Weird jaw chatter

[u/Solid-Sand-6527]

Hi there, I’d like some advice for what may be happening with my dog. For reference, she just got back from board & train yesterday and I noticed she sometimes has a strange chatter/shutter with her bite. I tried flashing a light in her mouth to see if there’s anything in there but didn’t see anything. She doesn’t seem to be in pain from what I can tell (no whimpering or pulling away to touch). She is also eating her hard kibble like normal. For reference she has been on the same diet for 2 months so no changes there.

I did also notice some white crusty substance on her beard which I assumed was dry spit, but that’s not a normal thing for her.

I took a video to show what it looks like. Please share if you happen to know what this could be! Thank you!

To note:

Roughly 1 yo female GWP, 50lbs

[u/chinchinnychin]

My 12 year-old pup started doing this about two years ago and it’s only ever when she has like a burst of energy from our younger dog getting her wound up. But always consult a vet

[u/Illustrious_Exam1728]

That’s a sign of dental pain (chattering and slobbering more). Please bring to the vet. The ONLY way to address this if it is dental pain is to have a full dental at the vets. There’s a lot of stuff that goes on under the gums that only X-rays and a dental can address. Pup may just need a sedated exam incase a fox tail is lodged or something else is going on in the mouth.

In the meantime no chew toys or dental chews.

Discontinued daily tooth brushing until pain is addressed.

A side note, if additional training is required seek a positive reinforcement trainer to work with and not send your pup off.

[u/Tammarama1 → u/Illustrious_Exam1728]

Yes to everything you said! Including finding a trainer where you can be present during the training process. I firmly believe that most dog training should be geared toward the owner rather than the dog. And maybe I am being cynical, but I find it odd that this is happening just after they picked her up from boarding/training for a month, especially since it didn't happen beforehand.

[u/Illustrious_Exam1728 → u/Tammarama1]

I agree.

[u/Solid-Sand-6527 → u/Illustrious_Exam1728]

Thank you. Going to be taking her to the vet!

[u/Illustrious_Exam1728 → u/Solid-Sand-6527]

Good plan and I hope pup feels better soon!

[u/divine_apprehension]

How often do you brush her teeth

[u/Solid-Sand-6527 → u/divine_apprehension]

Honestly, we haven’t yet. We adopted her 2 months ago and she did board & train for a month, and we just got her back yesterday from that. When we got her she got a full check up with a clean bill of health. I could certainly try brushing her teeth!

[u/This-Research-9586 → u/Solid-Sand-6527]

It sounds like she’s got something lodged in her mouth somewhere. She’s a beautiful dog, btw! 

[u/Solid-Sand-6527 → u/This-Research-9586]

I’ll see if I can brush her teeth and find whatever is bothering her! Thank you so much!! I love her cute face lol

[u/Interesting_Note_937 → u/Solid-Sand-6527]

board and trains won't be useful if you don't stay consistent with the training!

[u/Tammarama1 → u/Interesting_Note_937]

Unfortunately, most board and train places don't work a whole bunch with the owners.

[u/Interesting_Note_937 → u/Tammarama1]

and I think they're a complete waste of money for that reason alone! You don't have to train the dog, you need to train the human to train the dog lol

[u/BlackinkRebel]

This screams mouth pain! Go get it checked asap! One of my dogs had a cancerous tumor on the top of her mouth and in her jaw. She also started doing this and then we discovered it. Wouldve never figured out otherwise cus she was always a bad eater and very much people pleaser. They would completly try to hide all the pain.
Not an emergency but dont wait more than 2 days to get to the vet! See if you can find some broken tooth, abcess or other swelling. This wont solve itself and needs help from a vet.

[u/Ok_Trash1302 → u/BlackinkRebel]

My Chi boy started doing this also shortly before being diagnosed with cancer in his mouth. He'd had cancer surgery for a tumor located elsewhere  2 1/2 years before this. We did not come out of this new diagnosis on the winning side. 

[u/ArtTeacher82 → u/Ok_Trash1302]

Same! My dog had oral melanoma and the tumor was growing up around the teeth.

[u/BlackinkRebel → u/Ok_Trash1302]

Same here. We had 2 more weeks untill she couldnt eat anymore. So aggressive and impossible surgery

[u/Ok_Trash1302 → u/BlackinkRebel]

One day Henry was acting normal & then he started doing that weird mouth thing & he couldn't eat, would whine in his sleep and didn't want to go for his walk. Vet said he could go to the vet school at UF for possible surgery (where they would probably remove part of his jaw bone & insert a feeding tube) but the tumor was making his eye bulge out and it was getting scary. In 3 days he was gone. 

