Puppy Food for Teething | Choosing the Best Puppy Food Options

What Can I Feed My Teething Puppy?

The best types of food for a teething puppy include raw and wet, although cold pressed dog food can be a good option, as long as it is a puppy formula.

Wet puppy food is soft and palatable, making it easier to chew and less aggressive against your puppy’s gums. Wet puppy food can also provide extra hydration, which may be lost if your puppy is regularly drooling. If the food is softer, it can encourage your puppy to eat, especially if their regular, harder food has caused them to stop eating.

If your puppy has already started on a raw diet and you don’t want to move them away, raw puppy food can be a good choice. However, you must ensure it is free from bone and rawhide, as these can not only cause issues with their teeth and gums, but could also cause digestive issues.

Dry food can be fed to a teething puppy, but it is advised that you soak it in warm water for around 10-15 minutes to ensure it is soft enough to chew.

You can browse our full collection of puppy food here.

Do Puppies Go Off Their Food When Teething?

It is very common for puppies to go off their food when teething. As their gums become sore and tender, it may be painful and uncomfortable for them to chew, but don’t be alarmed. Puppies tend to become irritable during this phase of their young lives, and there are ways you can help.

Alongside providing softer food, consider putting ice cubes in their water to soothe their gums or even offering a chilled, damp washcloth for them to chew on and play with. At Fetch, we stock teething toys such as these Kong teething sticks, which can clean gums as well as soothe them.

If your puppy has finished teething and is still avoiding their food, or the avoidance during teething is presenting a cause for concern, seek professional help to ensure nothing more serious is happening. We offer wellbeing consultations provided by a canine nutrition specialist, ensuring your puppy is happy and healthy, and providing them with a diet that helps them thrive.

 

Should Dry Dog Food Be Avoided When Puppies Are Teething?

Dry puppy food on its own should be avoided when a puppy is teething, as it is quite harsh and abrasive. If you must feed your puppy dry food, soak it in water for 10-15 minutes to soften it up.

An alternative to dry food that still packs in the essential nutrients your puppy needs is cold pressed puppy food. It is cooked at a low temperature, preserving more vitamins and minerals and breaking down quickly in your puppy’s digestive system. Cold pressed puppy food is softer than regular kibble, making it much more palatable.

Our top choices include:

• DARF Cold Pressed Puppy Food: smaller kibble, perfect for puppies. Minimally processed, highly nutritious, and perfectly palatable.
• Ydolo Semi Moist Cold Pressed Puppy Food: Ydolo’s semi-moist texture makes it much easier to eat than regular dry food. It is nutritionally balanced, with 75% meat and 25% fruits, vegetables and supplements.
• Alpha Spirit Semi Moist Cold Pressed Puppy Food: this product is “specially formulated to support the development of growing puppies,” complete with 85% fresh turkey, mackerel, pork, duck and chicken liver.

 

Are There Specific Treats to Help a Teething Puppy?

There are toys and treats you can buy to help your puppy when teething, much like you would buy a baby to stop them from getting frustrated. As well as teething toys such as this Nylabone puppy pacifier, you can create frozen treats at home, such as:

• Cucumber
• Banana
• Watermelon
• Carrot
• Lick mats

You can view our full collection of puppy treats here.

What Ingredients Should I Look for in Puppy Food for Teething?

When looking for ingredients to support your puppy’s dental health, consider the following:

• Calcium: nutrients such as calcium and phosphorus are essential for growing and strengthening adult teeth.
• Vitamin D: this can help calcium absorb into your puppy’s body. Ydolo wet puppy food is rich in Vitamin D3 as well as Omega-3 fatty acids, which can reduce inflammation in the gums.
• Natural anti-inflammatories: such as turmeric and chamomile, which can soothe gums. Consider the Natural Dog Company’s calming supplement chews, which contain chamomile and valerian root.

Make sure you prioritise your puppy’s comfort when looking for ways to help them through the teething process. A wellbeing consultation can help you support your puppy, providing a diet that supports their growth and is a palatable, enjoyable choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Know That My Puppy’s Food is Helping with Teething Problems?

If your puppy is showing signs of reduced discomfort, such as eating more than before, less whining during meals, and they seem to enjoy their food, then your puppy’s food probably isn’t interfering with their teeth and gums too much.

Can I Give My Teething Puppy Dental Treats?

You can, but dental treats tend to be hard and catered towards adult teeth, so you may want to wait until they have lost their baby teeth before starting on harder dental treats.

How Often Should I Feed My Puppy When They’re Teething?

You can continue feeding your puppy the same number of meals that they are used to, as long as the food is soft and doesn’t cause them pain or discomfort.

Should I Avoid Any Food When My Puppy is Teething?

When teething, try to avoid:

• Crunchy treats
• Hard kibble
• Raw products that contain bone, which could splinter

What are the Signs of Puppy Teething?

Common signs of teething include:

• Excessive chewing of their toys or furniture
• Sore/bleeding gums
• Whining/pain when eating
• Drooling
• Irritability
• Missing teeth, or finding baby teeth on the floor

When Do Puppies Stop Teething?

Puppies should have a full set of adult teeth by six to eight months old. Puppies will be losing their teeth and be in the teething process between the ages of three and seven months.