My dog has a mouth ulcer. How can I ensure a long, healthy life?

Hello. Yeast infections often have secondary bacterial infections present, so the vet prescribing the antiboitic for the yeast infection was probably actually giving it to treat a secondary bacterial infection. There is no way to ensure that Danny lives to 13 years of age, as you cannot control for many diseases that could occur such as cancer, heart disease, etc. You can improve his chances of living longer by getting him on a good quality dog food (kibble), getting him neutered, and making sure he stays fit and in a good body condition (not fat but not thin). Also, keeping him up to date on vaccines and deworming, and making sure he doesn't get out to get hit by a car. After that you cannot control how long he lives for, and when you are unsure if he is sick or not have him seen by a vet.

If there is a secondary infection associated with the ulcer than it will help. If the ulcer is caused by trauma from his tongue touching his teeth than it might not help completely. If there is a veterinary dentist in your area than you could have your dog evaluated to see if there is anything that can be done with the teeth to help prevent the problem.

No, taking antibiotics, even a lot of them, does not decrease the life span of your dog. Unfortunately German Shepherds are a breed that has a lot of medical and congenital problems. The fact that he keeps having infections points to a problem with his immune system, ie , that it is not working very well. You may want to discuss with your vet whether Bruno's immune system could be boosted and how. This is different in every animal and depends on the individual condition, therefore it is best to discuss this with the veterinarian who knows him best.

Hi there. With antibiotics there are varying doses and durations, however in general for an abcess you would be looking at 12.5mg/kg (425mg) for anywhere between 7-14 days. For an abcess 10 days sounds very reasonable.

If the mouth sore is caused by a bacteria than the antibiotics should help to heal the sores. Typically, antibiotics are used for 10 to 14 days. If the ulcer is still persisting after the 10 days than call your vet and give him an update. If it is not caused by a bacterial infection than the antibiotics will probably not help. Your vet could get a biopsy if needed to determine the exact cause of the lesion.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Lady. Oral ulcers can be a sign of advancing kidney disease (or severe dental disease). I would recommend that she sees her veterinarian to re-evaluate her kidney function. She may require a medication. In the meantime, soften her food with water or offer canned food to encourage her to continue eating. I hope this information helps!

If the antibiotics have not made a difference, recheck with your veterinarian. Rex may have significant periodontal disease. A complete dental cleaning may be necessary. This will require anesthesia, so pre anesthetic blood work should be done to assess major organ function. This blood work can assess kidney function which can also be the cause of his condition.