Guest Post By: Lindsey Harper
At around the age of 4-6 months, Chihuahua puppies start to outgrow their ”baby teeth” and the lasting, adult canine teeth start to come in. This developmental course usually occurs in a very distinct order.
The smaller teeth in the front come out first, then the molars, premolars and lastly the canine teeth will come out. For the majority of puppies, the teeth will come out one by one and it might occur when your pup is playing and eating, so they’re oftentimes swallowed and you might not recognize that it’s happened.
If at 6 months of age your Chihuahua pup still has his puppy teeth, it is best to visit your veterinarian for a dental checkup. An adult dog tooth, in rare instances, will grow in slanted and can impact the other teeth negatively.
Your puppy’s teeth falling out and his adult teeth growing in will usually happen in the following progression:
- Age 4 Months—the incisors start growing in
- Age 5 months—the canine teeth start growing in
- Age 6 months—the molars start growing in
At 8 months of age, your Chihuahua puppy will normally have had all his teeth ascended and have ceased teething. Remember that some can be late bloomers, so teething might continue a little longer.
What Happens If an Adult Tooth Comes in Before a Puppy Tooth Falls Out?
An adult tooth will sometimes start to drop down while a puppy tooth is still there. A puppy might then experience a double row of teeth. This may occur with just a single tooth or with numerous teeth. It is best to take care of this as soon as possible. If a puppy tooth is in the way, then an adult tooth can grow in crooked. This has the tendency to cause:
- Discomfort
- Cuts to the interier of the mouth
- Chewing and eating issues
If this circumstance happens to you, you’ll want your veterinarian to look and see if something should be done to affect the developmental process. It’s likely that the tooth can be removed without sedation. Doing so would enable the adult tooth to develop the right way and your adult Chihuahua would have proper teeth alignment.
Chihuahua Teething Pain
If your puppy is teething, then you’re probably noticing how he has a strong, uncontrollable impulse to chew on anything in sight. They can seem like they’re going crazy as they try to find something they can bite aggressively!
This is one of the reasons an owner has to puppy-proof the home—to make sure any hazardous items are out of your puppy’s reach. This includes things like electrical cords.
Your puppy won’t be able to tell the difference between chewing your new shoes and chewing a teething toy. The only thing puppies know is that chewing makes them feel better by alleviating the discomfort their erupting teeth are producing.
Several preventative measures can be taken to get your Chihuahua through this phase without having him chew up the house:
1. The Right Kind Of Teething Toys
This is a necessity. A teething toy is a lot more distinctive than a normal dog toy. To actually relieve discomfort and itching, it has to be able to satisfy numerous different conditions:
- It should be tough enough to withstand the razor-sharp teeth of the Chihuahua pup.
- It should attract the attention of your puppy—when the toy isn’t very interesting, it will be of very little value.
- Certain types will be fashioned with safe, small protrusions. These smaller components of the toy aid remarkably with teething. Your puppy can maneuver the small projections into areas of the mouth and gums that are hard to reach—to hit “just the right spot”.
- Perhaps the best ones are intended to be frozen. If your puppy’s teething, offering a cold toy to chew on provides a ton of satisfaction.
A lot of teething toy options actually retain water. When these are frozen, a puppy can play with them for hours, while the frozen ice changes to a cold slush. After a couple of hours or so, another frozen toy that’s waiting in the freezer can be provided.
2. Ice Cubes
This won’t just be entertaining for you, but it’ll help ensure your Chihuahua puppy feels relief. A lot of puppies find it astoundingly fun to run after an ice cube on a smooth floor—like one made from hardwood or linoleum.
The ice cube’s cool temperature is going to provide your puppy’s gums with relief. You have the option of freezing plain water or adding a harmless flavoring. Some safe ingredients you can combine include cranberry juice and apple juice.
3. Serve Frozen Foods
Frozen and indigestible foods can be helpful as it eases both discomfort and swelling. The frozen foods a Chihuahua puppy will be able to eat safely (within reason) include:
- Frozen baby food (make sure it doesn’t include onion powder or garlic). Place dabs of it in mini cupcake trays and place in your freezer).
- Frozen yogurt (plain, low or not fat)
Chihuahuas have the same number of teeth as other breeds, however they have much smaller mouths and jaws. It’s important to take care of your Chihuahuas teeth throughout his lifetime.
About the Author:
Lindsey Harper has always been a pet lover since she got her first puppy as a kid. She is the co-founder of AvidPup, a pet blog where guides and tips are shared so dog lovers can raise their pups healthy and happy.
