicken-flavored ice cubes. The cold will help numb the pain, and these items are harmless for him to chew.
He will probably lose interest in your shoes (or whatever else he is chewing on) and find some relief from the cold chew toy.
Blood On Chew Toys
During the process of losing baby teeth, your puppy’s mouth may bleed a little. A little blood is no need for concern as this is normal. Your puppy will be chewing on toys more than usual during this period, so you will see some blood on them.
As long as it doesn’t seem like a lot of blood, then your puppy should be okay. If there appears to be more blood than what would be expected during teething, then have your puppy checked by the vet.
Pawing At The Mouth
When dogs are in discomfort, they paw at the area of their body that hurts. Since their mouth hurts, they will paw at it, hoping to find relief. If your puppy is at the proper age for teething and paws at his mouth, then the teething process is probably just starting.
Ease Your Puppy’s Pain
Now that you have determined that your puppy is crying from teething, you’ll want a solution to make him feel better.
One common solution is to buy special toys that can be frozen. This works for two reasons. First, the puppy is desperate to chew on something and a chew toy is a better option than your furniture.
Second, the cold toy will help numb the pain in his gums. This option brings him fun and relieves the pain.
Another option is to give your puppy ice cubes. Ice cubes are safe for puppies to chew on, and the cold helps the pain in their gums.
If your puppy is in pain, he may not be eating as much as he should. This is especially true if your puppy only eats dry kibble. Temporarily switching to softer food will help reduce your puppy’s pain.
If all else fails, ask your vet for ideas. They may have ideas or treatments to ease your puppy’s pain.
Give Your Puppy Lots of Love
Puppies cry for many reasons. They could be hungry, lonely, bored, or need to go outside. However, they will also cry when they begin teething.
Teething is a painful process that all puppies must go through. However, that doesn’t make it any easier. If your puppy is crying from teething, make sure to give him lots of love and cold toys. The combination of affection and a solution to the pain will reduce his crying and help him through this tough time.
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