The teething stage is one every beagle owner will remember very well, if you’re at this stage, it’s easy to feel nervous, especially if this is your first beagle or any dog breed.
But fear not, in this article we’ll break down all the stages to beagle puppy teething, explaining what to look out for, what happens, and what to expect. We’ll then discuss some of the best teething products and chew toys, along with some of the key advantages to getting your dog one.
Let’s dive in by understanding the teething stages for your puppy.
The teething stages:
Puppies go through several stages of teething as they grow and develop, what follows is a breakdown of the stages and what you can expect at each:
Birth to 3 weeks:
Just like human babies, puppies are born with no teeth and likely won’t receive their first set of teeth until the 3rd or 4th week. Most owners won’t get a puppy until they are around 8 weeks old anyway.
3 to 4 weeks:
At this stage, your pup should start to get their first set of teeth, called “deciduous teeth” or “milk teeth.” These teeth include the incisors (front teeth used for biting and chewing), canines (longer teeth used for tearing and grasping), and molars (teeth used for grinding).
Be careful of this stage, their milk teeth are incredibly sharp and will definitely hurt if they nip you (and they will try!)
4 to 6 weeks:
Puppies continue to get their milk teeth, and may start to chew on objects to help relieve the discomfort of teething. This is the stage to begin to introduce them to chew toys (more info further down this article!), although it won’t hurt to have some lying around before this stage.
6 to 8 weeks:
It’s around this stage that your beagle puppy may start to lose their milk teeth as their permanent teeth come in.
8 weeks to 6 months:
Puppies continue to get their permanent teeth, including the premolars (teeth used for grinding and chewing).
At the end of this stage, your puppy should have lost all of its milk teeth.
6 months to 1 year:
Hopefully, your no longer puppy will have all of their adult teeth, including the incisors, canines, premolars, and molars. It’s a good idea to schedule a check-up with a vet at this time, just to ensure everything is in order and all their milk or puppy teeth have gone.
In some cases a puppy can grow its permanent teeth whilst still having some of it’s milk teeth, which can cause problems with their bite. Check with your vet if you think this is happening, and in some cases they will remove the teeth manually.
As you may or may not know, Beagle’s do love to hunt out and chew things, so the teething stage is a good time to introduce new chew toys to keep their mouths healthy and busy (most importantly so they’re not chewing wires or anything else about your home!)
The best chew toys for teething beagle puppies
During the teething process, your beagle puppy will probably chew on absolutely anything they can find (including your hands, fingers, clothes, shoes etc…) naturally, this isn’t going to help your sanity or your puppy’s teeth, therefore it’s important to provide them with safe chew toys and to supervise them when they are chewing to ensure they don’t swallow anything they shouldn’t.
With that said, here’s 5 of our favourite chew toys for adult and puppy beagles.
IKOHEIRA Dog Chew Toy for Aggressive Chewers
Pros of this toy:
- The underside of it is specially designed to help remove plaque from the teeth when your dog is chewing
- Promises to be extremely durable, and should be beagle proof!
- You can load it with treats to keep your beagle interested (they love food as we know!)
Pet-Fun® Pineapple Indestructible Dog Toy
Pros of this toy:
- Fun design of a pineapple has a specific purpose, it’s ridges are designed to help remove plaque from the teeth.
- Strength tested in a lab, so should be nicely beagle proof!
- It’s also a pineapple, what’s not to love?
KatKet Dog Toy Cotton Rope Knot
Pros of this toy:
- Rope/cotton material, which can be more enjoyable for your dog.
- Not indestructible, so perhaps opt for a sturdier toy if your beagle is an aggressive chewer.
- We find that Bella loves her rope toy and keeps her busy for ages!
What are the advantages of a chew toy?
Not only are chew toys fun for dogs, but there are several other advantages of getting your beagle a chew toy:
Dental health
Chew toys can help to clean your dog’s teeth and reduce the buildup of plaque and tartar, which can lead to dental problems such as gum disease. This shouldn’t be a replacement for general teeth cleaning though, which you should do regularly.
Mental stimulation
Chew toys can provide mental stimulation for your dog, helping to prevent boredom and reduce the risk of destructive behaviours such as chewing on furniture or shoes.
Pain relief
Surprisingly, despite what you may think, chew toys can actually provide relief for dogs who are teething or experiencing discomfort due to dental problems.
Bonding
Playing with chew toys can be a great way for you and your beagle to bond and spend quality time together.
Training
Chew toys can be used as rewards during training, helping to reinforce good behaviours. Opting for a chew toy that has treats inside is a good option here.
Ongoing dental care for your beagle
Maintaining good dental hygiene for your beagle is essential to keep them happy and healthy well into their lives, here’s some of my top tips for keeping your beagle’s gnashers gleaming!
Brush your beagle’s teeth regularly
It’s important to brush your beagle’s teeth at least once a week using a toothbrush and toothpaste specifically formulated for dogs, we do it every night though, as recommended by our vet.
If you’re wondering how best to clean your beagle’s teeth, we use Vet’s Best Dental Care Finger Wipes, as these are less intrusive and more comfortable for our dog Bella and do the job just as well.
Other options include more traditional toothbrushes, although we found these harder to do.
I suggest doing this every night, ideally before bed.
Check out our grooming guide for more information!
Feed them a high-quality diet
A high-quality diet that includes crunchy kibble can help to clean your beagle’s teeth and reduce the buildup of plaque and tartar.
We feed Bella a mixture of wet and dry food to help here, she loves the Lily’s Kitchen Brand of food, but we’ve got a list of our favourite vet recommended foods here.
As a treat, you can give your beagle dental sticks, which are often formulated to help remove plaque from your beagle’s teeth.
Offer plenty of fresh water
Fresh water can help to rinse your beagle’s mouth and teeth, helping to prevent dental problems, ensure you change their water bowl everyday to ensure it stays fresh!
Schedule regular dental checkups
It’s important to schedule regular dental checkups with your vet to ensure that your beagle’s teeth and gums are healthy, you’ll likely do this as part of their regular check-up, but check with your vet if you’re unsure.
FAQs
Do Puppy Teeth Fall Out?
Yes, you should expect your puppies teeth to fall out, if you don’t think your puppy has lost all their teeth by the time their adult ones start coming in, you should contact your vet immediately.
How Long Does Beagle Teething Last?
The entire process can take up to a year, but some beagle can finish the process in less time than that
When do Beagle Puppies lose their teeth?
Beagle puppies will start to gain their milk teeth or puppy teeth around the 6-8 week mark, they should have lost them all by the 6 month mark, but it can be earlier for some dogs.