Teeth Cleaning Tips for Your Morkie

 
Do you clean your Morkie's teeth? I bet he or she doesn't really appreciate it!

I don't like getting my teeth cleaned because my mouth is really small and toothbrushes are really big, but it is still important to take care of your Morkie's mouth. Why? Well, we small breeds are even more susceptible to oral disease than bigger dogs.

But how can you get into the habit of brushing your pup's teeth?

1. Start your Morkie teeth cleaning from the beginning. Not only will brushing her teeth as a puppy help keep them healthy, but doing so will help her get used to having them cleaned. This will make it easier on you and on your dog later on. In the beginning, place a drop of toothpaste on your finger and let your Morkie lick it off. This will allow her to get used to the taste. As for a toothbrush, we like to use one with two sets of bristles to reach both sides of the teeth in one swipe. 

2. Brush your Morkie's teeth with flavored toothpaste. Some dogs can be difficult when it comes to brushing their teeth; they often despise the taste. I enjoy any flavor, but some dogs might prefer a poultry paste. They will likely consider it a treat, which will make this task easier on you. Whatever you do, never use human toothpaste on a dog - it could be toxic. 

3. Give your Morkie dental care treats to help keep teeth clean. It's difficult, if not impossible, to reach every area of a dog's mouth with a toothbrush. And, understandably, life gets busy and we forget teeth brushing at times. Dental treats and rawhides - anything hard or crunchy - will help keep your Morkie's teeth clean in the meantime. 

Even though you might have made an honest attempt to keep your dog's teeth clean and healthy, it is easy to forget about it and slack for a while. If you notice discoloration and signs of gum disease, the only way to reverse it is to bring your Morkie to the veterinarian for a professional teeth cleaning.