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Puppies and Chewing

December 1, 2017

Have you recently adopted a puppy? Congratulations! You are definitely in for lots of adorable moments with your new pet! Puppies are almost impossibly cute. They can also be quite a handful! One thing you may find yourself dealing with is little Fido’s chewing habits. As your furry friend’s teeth grow in, he’ll seek to soothe his sore gums by chewing. Read on as a Leesburg, VA vet discusses puppies and chewing.

Understand Why Fido Chews

As noted above, dogs often chew to seek relief from the pain of teething. Our canine pals also like to learn about things by, well, eating them. It’s important to realize that your furry buddy isn’t deliberately trying to ruin your new shoes: he’s just obeying his natural instincts.

Avoid Punishment

We know, it can be irritating to find that your adorable pet just ruined your couch cushions. However, you should never punish little Fido for chewing improperly. Since your pup is only following his instincts, he won’t understand what he did wrong, and could feel angry, frightened, or anxious. Focus on rewarding good behavior instead.

Doggyproof

You’ll need to do some doggyproofing. Remove or secure anything you don’t want little Fido chewing on. Take special care with potentially-dangerous items, such as toxic plants; chemicals; medicine; small or sharp objects; plastic bags, wrappers, and ties; and unsafe foods. You’ll also want to keep personal items, like shoes, books, purses, remote controls, clothes, and cell phones, out of paws’ reach. Items you can’t pick up, such as wires, can be treated with taste deterrent.

Offer Suitable Toys

Making sure little Fido has suitable chew toys is very important! Dogs all have their own tastes when it comes to playthings, so observe your furry pal and see what he likes best. Puzzle toys and treat toys are great for this! Your canine friend may also enjoy gnawing on a clean, frozen washcloth.

Tips

Caring for a puppy is in many ways very much like taking care of a human toddler. Keep a close eye on little Fido during his terrible twos. (Note: crates can be a wonderful training tool when used properly.) It’s also important to make sure your puppy is getting lots of playtime and exercise. Ask your vet for specific advice.

Please contact us, your Leesburg, VA animal clinic, for all of your dog’s veterinary care needs. We’re here to help!