My puppy's gums bleed during tug of war. Is this normal teething?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Not to worry, this is no big deal. I can’t be totally certain but the picture appears that the little front teeth (incisors) are adult teeth. But the canines are baby teeth. And by the looks of the little bulges, the adult canines will be erupting soon. Long story short, this was going to happen to this baby canine sooner or later anyway!. It does not hurt very much at all and will probably fall out completely (or he’ll swallow it) in the next day or so. There is no way you’d be able to knock out an adult canine with a rope toy. So carry on with your tug-o-war and don’t worry if a baby tooth here and there are casualties! Best wishes to you and Xavier!

Puppies are in the process of teething from 12 weeks to 6-7 months of age, so it's completely normal to see an occasional baby tooth with a bloody root on the floor during this time :) Often, there will also be small streaks of blood on toys or chew items - this is because the pup's gums are bleeding a little, and is also normal. All of his adult teeth should be coming in within the next 2-4 weeks, so after that the problem should resolve on its own.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If they do fall off usually that will not affect eating that much. However, if they are loose that is usually indicative of an underlying dental issue so I would recommend that you have him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck!

This could definitely be due to teething. They often get irritated and bleeding gums at this time and it's really not a problem. Young dogs almost never have dental disease, so I would not be worried at this time. This problem should resolve in the next two months. It's great that you are brushing!! Keep it up and you will definitely reduce his chances of having teeth and gum disease in the future.

Hachi is adorable! Most dogs do stop teething by 6 months, but certain dogs may take up to 8-10 months for the adult teeth to fully erupt. While the teeth erupt through the gums, it is normal for their to be a small amount of blood. To teach Hachi that biting is not okay, I recommend saying "no!" immediately when he starts biting. You should then ignore Hachi, and only resume playing when he is calm. You can also try a spray bottle with water to wet Hachi's face if the biting continues. I hope this helps and that you enjoy your new pup!

Hi Dilan, It is quite normal for a puppy's gums to bleed when they are teething and chewing on things. Gums can bleed more easy with gum disease, but a puppy that age would not have gum disease, so need to worry about that right now. I hope that helps and all is well with Toby.

Great job brushing Luca’s teeth!! Brushing regularly makes such a difference in oral heath long term! I would not be worried about a small amount of blood on the brush at all! We often see this if the gums are a little inflamed, either from a little gingivitis or from teething in a puppy. You can use a wet, soft cloth to wipe the area that bled a little if there is still blood on the teeth. Make sure you are using a very soft bristled, small toothbrush. Wet the brush before using, and apply a pea sized amount of toothpaste. If you are just starting to brush, you may even want to just use your finger with veterinary tooth paste on it and rub it on teeth and gums for a week or so to start, then work up to the toothbrush. Again, great job keeping Luca s mouth healthy!