Dog's jaw won't stay closed...

[mabillings]

We have a strange problem that the vet can't even figure out at this stage.

We have a 70lb mixed breed, healthy and happy. A couple of days ago we noticed that she wasn't closing her mouth. No other symptoms and no apparent pain. We took her to the vet, they examined her and found nothing. They gave us pain pills and said call back in a couple of days. The problem is still there. It is not a respiratory problem, everything good there. Nothing to do with the teeth, gums or tongue that is obvious. When she lays down on her jaw it closes and there is no disomfort. When we close her jaw manually it closes fine, when we let go it drops back down. It's like she has no control over closing her jaw.

Any thoughts?

I think she may have pulled muscle (but no pain?) or a ligament in her jaw. My wife is a little more concerned that it may be a tumor or something similar.

Thanks for any thoughts!

Mark and Tracey

[erdog3]

If it was a tumor your vet would have picked it up, It sounds muscular to me, how about trying an extra large nylon muzzle for her, they still allow drinking and normal breathing, if she doesnt like it dont put it on, but it could help hold up the jaw till it heals.
If it doesnt heal within a few days though I would go back to the vet.

[Em]

I have a Springer Spaniel, that we noticed he couldn't close his mouth. Soon he couldn't open it. The vet told us he has TMJ syndrome, brought on from gum disease. He is on predinsone and he is better. He will have to be on it the rest of his life.

[mabillings]

Well, it turns out that it is most likely a viral infection of some kind. She seems to be getting better. It seems that the virus attacked the nerve that is associated with jaw.

Mark

[bunderhi@pps.k12.or.us]

This sounds like the same thing our dog is experiencing. Vet thinks its some kind of nerve neuropathy. His jaw hangs partly open and tongue partly out, sloppy drinking and eating, but plenty of hunger and thirst and NO PAIN. She expects it to heal within 1 to 3 weeks and recommended hand feeding, a muzzle to support if he needs it, and gave him a vit. b shot. (To help heal the nerves) What is your vet doing?