Dog jaw pain when opening mouth or eating? When to see a vet?

Question

My 1 year old Black Lab is showing pain when she opens her mouth very wide. She will only let me touch the side of her face and jaw but with anyone else she'll just move away. She has done this once before but we thought it was a bee sting and it lasted a few days but it went away on it's own. She will still eat but tends to tilt her head when eating especially hard food. I'm not sure what this is or if she needs to go to the vet. Pet's info: Dog | Labrador Retriever | Female | unspayed | 1 year old | 40 lbs

Ana M, DVM · Accepted Answer

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Olive. It does sound like she is painful. She could have a bad tooth or even a wound in her mouth. Labradors are notorious for their chewing and sustain oral wounds from doing so. In the meantime, you can soften her food with warm water or offer canned food to make it easier for her to eat. Do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to dogs. I hope this information helps!

Dog jaw pain when opening mouth or eating? When to see a vet?

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