Hi, I've only just joined your site recently and don't know my way around very well but will do my best.
We have a 15 month female deerhound who has developed a lower jaw tremor. Our vet started with 2 weeks anti-inflam. drugs with only slight improvement. Blood tests revealed low thyroid levels so she has recently commenced taking thyroxine. We have an appointment tomorrow with a neuro vet so hoping he is able to help. Olive doesn't appear to be in pain but I think she resists eating and drinking normally because of discompfort. She is very quiet sleeping most of the day and night. I do feel she is a very sick dog and am terribly worried.
I've researched the internet but not been able to find anything, so thought I'd see if any of you might know something.
Will keep you posted
Annie & Olive (the beautiful one!)

Hi Annie
Is the jaw trembling all the time or every now amd then?

Hi Annie
Make sure your vet is aware that sighthounds have a thyroid level that is significantly lower than other breeds.
Please ask your vet to do a full Thyroid Panel (simple blood test), not just a Free T4.
She may have a nerve pinched somewhere that is causing her discomfort, but the neuro specialist will let you know. Do not let them rush you into surgery!
Young Deerhound bitches can be notoriously difficult to keep them eating well, even if they are in the best of health.
I hope everything goes well for you and Olive.

Nat


(PS. Also make sure the specialist knows a Deerhounds resting systolic Blood Pressure of around 200mmHg, nearly twice that of other breeds. Most vets do not know this.)

Generally the tremor is pretty bad on waking in the mornings and after sleep but as time ticks on the problems is occuring with yawning, licking lips etc. She seems to come to life a bit in the evening like now its 10pm in Aus and she is trying to eat the brush and crumb tray. Not much success as she doesn't have alot strength in the jaw.

Has the vet checked the temporo-mandibular joint,
for any problems.

On the blood work this may help, although it states for greyhounds,
all hounds have the same values, its just theyve most done testing on greyhounds to date.

greythealth.com/blood.htm

I cant offer any advice but do hope that this problem gets sorted out soon

Sorry to read about these problems - I would copy the link to " greyt health " for my vet , to be sure they know the regular levels for sighthounds .
Also , have xrays been taken ? And , could it be , that she has developed seizures /epilepsie ?
Hope , it turns out to be something rather simple and not to difficult to fix...

Hi we hope that you get everything back to normal quickly

I've never heard of anything like this, I hope it turns out to be something that can be cured easily. Have you been in touch with the breeder to see if they have any ideas.

Pam

Just wondering how bad this is? Are we talking about a major tremor or just a little shake?
Not that it would make it any less concerning but just out of interest.
Either way I hope it can be resolved and fast..

Annie I'll be very curious to know what they find as Bree chatters her teeth regulaIt, which is from her lower jaw trembliing, can happen when she yawns or at just intermittent times. Bree has done it for years and in our case is not anything sinister, at least I hope not.

Hi Everyone,

Thankyou all for your posts and thoughts. The Neuro Vet today has only ever seen two other lower jaw tremor cases - years ago. One case was a neurological problem the other was lead poisoning.

So given that I am currently renovating our 80 year old timber cottage (removing many layers of old paint)The Vet has decided to run blood work for
1. Pb Poisoning (Lead Poisoning)as well as
2. Toxoplasmosis
3. Neospuroris
4. Cryptococcorus

(Hope I have the spelling right) All of these are possible and are the final small things to check before other more invasive procedures.

Jane, the temporo-mandibular joint was discussed but that all appeared to be ok, also both vets thought that xrays would not be of any assistance. The Breeder has disappeared, I think he has had some troubbles with the Deerhound Assoc. In VIC. (Olive was sold to us with a hygroma, which has been another health issue for my girl. - silly us didnt realise).I have since learned that others have had trouble with this breeder.

Thanks so much for the "greyt health" link, I will be doing a bit more reading and it looks to have soem really good information.

I really appreciate everyones input and I will let you all know when the Lead results come in.

Cheers from Annie and Olive

I have sent you a private message. Please respond ASAP.

Nat wrote:


Nat,
could you keep me up with this, maybe revert to phone from now.....
Will phone you to-morrow anyway
No need to clog the forum up with this.....

Dave

May the Narrow way be straight before You

Brollachan wrote:


Murray also does this - sort of chatters with his lower jaw. It happens mostly when he gets excited. I thought and hope that this is just his way. I also had a greyhound that did this

I hope they find and sort the cause asap. It is always a worry when the hounds are not on form. Good Luck

houndy wrote:


Houndy males do do it particularly if a female in season is around. I think it is what yous say but I thought it strange that a female does it. Maybe Bree has too much testosterone

Brollachan wrote:


Boris also does this but just from sniffing the girls bottoms even though they are all neutered!

Brollachan wrote:


Ive seen female's do the chattering aswell,

our penny has done the jaw trembling when shes yawned, only every now and them though,
i think its when they strech there jaws it happens, like a reflex type thing.

I know this " chattering " especially from greyhounds , no matter wether girl or boy , when they get excited be it food , heat , hapiness ) lots of them seem to chatter away ...- my gorls do it at times , or some of tem do , for them it seems to mostly have to do with " exciting scents " ( one being /coming in heat mostly )