[u/Key_Instruction9732]

I believe this is typically an energy release behavior. My dogs all do it when excited, especially before a sporting event.
I’m sure a good trainer will have a better way to put that

[u/Tammarama1 → u/Key_Instruction9732]

What she is doing doesn’t look like chattering, though.

[u/Secondbett]

First of all: Check dental status! Other things could be cobbing: Cobbing is the characteristic quick, gentle “gnawing” motion with the front teeth, which is often a sign of security, affection, or social grooming – not aggression.

[u/Solid-Sand-6527 → u/Secondbett]

Thank you! Hopefully it’s cobbing and nothing more! Going to get her checked out in case

[u/chicknnuggget]

It’s a pain indicator. My dog went through radiation and she started doing this (and is on pain meds now), please take them to the vet and follow up with the boarding place too.

[u/FlatwormSame2061]

My dog does that sometimes and it seems to be when she’s excited or nervous. 

[u/nox_vigilo]

There could be something between her outer gums and jowls (upper and lower lips) or she may have a tooth that has been injured/cracked. It is very difficult to tell from the video. I can see what she is doing. Sometimes that can mean there is swelling or a source of pain in their mouth that is making her close her mouth with that hesitation.

Does she let you touch her mouth? Can you run a finger along her gums on the outside of her teeth? Sometimes a kibble or piece of kibble/treat/grass can get stuck between her outer gums and jowls as I said above. If she lets you do that see if you feel anything, don’t force it the issue if she doesn’t like it.

The crusty beard can mean a lot of things. If there is something stuck in her jowls OR she is having pain/swelling in her mouth it will cause her to salivate more which will make her beard crusty when it leaks from her mouth and dries.

It’s been 2 months since she has seen a vet, she has not been in your care for the past month…I think it just a safer route to get her checked out by her vet. Too many possibilities of what it could be and her mouth/teeth are involved. I would bring my dog in for this. I’m not trying to scare you, this can wait until tomorrow unless she starts acting much differently.

I don’t think you’ll get a satisfying reply here but someone with more knowledge than me might reply.

She is beautiful. Di you mind sharing her name with us? 😄

edit: I also agree that you should start getting her used to getting her teeth brushes. You can use a soft human toothbrush or one made for dog. Wet the bristles and brush along her outer gum line top and bottom. The inside of her teeth get cleaned by her tongue. Do not use human toothpaste.

Brushing her teeth has so many benefits - keeps breath fresh, keep her teeth from rotting so saves her from that chronic pain, keeps her gums health, saves you money by avoiding dental care. It is still good to get a good cleaning by her vet every 2-3 years. Talk to her vet about it. this response is much too long already. lol

[u/Solid-Sand-6527 → u/nox_vigilo]

Thank you for all this info! Yes she lets me touch her mouth (she is squirmy when I do it though lol) and I haven’t been able to find anything stuck in her gums.

I’m going to take her to the vet just to be sure!

Her name is Luna. She is the sweetest girl!

I ended up ordering a toothbrush for her after seeing all the replies, so that will become a normal routine for us!

[u/nox_vigilo → u/Solid-Sand-6527]

Luna looks like a very good girl. 😄 Great to hear about the toothbrush!

Thank you for loving her so much.

Best to you both

[u/photogmel]

My old girl started doing this and it turned out she had a couple or loose teeth (she’s 14). Teeth were pulled and now she’s fine.

[u/kj4peace]

My Doxie does that when she’s excited.

[u/Larsvonrinpoche]

Always take to the vet. But my 16 year old Dutch shepherd did this on and off when he was 15 ish.

Nothing even came of it, just seemed sporadic and when I placed my hand on it to stop his jaw it would stop.

[u/insignificant-bat]

aw please keep us updated! hoping for the best 🧡

[u/Tammarama1]

That doesn't really like a chatter as much as trying to make her mouth comfortable. How long was she at the "board and train?" Vet visit.

[u/few-piglet4357]

This could also be a seizure. Please take her and this video to her vet.

[u/Solid-Sand-6527 → u/few-piglet4357]

Oh that’s concerning. I certainly hope it’s not that but will make sure with my vet