[kiragira]

My gorgeous Border Collie/Blue Heeler/Lab mix came home today and after a rough day of shots, chipping, a bath, and carsickness, she's a bit nervous. She's still very social and is EXCELLENTLY behaved, the best dog I've ever had the pleasure to walk, and very accepting of her family as above her in the pack.

The shelter estimates her to be four to six months old based on her size and teeth.

She seems a bit large for her tooth size and number. She has some nice incisors growing in, but her mouth is largely gums and very small-sized teeth. I have observed that she seems to have trouble eating her kibble (Science Diet for puppies, given to us by the excellent shelter from which she was adopted). She ends up picking up a piece in her mouth, attempting to chew it, and dropping it. Sometimes she chews it into little pieces and swallows what she can, but she isn't responsive to treats or regular kibble and the kitchen is a mess!

She has a puppy cold or allergies, as she's very sneezy lately, and I suspect she may be nauseated but I would still like to play it safe. Are my puppy's teeth growing correctly? Since she won't even eat her food soaked in water, is there anything I can do to feed her until we remedy this problem? Do puppies lose teeth and/or regrow them? With such an empty palate, can I really believe that she's several months old and healthy?

Thank you very much, everyone--my girl, I'm sure, would give her puppy kisses to you too!

[shazamataz]

Congratulation on your adoption :)

If he is refusing to eat hard food is more than likely he is teething!
Puppies teethe at around 4-5 months of age an they lose their small baby teeth and then their adult teeth come through.

Buy him a few doggy teething toys to help him.

Catsmine (another member and dog lover) suggests chicken bullion ice cubes for teething puppies as it helps soothe the pain.

[kiragira]

Thank you so much! That sounds spot-on. Luckily my puppy has since taken to gnawing on some nice safe bones, and is eating some smaller pieces of kibble.

[jenniepepsi]

You can soak his kibble in some milk before feeding him to make it easier on him too :)

[danielnoahsmommy]

No milk. It can cause digestive upset. I would purchase some wet (canned) puppy food and use a small amount mixed in with her softend puppy kibble. She will love it. She might be pickey or her gums may be sore due to teathing.

[jenniepepsi]

I meant puppy milk, not the cows milk that we as people drink. Sorry I wasn't more clear. Walmart.com: Esbilac Puppy Milk Replacer Liquid, 12 oz.: Dogs


However, the soft meaty dog food is definitely a great idea :D

[Alty]

I hate giving my dogs anything but dry dog food. The wet stuff isn't good for their teeth. My lab is proof positive, he still has all his teeth at the age of 14 and has never had a problem.

Puppy milk is for puppy's Jennie, at 4 months of age it's no longer a good idea. The dog needs nutrition from another source.

The chicken bullion cubes are a great idea.