Why is my dog grinding his teeth? Could it be pain or anxiety?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is likely a sign of teeth pain. If this continues, I recommend that you have her evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check the mouth to see for any possible reasons so that therapy if needed can be started. This may be transient so hopefully that is the case and she does great. Best of luck!

Hello. This is actually fairly common in older dogs, but that does mean it does not need to be investigated. It could be neurological, like something similar to an intention tremor seen in older people, but it could also be an indication of tooth or jaw pain, or possibly even some esophageal reflux. Does Dougal seem to swallow more when he is chattering? If he is, & the fact this occurs primarily at night, I would wonder if there is some kind of reflux happening. Your veterinarian can determine if there might be any oral pain or tooth problems & determine if Dougal might benefit from any stomach protectant medications. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Grinding teeth can be a sign of pain, oral disease, stomach problems, tooth problems and many more. It is a very general sign, but serious and it is not possible to pinpoint the cause without a hands-on exam, blood tests and radiographs, if indicated.. Please take him to a veterinarian for an exam.

This could be a neurological problem you are describing, or some kind of arthritis in his jaw/temporomandibular joint area. Or, sometimes dogs when they smell a strange smell, like urine for example, will exhibit something similar to what you are describing that almost looks like a very fast teeth-chattering kind of behavior. This is normal. I do recommend a full exam by your vet to make sure that this is not a partial focal seizure or severe dental disease or jaw arthritis/jaw dislocation that is causing the behavior, as these things are much more serious and a possibility as well. Try to video tape this behavior-- we'd be happy to view this on a Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach consultation, or you can take it to your vet during the examination. Best of luck and hope that helps!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! You are likely describing teething which is basically a normal type of behavior when puppies are growing up and it is secondary to mouth discomfort as teeth are growing. I recommend that you get Ollie teething type toys which you can get at your local pet store or online. Anytime that he tries to nibble at you or something he should nibble on, you say no and give him the toy. This is likely going to resolve the issue. Good luck and have a great day!

The most obvious reason a dog will chatter its teeth is because he is cold. But sometimes, dog teeth chattering is a sign of a behavioral or medical disorder. It's worth getting your dog checked for any underlying medical conditions just to safe and for your own peace of mind. The most serious cause of teeth chattering in dogs is usually caused by focal motor seizures. These seizures will cause short bouts of teeth chattering. Small dogs are best known to chatter their teeth when they are nervous or excited, but bigger dogs are known to do it as well. There is no known reason for this, but is usually not a cause for concern. If your dog has swollen or bleeding gums, she may chatter her teeth in pain. Always check your dog’s mouth if you notice she’s been chattering her teeth out of habit. As long as your dog does not seem to be in pain, teeth chattering is not usually a health concern. However, it is important to check your dog’s teeth regularly if he has a habit of chattering his teeth to make sure they are not cracking.

Duchess' chattering could be a result of either oral pain or a focal seizure (more subtle repetitive neurologic behavior). At this point, the best thing you can do is take her to the vet to determine if she has signs of dental issues, or any neurologic deficits. Until you can take her to the vet, keep a log of when this chattering behavior occurs including the time, duration, any preceding events (meals, exercise, stress, etc.), and take a video of this chattering to show to your vet.