Why is my senior dog suddenly in pain when opening his mouth?

There is a condition in older dogs called masticatory myositis. It is an auto immune disease where, for some reason, the immune system attacks the muscles of the cheek. In the early stages, it hurts when the muscles of the cheeks move, and it is pain that stops the mouth from opening. Over time, ongoing damage causes scar tissue to from that stops the muscle from stretching. It could be that Pelu has this condition, and it is treatable with high doses of steroids. I can't say for certain this is what is preventing him from yawning, but you could speak to your vet to see if this could be a cause.

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.

I’m sorry Oscar is dealing with this. He is quite a handsome guy! Pain opening the mouth can be caused by a few thing including infections or an autoimmune disease called masticatory muscle myositis (MMM). I would have Oscar evaluated by his veterinarian. They may be able to get an idea based on their exam, and they can also do special blood testing for MMM. They can start Oscar on medication as indicated to help him be much more comfortable. In the meantime continue feeding him very soft foods. Hope he is feeling much better soon!

Blackie could have a dental problem causing him pain, or he could have a disease called masticatory myositis which causes pain on opening of the mouth. I would take him into the vet on Monday to have this checked out. Best of luck.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is likely due to mouth pain. This may be due to bone discomfort or perhaps any sort of fracture or trauma. It could also be due to muscle pain. I recommend that you have her evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check for these possibilities and treat accordingly. Good luck and have a great day!

Poor Lexie! Crying while opening the mouth makes me primarily concerned about either masticatory myositis or a tooth root abscess (particularly since she also has eye discharge). If she is still painful while opening her mouth, has difficulty eating, or has further changes in her eye discharge, Lexie should go back to her vet for further evaluation. A course of steroids is typically needed to treat masticatory myositis (essentially swelling of the muscles that aid in opening the mouth), whereas antibiotics and a tooth extraction would be needed if a tooth root abscess (infection) is diagnosed. I hope that all goes well!

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.