It's time to take Morkie chronic oral infections and dental health seriously. Thousands of dog owners have reported dental hygiene and chronic oral infections. Chronic oral infections in dogs begin with the development of periodontal disease. This secondary infection establishes itself in the soft tissues and bone around the teeth and, if neglected, spreads to the jawbone and neighboring organs. A healthy mouth and good breath go hand-in-hand.
The Morkie, a cross between a Yorkshire Terrier and a Maltese, is one of the world's most popular and wildly adorable adoption pets. This friendly little dog will warm any home, but this breed's popularity is not due to its looks alone. With traits from both parents, the Morkie exhibits the intelligence and activity level combined with the tolerance of Maltese. Also, many Morkies are prone to get mouth inflammation, ulcers, and other chronic oral infections from their parents.
Just like humans, dogs can suffer from oral infections, some of which are chronic. These types of conditions can cause severe discomfort for your dog, disrupt his feeding, and reduce his desire to exercise. Unfortunately, the hard fact is chronic oral infections in dogs carry a grave prognosis because the condition often goes undetected for months or even years before being detected.
Whether your Morkie has a chronic infection or is about to experience an acute attack, you'll likely want to learn as much as possible on the subject. This includes knowing how you can help your Morkie live a healthy, fulfilling life despite these conditions. Chronic infections in dogs are common but not in small miniature dogs. The condition usually develops when their immune systems are weak, and it's usually seen in older dogs. This article explains how to best prevent both of these conditions in your Morkie by establishing an excellent oral hygiene regimen.
It is essential to understand the latest information on the most common chronic oral infections affecting dogs as well as the treatment, life expectancy, and more for your Morkie.
- More Chronic Oral Infections Explained
- Causes of Chronic Oral Infections in Morkies
- How Chronic Oral Infections Can Affect Your Morkie
- Life Expectancy of a Morkie With Chronic Oral Infections
- Signs That Your Morkie Might Have Chronic Oral Infections
- How To Care for and Treat Your Morkie for Chronic Oral Infections
- How To Help Your Morkie Live a Fulfilling Life With Chronic Oral Infections
More Chronic Oral Infections Explained
The health problems associated with Morkies usually appear later in life, during middle age. Gingivitis is one of the most common chronic oral disorders among Morkies. It is an inflammation of the gingiva, or gums of the mouth, of Morkie dogs.
The mouth is one of the most common entry points for bacteria in pets. A progressive disease, oral infections can often be painless and unrecognized but sometimes fatal.
The bacteria in plaque and ulcers attack the supporting tissues in your dog's mouth that hold the teeth in place and create pockets once these tissues are destroyed. The pockets deepen, providing a home for more infectious bacteria and affecting the bone structure. You may also see ulcers and other sores develop as a rash often seen with the occurrence of mouth inflammation, redness, swelling, jaw pain, or difficulty breathing or swallowing. Treatment of mouth inflammation begins with an examination to ensure there are no foreign bodies, tumors, or cancer present. Once cancer has been ruled out, treatment starts with full mouth dental scaling and polishing under general anesthesia by board-certified veterinary dentists, as well as treatment plans discussed later in this article.
Early dental care is essential to the overall health of your Morkie. While early treatment can go a long way in helping to prevent or manage chronic periodontitis, it's best to begin preventative dental care during your dog's youth.
Causes of Chronic Oral Infections in Morkies
While the exact cause of the disease is still being studied, most scientists agree plaque buildup results in new lesions forming. In addition, these dogs have peculiarities that can cause problems, including oral infections. While this is not common, it can occur if the dog is not adequately cared for. Therefore, a lifetime of care will be required to keep this dog healthy.
Tartar is one of the leading causes of tooth decay and gum disease in dogs. Tartar on a dog's teeth is called dental calculus and can be removed by a veterinarian using ultrasonic tools or by special dental scaling under general anesthesia. Tartar is the leading cause of pain, illness, and infection in pets today, so whether your dog gets it from a plaque or another source, brushing its teeth is an essential part of healthy oral care. In the short term, dental calculus will cause your dog to have bad breath. In the long term, dental calculus can lead to periodontal disease or inflammation around a tooth's root that destroys the bone supporting it and can lead to tooth loss.
