Why does my dog's jaw chatter when smelling other dogs or things?

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.

That is odd behavior for a younger dog. When you see it, try to record the episode. Also try to note if it seems to be in response to a smell or something else that might be triggering him. Sometimes dogs will do this if they smell something super enticing. Other times this can be a sign of jaw pain, a bad tooth or seizures. I have seen some dogs do this and the cause was never discovered. Since Hades can’t just talk and tell you, I recommend to have him seen by his veterinarian to check for any pain or neurological abnormalities. Show the doctor the video as that can be immensely helpful. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

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.

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!

Duchess' chattering could be a result of either oral pain or a focal seizure (more subtle repetitive neurologic behavior). At this point, the best thing you can do is take her to the vet to determine if she has signs of dental issues, or any neurologic deficits. Until you can take her to the vet, keep a log of when this chattering behavior occurs including the time, duration, any preceding events (meals, exercise, stress, etc.), and take a video of this chattering to show to your vet.

Some dogs will have focal seizures known as 'chewing gum' seizures where the mouth will tremble or they will make chewing motions. Usually dogs will act a little disoriented after a seizure like this, but some dogs don't. If you think he may be having seizures you should see a veterinarian right away. It might be helpful to video an episode to show your vet. Of course it's possible that this is just a behavioral tic too, but it's better to be safe and have a veterinarian examine Mega to make sure.

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!