My dog's jaw won't open. Will steroids fix it or is it long-term?

It does sound like there is inflammation of the nerves to the tongue. Usually it will resolve with time unless the damage was extensive. I suggest you consult with your vet again. If she only got an injection of steroids that may not be enough. She may need a longer course as steroids are a very potent anti-inflammatory.

Poor Marley! It sounds like he may be suffering from an autoimmune disease called masticatory muscle myositis (MMM). This inflammatory disease affects the chewing muscles in the dog, and causes the muscle around the mouth to atrophy. It becomes painful for the dog to open their mouth. This can be treated with high dose steroids, which can be prescribed by your vet. This condition can cause dogs to not eat and lose weight, so I would take Marley into your vet as soon as you can.

With signs of muscle weakness, I would definitely have her tested for a condition called Myasthenia Gravis. This is an immune mediated disorder that can cause a multitude of symptoms including facial weakness, regurgitation, neck weakness and exercise intolerance. It can be tested through your vet and also treated for. The only other possible cause that comes to mind for a pet with muscle weakness and a tight jaw, would be tetanus, but you would expect a multitude of other symptoms including vomiting, fever, severe lethargy and inappetence. I hope that they can find out the cause soon! If she still comes up negative for anything after the additional test, then I would consider an MRI or CT scan on Xena moving forward. Best wishes and take care.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. The real answer is- it depends on why they were prescribed and for how long. If this is for an auto-immune disease, your pet’s life may depend on the steroids. Same for severe asthma or allergic reaction. If however, it is for itching or minor swelling/inflammation, or allergies, a shorter course or even a single injection may be safe. In general steroids do not tend to cause serious side effects unless they are used at high doses or for long courses of treatment. Long story short, it may be perfectly fine to skip the oral medication but definitely ask your doctor first.

Poor Thor! I am concerned that he could have a problem with the nerve that innervates his tongue or he could have something like masticatory myositis which affects the muscles of the jaw. Usually with masticatory myositis, the dog will be painful when the mouth is fully opened. If the antibiotics and steroids do not help than consider taking him to a veterinary neurologist or internal medicine specialists for a work up and treatment. If he is not able to drink than your vet can give him subcutaneous fluids to help keep him hydrated.Hope he feels better soon!

Hello, sorry to hear about Chessie. It sounds like she could be having loose skin on her neck which some dogs commonly get. However, other skin swellings in that area could indicate a swollen lymph node or salivary gland. An abscess could form there as well. Theses are commonly firm, and more frequently painful than not. Muscle that weakens with the use of steroids does not typically hang or sag, it just becomes smaller. If Chessie is not painful and this skin seems like excess skin and not a formed mass or swelling, then you may continue to monitor her at home. If you note any pain, excessive salivation, difficulty swallowing, or a decreased appetite, then have her evaluated immediately. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Ellie is adorable! This is an unusual problem. I recommend discussing this with your veterinarian and have them look into the mouth if they can to look at her teeth. I would give her anti inflammatory medication, sedate her and gently stretch the mouth to get it to open more. Then they can examine the mouth and clean the teeth if needed. She has scar tissue keeping the mouth from opening but with heat, pain medication and steady pressure for 10-20 minutes while under anesthesia this should be able to be stretched open more. My dog had a similar scar problem and that what I did to improve the range of motion. She may not get to normal but it should improve the jaw mobility. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Ellie.