How long do Morkies live? What is a Morkie's lifespan?

Are you about to get a cute little Morkie puppy? They are perfect dogs for beginner dog owners, apartment dwellers and lap dog lovers. But how long do Morkies live?

The quick answer is that Morkies are going to live to be 10 to 17 years old. How long exactly your very own Morkie lives will depend on several factors, such as his genetics, diet and lifestyle. Today we will look at what determines your Morkie’s life expectancy as well as how you can set him up for a long and happy life!

What is a Morkie’s life expectancy?

As small dogs, Morkies have a longer life expectancy than medium and large dogs. Researchers found out that this is due to the fact that small dogs age slower than their larger cousins. This is true independently of the breed of dog – only size counts when it comes to life expectancy. Being a small lap dog, the Morkie is among the dogs with the longest lifespan – reaching 17 or 18 years in the best cases.

Average lifespan of a Morkie

Most Morkies will reach at least 10 or 11 years of age. Many of them will live to be considerably older, with the average lifespan being 14.5 years.

While it is impossible to predict how long exactly your Morkie is going to live, his genetics can give you a good guess: Many Morkies will live about as long as their parents and grandparents did.

Genetics

Genetics are strong! If you acquired your Morkie from a responsible breeder, he or she will be able to tell you how long the parents and other relatives lived. Most Morkies eventually die of the most common health problems in the breed, many of which are genetic. Looking at the life expectancy of your Morkie’s relatives will give you a good first estimate of how long your pup will live.

Morkie health problems

Most Morkies will eventually die from one of the common health problems in the breed. These are:

Respiratory Problems

As many Yorkies, Morkies can be prone to developing respiratory problems and infections. Especially as your Morkie is aging you should keep an eye out for any coughing, sneezing or runny noses. Sometimes respiratory problems can be confused with allergies.

Cancer

Many senior dogs eventually develop cancer. As small dogs, Morkies are less predisposed to cancer than larger dogs, though this disease can still occur especially later in life. Morkies can develop lymphoma (cancer of the lymph nodes), mast cell tumors and soft tissue sarcomas among others.

If you notice any strange lumps and bumps on your Morkie, take him in as soon as possible to be checked out by a veterinarian. Finding and treating cancer early can significantly prolong the life expectancy of your dog!

Heart issues

Maltese are prone to heart disease, so the Morkie is likely to inherit this health issue. You can spot heart issues if a dog is coughing a lot, showing shortness of breath, losing a lot of weight or appearing very tired after only short bouts of exercise. Like with all other conditions, having your Morkie seen by a vet asap is the best way to catch and treat this condition early and prolong your Morkie’s lifespan.

How long do Teacup Morkies live?

Teacup Morkies will have a lifespan of about 10-13 years. Teacup Morkies are especially tiny Morkies (A cross of a Miniature Yorkie and Miniature Maltese), and as with all unusually small dog breeds, they can be prone to a number of health conditions. These conditions shorten the Teacup Morkie’s lifespan compared to the regular Morkie’s.

How can you guarantee a long lifespan for your Morkie?

The best way to set your Morkie up for a long and happy life is to establish a healthy lifestyle. You should exercise your Morkie every day. Even though these dogs are small, they require regular activity just like larger breeds. In addition, you absolutely need to keep your Morkie at a healthy weight.

Many small breed dogs are overweight or obese. It is easy to overfeed them as they require very little calories. Many dog food manufacturers have unrealistic feeding guidelines – leading owners to overfeeding their dogs.

Your Morkie is going to live a much longer and happier life if he stays lean and active. Instead of giving your dog fatty treats, reward him with low-fat alternatives such as sweet potato treats or slices of carrots.

You should also never skip out on your Morkie’s annual vet exam. As your dog becomes a senior (around 8-10 years of age), you should increase this frequency to once every six months. This way you can make sure that any conditions are caught early and treated well. Increasing the life expectancy of your Morkie comes down to daily habits and preventative care.

The Bottom Line

As small dogs, Morkies live much longer than medium and large dogs. Expect your Morkie to reach an age of 10-17 years. Most Morkies eventually die from cancer, heart issues or respiratory problems. While there is no guaranteed way to prevent any of these, living a healthy lifestyle and taking your dog to annual vet checks will go a long way to increasing his life expectancy.

Teacup Morkies will live slightly shorter than regular sized Morkies due to their extremely small size.

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How long do Morkies live?

How long do Morkies live?

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