Plaque can also be a leading cause of chronic oral infections in your Morkie. The plaque acts as an irritant to the gums, causing the gums to swell and become sore. As more plaque accumulates, it can lead to root-canal infections, gum recession, open sores, and eventually tooth loss! As plaque attaches to the papilla (the tooth's root), the gums become swollen and infected. The gum tissue can become inflamed and painful to the touch. Gums that recede may expose the roots of the teeth to air, harming them. Plaque can also travel through your dog's bloodstream, causing other health problems.
It is essential to remove plaque and calculus from your dog's teeth, as it can cause several problems. If left untreated, plaque will begin to calcify and turn into a hard mass.
How Chronic Oral Infections Can Affect Your Morkie
Canine teeth grow throughout the canine's life, and a dog with a dental disorder can cause various health problems. Therefore, maintaining good oral health is a priority for owners whose dogs require extensive dental work. For example, chronic oral infections can lead to liver damage if not treated.
Has your Morkie been hiding her food away and even showing signs of starvation, such as looking very worn and losing weight? If so, she may have a severe tooth infection. Chronic oral conditions can cause your Morkie to be in pain. Energy levels can be affected by this disease since an infected animal will have less energy due to the discomfort of the lesions. Infected animals may not be able to chew hard food, so their daily intake will need to be soft enough for them to digest without pain or difficulty. Infected animals left untreated often become overweight, so the quality of their food must include antioxidants to help fight off free radical damage.
The process of gum disease is irreversible and can cause infections that can cause far more problems than periodontal disease. Therefore, it is crucial to become familiar with oral ulcers' signs to be prepared for any eventualities relating to this condition. On the other hand, canine periodontal disease is a severe disease that can significantly impact your pet's health and vitality. Left untreated, these lesions will result in tooth loss and subsequent infection in the roots of the teeth.
For this reason, you must try your best to maintain optimal conditions within the moist confines of their mouths. Cleaning your dog's teeth bi-weekly is not enough; you will need to regularly make an appointment with a professional dentist to check for any problem that could arise. If a complete mouth extraction is warranted, the procedure will be successful, but your Morkie will require a pure soft food diet for life.
Life Expectancy of a Morkie With Chronic Oral Infections
When you share your life with a Morkie dog, you will probably see chronic oral infections. The conditions are unpleasant and uncomfortable for the dog. That's why you need to take extra care of your Morkie and establish a proper diet, dental hygiene, and exercise routine to lower the risk of your Morkie developing any one of these conditions.
Our pets live much longer than they once did, and as a result, they are acquiring oral disease at an earlier age than in the past. Detect and treat such illness before it becomes severe and potentially life-threatening. Mention chronic oral infections to your vet, and make sure to get regular teeth cleanings with your vet. Sometimes, you may even need the vet to scrape the teeth. Avoiding bad dental hygiene will ensure your Morkie lives a long and healthy life.
The average life expectancy of a healthy Morkie varies from 10 to 14 years. This time range is mainly determined by genetics and environmental factors. For example, a Morkie may inherit several conditions from his parents, including hip dysplasia and chronic oral infections, which could shorten their lifespan. When chronic oral illnesses are involved, you may see the life expectancy change to lower estimates than listed above.
Since it is impossible to tell your Morkie's longevity with 100% accuracy, you will have to do the next best thing–look at the statistics of other Morkies. You can adjust for any hereditary health conditions that may shorten the life expectancy of your Morkie. Or, if you are lucky enough to have a very healthy Morkie, you can expect him to live about as long as their parents and grandparents did.
Signs That Your Morkie Might Have Chronic Oral Infections
When it comes to chronic oral infections in your Morkie, some indications can help you catch the oral disease before it's too late. Factors like your pet's age, breed, and predisposition to certain conditions, along with the presence of other symptoms, can help you identify signs of oral disease in your dog early on. It is essential to let your little Morkie's health care provider know if you notice any of these signs, so they can be monitored and treated early with antibiotics and exceptional dental care if necessary.
