Why does my senior dog's jaw quiver when his mouth is closed?

I'm sorry to hear that Zorro has had some jaw chattering lately. As you'd mentioned, oral pain is one of the most common causes of jaw chattering. Oral pain can arise from dental disease, jaw pain, and injuries. I do see a fair amount of tartar and gingivitis in the pictures you'd attached, but the tricky part is that for most dogs, the worst part of the dental disease is often below the surface of the gums. Since Zorro recently fell off the couch, it's also possible that he injured his jaw or another body part in the process, resulting in jaw chattering from pain. Regardless, the best thing is for you to take Zorro to his vet for a full physical exam. Since he tends to bite from anxiety, I'd recommend calling your vet to discuss the exam process first because they'll certainly need to look in his mouth for a thorough assessment. Your vet will likely prescribe oral sedative to be given before the exam or may recommend injectable sedation at the time of his appointment. I hope that everything goes well!

A chattering jaw can be a sign of few different things from something serious, such as a neurological condition, to a dental condition , or being cold or even a sign anxiety. There are different reasons why this behavior or symptom may be happening . The first thing to ruke out is cold room make sure he is nice and warm. If it still persist then the best thing would be to take him to the vet to examine him and rule in/out the medical causes and try diagnose it. If the dog is not doing the behavior all the time but in episodes it may be a good idea to video it so you can show the vet how it present.

Jaw problems can be difficult to diagnose without a CT scan of the head. Keep an eye on her and monitor her eating and drinking habits. If you notice the condition getting worse contact your veterinarian and discuss referral to a veterinary specialist such as a neurologist.

Chattering can be due to stress, excitement or pain. Check the room temperature in case he is cold. Look in his mouth, if he allows, for signs of periodontal disease. This includes swelling, redness, bleeding, tartar buildup or loose teeth. If you spot any of these or if the chattering persists, have Ice examined by your veterinarian.

If he will allow, look in and around his mouth for any signs of infection, injury or foreign bodies. This may include redness, swelling, discharge, bruising or bleeding. See your veterinarian for an exam if anything suspicious is noted.

If the tremors are constant, T should be examined by your veterinarian. There could be a neurological cause. If it happens only when he eats, there could be periodontal disease or infection that is causing pain when he chews. A discussion regarding the dietary issues can be had once the tremors have been diagnosed. For now, consider feeding as bland a diet as possible. The vet may provide i/d which is a Hill's prescription diet that is highly digestible and easy on the GI tract.

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!