DAY 18 - Teething & Tooth Loss in Chow Chow Puppies: What We Learned from Zoey’s First Tooth Drop! 🦷🐾

If you’ve found a tiny puppy tooth on the floor and panicked a little—trust me, you’re not alone. When we saw Zoey’s first little tooth lying on her mat, we were startled. At first, we thought something was wrong. Was she in pain? Was it too early? Should we call the vet?

Turns out, puppy teething is completely normal, and in Chow Chows, like Zoey, it’s all part of growing up.

This post is for every new Chow Chow parent who's suddenly facing the tiny tooth fairy stage. We'll walk you through what happens, what to expect, and how you can support your pup through this sometimes-drooly, sometimes-adorable journey.

🐶 When Do Chow Chow Puppies Start Teething?

Just like human babies, puppies go through a teething phase. For Chow Chows, this usually begins around:

📆 3 to 4 weeks old – Baby (deciduous) teeth begin to emerge

📆 12 to 16 weeks – Teething begins, and baby teeth start falling out

📆 6 months – Adult teeth usually finish coming in

By the end of the process, your Chow should have 42 permanent adult teeth—more than we humans have!

😬 Zoey’s First Tooth Fell Out: What Happened

We still remember it clearly—Zoey was about 4 months old when we noticed her being unusually fussy with her food and chew toys. She started:

✔️ Chewing more aggressively

✔️ Dropping kibble from her mouth

✔️ Whining while eating

✔️ And one day… we found a tiny little tooth near her water bowl!

Cue our mini freakout.

We thought she broke it or had hurt herself. But after a quick call to our vet and a little online research, we realized: Zoey was just teething.

And yes, we kept the tiny tooth like proud parents. 🥹

🦴 Common Signs Your Chow Chow Puppy Is Teething

Here’s what to expect when your pup’s going through teething:

🔹 Increased drooling

🔹 Chewing everything (furniture, slippers, your hand…)

🔹 Red, swollen gums

🔹 Whining or irritability

🔹 Mild loss of appetite

🔹 Pawing at their mouth

🔹 Occasional bleeding from the gums

🐾 Zoey started chewing her rubber toys like there was no tomorrow—and even her slow-feeder bowl got a few bite marks.

💡 How to Help Your Teething Chow Chow Puppy

Teething can be uncomfortable, but there are easy ways to soothe your pup at home:

✅ 1. Offer Frozen Chew Toys

Stick soft puppy-safe toys in the freezer for 30 minutes. The cold helps numb the gums.

✅ 2. Use Puppy Teething Rings

Special teething toys designed for dogs are perfect—Zoey loved the ones with gentle ridges.

✅ 3. Try Lick Mats

Spread some xylitol-free peanut butter or pumpkin on a cool lick mat—it helps with discomfort and keeps them engaged.

✅ 4. Avoid Hard Bones or Antlers

Teeth are fragile during this stage. Skip the hard stuff to avoid chipping or breaking their new adult teeth.

✅ 5. Feed Softened Food (If Needed)

If your Chow is struggling with kibble, try adding a little warm water or switching to puppy-friendly wet food temporarily.

🐶 Zoey’s teething meal hack? We mashed a bit of sweet potato or warm broth into her kibble for a softer texture—worked like a charm!

🦷 Should You Be Worried if You Find a Tooth?

Not at all. It’s completely normal for your Chow Chow puppy to lose their baby teeth around 3 to 6 months. You might not even find all of them—they often swallow them while eating or playing (totally safe!).

However, you should call your vet if:

🔸 A tooth is loose but doesn’t fall out after weeks

🔸 You see severe bleeding or pus from the gums

🔸 Your puppy isn’t eating or seems in pain for several days

🔸 Their adult teeth are growing in crooked or crowding

🐾 Final Woof: It’s Just a Phase—And It Shall Pass!

Teething can feel overwhelming (and messy), but it’s just another part of your Chow Chow’s puppyhood journey. We were nervous when Zoey’s tooth first fell out, but now we look back and laugh—it was just one more “first” in her story.

Now that her adult teeth are fully in, she’s chewing confidently, smiling wide, and ready to take on the world (or at least her yak chew). 💛

📢 Did your Chow puppy lose a tooth recently? What helped them through their teething phase? Share your story in the comments—we’d love to hear from other fluffy families!