JustAnswer > Dog
Ask A Question|Register|Login|Help
JustAnswer

Dog

Ask a Dog Question, Get an Answer ASAP!

Have your own Dog question?

17 Vets and Dog Experts are Online Now
characters left:
Not a Dog Question?

Related Dog Topics:

  • Dog
  • ,
  • Jaw
  • ,
  • May
  • ,
  • Mix
  • ,
  • Top
  • ,
  • Vet
  • ,
  • Back
  • ,
  • Dogs
  • ,
  • Head
  • ,
  • Line
Bookmark and Share

Question

My 18 mo old shepherd mix has started occasionally quivering his lower jaw, sometimes followed by a big yawn. I can trigger this quivering by scratching under his chin and at the top of his neck. Can you tell me what might be causing this, and if it could indicate a serious problem? Thank you.

Submitted: 24 days and 8 hours ago.
Category: Dog
Value: $9
Status: CLOSED
+
Read More

Optional Information

Pet's Gender: Male
Pet's Age: 2
Type of Animal: dog

Already Tried:
removed collar.

Accepted Answer

This could indicate a nerve issue. There is a nerve that runs around the head from the back of the neck and if this is 'pinched' perhaps by a disc issue that can cause problems all around the head down to the jaw. A more serious pinch can cause loss of muscle use in that area.

Choke collars or dogs tied out that hit the end of the tieout frequently and hard can lead to such an injury and head halters when used on a long line may also cause a problem by twisting the neck.

Another possible issue is with the jaw hinge or a dental problem such as a broken tooth leading to the quivering.

Facial tremors can also be due to a mild form of epilepsy where the dog stays conciosu but has a twitch.

You can check around in the mouth to see if you can spot a problem. You can try a harness for walks (they make no pull harnesses as well as regular ones) too but I'd suggest you consider seeing your vet about this. If the dog doesn't do it all the time you might try getting a video, if you can, of the problem so your vet can be sure to see what you are seeing.

Hope this helps you!

Picture
Expert: NancyH
Pos. Feedback: 99.5 %
Accepts: 
Answered: 10/29/2009

Dog Expert:Rescue, Train,Breed,Care

30+ yrs dog home vet care & nursing, rescue, behavior&training, responsible show breeding, genetics

+
Read More

Related Dog Questions

  • MY 6MOS OLD CHIHUAHUA PUPPY RECENTLY HAD A SEVERE BREAK OF
  • Vet needed: my dog has been trembling for two days. He's ea...
  • My 6 yr old pit bull is having a difficult time barking. Co...
  • My 14-year old Miniature Schnauzer has something similar to
  • We have a newly rescued 14-15 yr old Yorkie. As we went to
  • my lab is almost 1 year old, he loves to fetch which he has
  • My 4 year old boxer was diagnosed with ear mites, since the
  • HOW CAN U GET A PITBULL PUPPY TO CALM DOWN AND STOP JUMMPING



Disclaimer: Information in questions, answers, and other posts on this site ("Posts") comes from individual users, not JustAnswer; JustAnswer is not responsible for Posts. Posts are for general information, are not intended to substitute for informed professional advice (medical, legal, veterinary, financial, etc.), or to establish a professional-client relationship. The site and services are provided "as is" with no warranty or representations by JustAnswer regarding the qualifications of Experts. To see what credentials have been verified by a third-party service, please click on the "Verified" symbol in some Experts' profiles. JustAnswer is not intended or designed for EMERGENCY questions which should be directed immediately by telephone or in-person to qualified professionals.
Question List | Become an Expert | Terms of Service | Security & Privacy | About Us
© 2003-2009 JustAnswer Corp.