If your dog experiences a broken jawbone, it can be quite scary for both of you, and you may not be too sure what to do. In this post, our Jesup vets discuss broken jaws in dogs, including what you should do and how the injury is treated.
Causes of a Broken Jaw in Dogs
Jaw fractures typically occur due to trauma or as a result of periodontal disease. A dog being struck by a car or having an altercation with another dog are the most common types of trauma that result in a dog breaking their jaw.
If any type of trauma is the cause of your dog's broken jaw, it is important to have them fully evaluated for additional injuries. When the fracture occurs or is noticed, it is always best to have your pet seen by your vet or seek emergency veterinary care. Once the dog is stabilized or treated for other injuries, the jaw fracture can be addressed.
Periodontal disease can cause a dog to be more susceptible to jaw fractures. The bone loss weakens the mandible, predisposing it to fracture. This can even happen when a dog does something as simple as bumping into furniture, chewing on one of their toys, or even biting down on a piece of food.
The Goal of Repairing a Jaw Fracture
To repair a dog's broken jaw surgery will likely be required. Your dog will be placed under anesthesia throughout the procedure so they won't feel any pain or move around.
The primary goal following the surgery is to allow your dog to eat and rest comfortably as soon as possible. If either the upper or lower jaw heals in the wrong alignment, the patient may experience some form of malocclusion. Your veterinarian will make sure that the teeth line up correctly to prevent this from happening.
It is very important to avoid injury to the tooth roots and the neurovascular (nerve and blood vessels) bundle within the mandibular or infraorbital canals. The ultimate goal is to successfully repair the fracture and get your dog back on their feet.
Treating Jaw Fractures in Dogs
Repairing a jaw fracture with metal plates, screws, and wires is sometimes required to treat a broken jaw, but some fractures can be treated with acrylic splints. Splints are much simpler to place and in many cases require a minimally-invasive surgical incision.
Once an acrylic splint is in place, your pet will need to abstain from chewing on toys or anything hard for several weeks. Put away any hard toys which may cause the acrylic splint to become dislodged. Feed only softened food until your vet tells you that it’s safe for them to eat hard food again.
Once the doctor feels that the fracture site is healed, a second brief anesthesia is required to confirm healing with X-rays. If the fracture is healed, the splint is removed. Depending on the method used to repair the fracture, one last anesthetized procedure may need to be scheduled to remove the wire or splint in the mouth.
The Prognosis for a Jaw Fracture Repair
The prognosis for jaw fracture repair typically ranges from good to excellent, with a few exceptions. Maxillary fractures tend to be fairly stable and carry an excellent prognosis. The prognosis for mandibular fractures is more variable and heavily influenced by the cause(s) of the fracture(s). Mandibular fractures resulting from minor trauma such as a mild fall, tend to have a great prognosis.
Older, small-breed dogs with severe periodontal disease that suffer fractures during surgical extractions tend to have less-than-ideal healing characteristics. The prognosis may be poor, guarded, or fair.
The prognosis also depends on the severity of the injury. If the neurovascular blood supply is damaged, the prognosis is reduced. The cause of the trauma, impact force, duration of the injury, and bacterial contamination all play a role in your dog's outcome.
Caring for Your Dog After Jaw Surgery
After repairing the fracture, your vet will provide detailed instructions regarding home care for your dog. These instructions need to be followed carefully to promote a speedy recovery. Patients need to be confined and kept on a leash to minimize running, playing, or jumping around throughout the healing process.
How to Feed a Dog With a Broken Jaw
Regardless of the type of repair technique used, we often recommend that pet owners feed a soft diet or food made into a paste-like consistency to minimize pressure and motion around the fracture.
Initially, a feeding tube may be necessary while they adapt to their new situation. Feeding tubes can sound scary to pet owners, however, most patients adjust quickly and tolerate the feeding tube very well. Detailed instructions for the feeding tube including how to use it, care for it, and specific feeding instructions are always fully explained and written down for your reference.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. Please make an appointment with your vet for an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition.