Dog's mouth won't open wide after old bite. Why the bad smell?

Question

We now have a sweet year and a half old Pitbull. But when she was 8 weeks she was bitten severely by a Doberman and the previous owner didn’t even take her to the vet until 3 weeks later with a severe infection. After the antibiotics were given they never took her back to the vet and now she can’t open her mouth but maybe half inch. She eats well with soft food and drinks okay , but what’s going to happen to the inside of her mouth? I give her kisses on her nose and it doesn’t smell good. Pet's info: Dog | American Pit Bull Terrier | Female | spayed | 3 months and 11 days old | 40 lbs

Dr. Davis · Accepted Answer

Ellie is adorable! This is an unusual problem. I recommend discussing this with your veterinarian and have them look into the mouth if they can to look at her teeth. I would give her anti inflammatory medication, sedate her and gently stretch the mouth to get it to open more. Then they can examine the mouth and clean the teeth if needed. She has scar tissue keeping the mouth from opening but with heat, pain medication and steady pressure for 10-20 minutes while under anesthesia this should be able to be stretched open more. My dog had a similar scar problem and that what I did to improve the range of motion. She may not get to normal but it should improve the jaw mobility. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Ellie.

Dog's mouth won't open wide after old bite. Why the bad smell?

Most Helpful Answer

Related Questions

Why is my mouse's eye swollen, cloudy, and has pus?

What fish dog food helps dry skin if my dog eats Science Diet?

What's the best way to feed my hamster when I'm going on a trip?

Can chickens eat bell peppers daily and what about veggie salads?

Is Purina Layer Pellets good for chickens? What other feeds exist?

My newly adopted pet won't eat hay. What can I do to encourage it?

Share