How Much Does Jaw Surgery Cost For A Dog?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Most owners can expect to pay

over $1,000

for the surgery, with older dogs or ones with questionable oral health costing more still. By contrast, an internal fixation procedure would easily cost over $1,000, with some estimates placing the price closer to $2,000.

Can a dog’s broken jaw heal without surgery?

We often hear from pet owners who were told by their veterinarians that their pet’s fractured jaw will resolve or heal on its own. But this is not true!

In some cases, the bone will close, but it rarely does so in the correct place.

Can a dog live without a jaw?

Without a functioning lower jaw,

it will be nearly impossible for him to eat from a bowl like a normal dog

, so your vet will advise you on the best way to feed him.

How do you fix a dogs broken jaw at home?

The best choice of treatment for a simple closed mandible or maxilla fracture are

intra oral splints with a wire base and reinforced with acrylic or composite material to hold the jaw in place while it heals

. The splint can be bonded to the tooth crowns of the teeth on both sides of the fracture.

Can a dog dislocate their jaw?

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

.

Can dogs break their jaw?


In healthy cats and dogs, a large force (trauma) is required to fracture the mandible (lower jaw)

. A fracture is a break in the bone and can range in severity from a greenstick (incomplete crack) fracture to severe comminution (many pieces). Vehicular trauma is the most common cause of mandibular fractures.

How long does it take for a dog’s broken jaw to heal?

There will be some maintenance required to care for the splint (flushing, checking for cracks, etc). Typically, after

6-12 weeks

, X-rays will show a healed jaw bone, and the splint can be removed.

How do you feed a dog with a drop jaw?


A liquid diet is the standard for dogs recovering from trigeminal neuropathy

, as most are still able to use their tongues. It’s imperative that you provide your pup with plenty of water, and cook all meals down to the consistency of gruel, making it possible for your dog to receive proper nutrition.

How do you feed a dog with an injured mouth?

Feeding your dog

soft food that is easy to chew

will allow the mouth wound to heal more quickly, and making fresh water available at all times will reduce the buildup of food or other debris in your dog’s mouth.

What can I feed my dog who has no teeth?

  • Canned Soft Food. Most dog food brands that make crunchy kibble also make canned, soft food that allows you to stick with the brand you trust. …
  • “Just Food for Dogs” (Yes, they help cats too!) …
  • Regular Kibble.

What happens if a dog breaks his jaw?

Complications can be encountered when treating jaw fractures. Common complications include,

infection, tearing of sutures, malalignment of the healing fracture, or instability of the fracture site leading to a malunion or nonunion of the fracture

.

How do I fix my dogs locked jaw?

Treatment of Lockjaw in Dogs

As examples,

surgical intervention, in the form of a resectioning of the bone

, is the usual necessary treatment for temporomandibular ankylosis. Tetanus treatment is approached with antitoxins and antibiotics.

How do you tell if a dogs jaw is dislocated?

  1. Pain in the face or jaw, located in front of the ear or on the affected side, that gets worse with movement.
  2. Bite that feels “off” or crooked.
  3. Problems talking.
  4. Inability to close the mouth.
  5. Drooling because of inability to close the mouth.
  6. Locked jaw or jaw that protrudes forward.

Why does my dog’s jaw get stuck?

Open mouth jaw locking may be due to

TMJ luxation or TMJ dysplasia

. TMJ luxation is often due to trauma, but can also be due to TMJ dysplasia (or malformation). Open mouth jaw locking may be due to abnormal relationships of the zygomatic arch or the coronoid process of the mandible.

Why is one side of my dog’s mouth drooping?

Facial paralysis in dogs may result from injuries caused by rough handling or other trauma, such as automobile accidents, inner ear infections, hypothyroidism, tumors, and unknown causes.

Paralysis on one side of the face is common when the facial nerve is damaged

.

Do rabid dogs have red eyes?


Rabies does not give an animal red eyes

. If you are concerned about the animal having rabies ask the owner about the dogs vaccine status.

Why is my dog’s mouth slightly open?


When you dog is relaxed and happy

, he’s likely to have his mouth closed or slightly opened. If his mouth is open, he may be panting–this is how dogs cool their bodies. You might see his teeth because his mouth is slightly opened. A dog who’s frightened or feeling submissive probably has his mouth closed.

James Park
Author
James Park
Dr. James Park is a medical doctor and health expert with a focus on disease prevention and wellness. He has written several publications on nutrition and fitness, and has been featured in various health magazines. Dr. Park's evidence-based approach to health will help you make informed decisions about your well-being.