My dog has lockjaw. Can my dog recover and survive this condition?

Trismus is the medical term for the condition more commonly called “lockjaw.” It is actually spasms of the chewing muscles which make it hard to open the mouth. A common cause for trismus in dogs is a condition called masticatory muscles myositis (MMM), or inflammation of the muscles of mastication (chewing). The inflammation is caused by an immune mediated attack on the muscles, leading to trismus and wasting away of the muscles at the top of the affected dog’s head. Trismus can also be caused by trauma or conditions such as fractures, dislocation, and arthritis in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which is the joint where the upper and lower jaws connect. I would recommend to take the dog to be checked by a vet and please if another episode of 'lockjaw' happens video the episode to show the vet.

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.

If this is due to muscle inflammation this may take a month or more of treatment to get better and she may need to stay on a low dose of the steroid life long to prevent this from happening again. Usually they fully recover but can relapse without medication. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Cynder.

Your dog needs to be evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible. A broken jaw is very painful and the vet will be able to determine the extent of her injuries by taking X-rays and appropriate course of action. It is possible that surgery could fix it. It is very important that Lacey be seen and get her started on painkillers to keep her comfortable (as prescribed by your vet)

Poor Peppie! It depends on where the fracture is, and whether it is displaced. I have had good luck with fractures of the mandibular symphasis (the very front of the bottom jaw) by having the dog wear a loose-fitting soft muzzle for ~6 weeks and feeding exclusively soft food. The muzzle would be loose enough for Peppie to lap water and soft food, but tight enough that he couldn't totally open his jaw and it would help stabilize. He would wear this 24 hours a day, including while eating and sleeping. Your vet will likely be familiar with this so I recommend calling and asking if this might help. It would only be beneficial for specific types of jaw fractures so it's important for your vet to give the go-ahead first, since they know the specifics of Peppie's fracture but I've had good success using this technique. Good luck!

Dogs and cats are naturally resistant to the effects of tetanus, so in localized cases, the survival rates can be very good. However, in severe/generalized cases, chances of survival can be less than 50%. Each case is different though, so if Gunner happens to have tetanus, then your veterinarian will be able to give more specific information about his chances of survival. I hope that helps and all is well with Gunner.

Unfortunately, if the jaw is broken, there is very little you can do at home. Lola is likely painful and may have difficulties eating and drinking. Ideally, she should be examined by your veterinarian. Discuss payment plans or alternative financing options, such as CareCredit (www.carecredit.com), with your veterinarian. You can also ask friends and family to contribute or resort to crowdfunding. Financial aid may also be secured through charities such as Red Rover (www.redrover.org).