The mouth is not a window to the body but rather an open access door that leads to most of the dog's vital organs; dental disease is often a symptom of systemic illness. Some signs your dog may have an oral problem, including tooth discoloration, tooth sensitivity, drooling, or pawing at the teeth or mouth, are familiar with most chronic infections. Other signs or symptoms you want to look out for include difficulty eating, discharge from the nose, swelling under the eyes, bad breath, visible tartar, loose missing teeth, red, swollen, or bleeding gums, and weight loss or loss of appetite. Chronic oral infection is a significant cause of tooth loss in small breed dogs.
A Morkie known for having chronic oral infections tends to chew on anything, and everything or they can't handle the pain of teeth grinding. Morkies are susceptible to tooth disease, which can mimic other illnesses like stomach or sinus issues. A Morkie can have a range of symptoms that could be a sign of chronic oral infections. However, it is essential to be aware that this could also mean your dog suffers from some other ailment. Chronic oral diseases are not uncommon for small dogs. This is because these dogs often have smaller mouths, and their teeth tend to grow more quickly than medium or large breeds of dogs.
How To Care for and Treat Your Morkie for Chronic Oral Infections
If you own a Morkie, you must begin treating its teeth and gums for periodontal disease and chronic oral infections before the disease progresses to the point where it becomes irreversible. Therefore, the earlier you start your dog on a treatment plan, the better.
Feeding good dog food, using a dental chew, and brushing your dog's teeth twice a week can help. Dog food features a combination of ingredients that help control the pain and help control and even heal tissue damage. Dog food alone can instantly soothe the painful inflammation and ulcers associated with a Morkie suffering from chronic oral infections like mouth ulcers and inflammation from dental disease. Unlike steroids, which often cause further irritation of the tissues, veterinarian-approved and scientific-based food formulas help prevent future pain for your dog by stimulating healing conditions and ultimately promoting a healthier mouth for your dog.
The importance of brushing your dog's teeth daily needs to be emphasized to pet owners. In many cases, dogs show no signs of mouth disease until the bones and tissues holding the teeth together begin to deteriorate. This often occurs to older dogs but can happen to dogs as young as six if their teeth are not brushed daily.
If severe gum disease is present, bacteria will remain in the mouth despite your best efforts. Your vet will be able to prescribe any needed antibiotic. If you follow the instructions of your vet, you should see an improvement in your Morkie. The point is to nip the problem in the bud — if your dog is showing signs of chronic mouth inflammation, get him to a vet. It's essential to do this promptly since bacteria can enter the bloodstream and spread to other body systems.
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How To Help Your Morkie Live a Fulfilling Life With Chronic Oral Infections
Dogs can suffer from chronic infections of the gums, teeth, and other oral tissues, as well as potentially serious ailments such as stomatitis and periodontitis. A survey conducted by the American Veterinary Dental Society found that up to 80% of dogs will have dental problems requiring treatment throughout their lives. While several factors may contribute to your dog's susceptibility to chronic oral infections, a significant cause is failing to care for his teeth and gums properly.
Chronic oral infections are just that: chronic concerns. They don't go away overnight and can be expanded upon with each passing year. Unfortunately, if your dog suffers from chronic oral infections, you are not alone. According to the AAHA, the most common parasitic dental infections in pets include gingivitis and periodontal disease. Both conditions occur from a bacterial surplus in the mouth that causes plaque to build up along the gum line, creating an unhealthy environment for teeth and gums.
The best way to combat these conditions and to help your Morkie live a more fulfilling life is to maintain a solid oral hygiene regimen. Building a solid oral hygiene regimen can and should include regular cleaning of your dog's teeth and gums. Additionally, it would help if your oral hygiene regimen also includes annual oral exams for your dog. Then, when needed, an anesthetized oral examination with a complete tooth-by-tooth examination and dental x-rays.
Also, don't forget Morkies are small dogs that act like they are big dogs. They are friendly with strangers, often becoming submissive with bigger dogs. Morkies are excellent with children and will play all day long with them. The best way to help your Morkie live the most fulfilling life with chronic oral infections is to give them lots of care, attention, and affection.
