Temporomandibular Joint Disorders in Dogs

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is essential to your dog’s ability to bite or chew because it is this joint (the hinge) that makes the jaw open and close correctly. Any type of disorder in the TMJ area can prevent your dog from opening or closing his mouth. There are several reasons that your dog may have gotten a TMJ disorder, such as injury, dislocation, and chronic swelling due to dental or other problems. Dogs that have a long muzzle or a short muzzle are more susceptible to TMJ disorders.

The sooner you get treatment for your dog the easier and more successful the treatment will be. Waiting for it to go away or get better will make it harder to treat because it will just keep getting worse with time.

Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ) will result in your dog not being able to fully open or close its mouth. Dislocation can happen with or without any fractures in the bones. A partial or complete dislocation (rostral or caudal), trauma (with or without broken bones), or chronic inflammation may be the cause of the TMJ. The disorder usually presents as either the inability to close the mouth or being unable to open the mouth.

• Unable to open or close mouth
• Clicking noise when opening or closing mouth
• Swelling or lump on side of face (misplaced mandible bone)
• Drooling
• Deformed mouth or face
• Whining when eating
• Inability to eat
• Visible pain when opening mouth
• Appetite loss
• Extreme loss of weight

 Types

• Dislocation
• Traumatic (with or without fractures)
• Inflammatory

• Injury to the jaw from trauma whether there are fractures or not
• Joint stress from carrying items that are too heavy in their mouth, which causes chronic inflammation
• Some dogs are predisposed to certain TMJ disorders. Dogs with longer muzzles (i.e. collie, greyhound) and those with extremely short muzzles (i.e. pug, chihuahua) are more susceptible just because of the length of the jaws; to be specific, a dog with a longer muzzle has a longer lower jaw, which results in more interdental space in the jaw, those with shorter muzzles have a shorter upper jaw and smaller interdental spaces.

The veterinarian will need to know about your dog’s complete medical history, such as any recent illness or injury, vaccination records, changes in diet or behavior, what symptoms you have noticed, when the symptoms started, and whether they have gotten any worse. Be sure to let the veterinarian know if your dog has been at any dog parks, doggie day care, or other places where your dog could have had an altercation with another dog. They will do a thorough physical examination of your dog, including blood pressure, body temperature, and heart rate. The veterinarian will examine your dog’s jaw and try to manipulate it and he may have to use sedation if the examination is too painful or if your dog is resisting.

The veterinarian will need to run some tests as well. These tests include urinalysis, blood chemistry panel, complete blood count (CBC), and digital radiographs of the head and mouth. It may also be necessary to do an MRI and CT scan to get some more comprehensive views of the problem. If the veterinarian sees any dental issues, he may send you to see a veterinary dentist for further treatment.

The treatment your veterinarian chooses will depend on what type of TMJ disorder your dog has. He may wait to see what the dentist has to say before any treatment is decided on just in case dental work needs to be done first. Some things the veterinarian may do in each type of disorder are:

Dislocation

In most cases, the veterinarian can manipulate the joint back into place and then insert a bite plate or just place a wrap on your dog’s muzzle to keep him from opening it. Your veterinarian will show you how to feed your dog with a feeding tube until the plate or wrap can be removed (which may only be 24 to 48 hours. If the joint does not stay in place after several tries, your veterinarian will suggest surgery to repair the joint. This may include removing a part of the jaw that is causing the problem or using wires to hold the position of the jaw.

Traumatic (with fracture)

Depending on the extent of the damage, the veterinarian may be able to repair the jaw with manipulation under anesthesia. The fracture may be able to be stabilized if it is minor, but usually it is necessary for the veterinarian to surgically repair the fracture with wires or metal plates. Your dog will need to be kept in the hospital for one or two nights and then allowed to go home with cage rest and a feeding tube. It may take up to three months to heal.

Traumatic (without fracture)

When there is no fracture, the damage is usually not serious and the veterinarian can manipulate the joint back into place with your dog under anesthesia.

Inflammatory

IV fluids, anti-inflammatory medication, and steroids will be given to relieve the swelling and pain. Once the swelling goes down, you will be able to take your dog home with a prescription for anti-inflammatory medication.

In all cases, the veterinarian will give you medication for your dog for swelling and pain as well as an antibiotic for possible infection. You will be instructed to use ice for the pain and swelling and heat for relaxation and circulation. He may also give you some exercises to do with your dog and encourage you to try massage therapy. It is important to follow the veterinarian’s instructions and to come back for a follow-up visit. Call your veterinarian if you notice more pain or swelling in your dog or if your dog will not eat or drink. Chances of recovery are excellent if you catch the disorder right away and get treatment as soon as possible.