ASK THE VET
Q: Sometimes the jaw of our 5 year old male Springer Spaniel shakes uncontrollably. Most often after letting go of a grip on a ball or something. What causes this and should I be concerned? CHRIS YOUNG, Boldon A: Has your dog been castrated? A common cause of the uncontrollable shake of a dogs jaw is related to the sensation of female pheromones. These are the chemical signals that alert a dog to the presence of a female in season. This could cause some excitation, leading to jaw shuddering. The organ that senses these pheromones is located above the roof of the mouth, with small ducts near the upper canine teeth. The shuddering of the jaw is likely to be a reflex that allows more pheromones to be pushed into those ducts to allow better localisation of the females scent. The movement of the ball in the front of your dogs mouth may be enhancing the detection of these signals and starting the reflex and may be nothing to worry about. Castration may help to reduce these signs.
Another possibility could be pain in the mouth. If there is a sore tooth or a sore in the mouth that has been aggravated by the ball, the shuddering may be relating to that oral pain. A subtle dental disorder may be difficult to detect consciously and may require a detailed examination of the mouth under general anaesthetic. If it is suspected, your vet may be able to prescribe a short course of pain killers. If the problem improves, the chances are that the behaviour is pain related rather than hormone related and more detailed oral examination and treatment may be required. If not, it may just be relating to a muscle fatigue of the jaw muscles, which is unlikely to be of concern. ■■Please note that advice in this section is for general guidance, and if your pet is very unwell you should contact your veterinary surgeon as soon as possible as this advice does not replace the need for a clinical examination of your pet. ■■Rory Thomson is part of the team at St Clair Veterinary Care in Croft Road, Blyth. If you have a question, fill out the online form at chroniclelive.co.uk/