What are signs my puppy is teething?

A puppy that suddenly wants to chew far more than usual, including on furniture, hands or clothing, is often responding to the discomfort of new teeth pushing through rather than simply being naughty.

Gently lifting the lip to check for redness, swelling, or a visible loose or missing tooth can confirm teething is underway. Finding a tiny tooth on the floor is a clear, harmless sign, not a cause for concern.

A small amount of blood on a chew toy is normal, but persistent bleeding, a swollen face on one side only, or a tooth that looks clearly broken rather than simply loose is different from ordinary teething and worth a vet check rather than waiting it out.

A brief dip in appetite, especially reluctance to eat hard kibble, is common during the peak of teething, and softening food slightly with a little warm water for a week or two usually solves it without needing to change diets. A puppy that stops eating entirely for more than a day, teething or not, needs veterinary attention.

Mild, general crankiness or a slightly lower tolerance for rough play during a teething flare up is common and usually passes within a few days once that particular tooth has finished coming through, so a short stretch of extra patience with training and handling often matters more than any specific remedy. Keeping a couple of textures on hand, one cool and one firm, covers most of what a teething puppy needs day to day.