Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Right after her surgery, I noticed these two things happening. Roxy didn't do this before surgery, and it's not one of those "i'm only hyper aware of this now but she may have been doing it all along" type things. I'm not sure if they're related. I haven't been able to catch them on video but I'll keep trying.
1. She does this mouth smacking thing, usually when she's settling down / laying down and placing her head on the ground.
2. She has these little "episodes" of her jaw shaking / chattering. It's usually only for a second or so, but last night it kept on for a few seconds. It's hard to describe and I haven't been able to catch it on video but I'll keep trying.
We thought maybe it was her jaw being tense from being in pain, or something like that, but it is very odd. And has lately been showing no signs of pain.
Any ideas of what this might be? Anyone experience this?
Zeus did that jaw-chattering thing every so often as he got older and it never seemed to be anything serious. We actually called it his "jiggy-jaw". Usually it was slower kind of like the lip-smacking analogy you used and every once in a while it was faster almost like chattering. Try not to panic - this happened at least once every couple weeks for at least two years and never seemed to to be serious.
Lisa
Zeus was a Husky mix diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at age 11. A visible lung met and suspicious spot on his liver meant a poor prognosis-six weeks was our vet's best guess. We decided to fight for our boy and his right front leg was amputated on 12/1/11. We did six rounds of chemo, changed his diet and spoiled him completely rotten. We were blessed with 10 great months after diagnosis. Against the odds, the lung met remained a single met and grew very little over those months. A wonderful furbaby with the most gentle spirit, he fought with a strength that we never imagined he possessed. We have no regrets...
http://zeuspod......pawds.com/
Sounds like just a Flehmen reaction. Dogs generally do it when they're trying to get a good, deep sniff of something really fascinating. Like a pee spot. 
It's similar to when a horse flips his nose up in the air & "smiles"- what he's really doing is sucking the air in over a different sensory area to pick up pheromone scents, though I see them do it when they get unusual treats, like peppermints, but in dogs there's typically little to no curling up of the nose.
Some scientists say dogs don't really do this, but in my experience it's pretty common in scent hounds & other dogs with very well-developed schnozes. Most labs seem to do it a lot too. And my parents' dog (lab/cocker) does it when she gets a good sniff of chipmunk or mole under the ground. Hers is very pronounced, with a lot of clicking.
Kermit just did this last night, sniffing a spot on his bed before he lay down- I have no idea what was there, but his was mostly quiet chattering with just a few clicks.
In any case, I have no idea why your pup would be doing it, but it's nothing to worry about.
Sam is a NOTORIOUS mouth smacker. Seriously, sometimes I wonder if he is not part cow and chewing cud. (Actually, bith our dogs do this, but only Sam does it while lying down/half asleep. Sadie usually does it while staring at you, trying to get you to pay attention to her.)
Not sure if it's the same as jaw shaking, but Sam will talk a lot--and sometimes that conversation is like he's going "how, how, how, how," but without sound that I can hear (just his mouth opening and closing). He is also a tremendous grumbler/groaner/grunter. And he does "tiny teeth"--a super fast, front teeth only, nibble on his legs and feet.
I'd just watch her, and see if she's showing any other signs of distress or of neuro involvement, and try not to worry too much about it right now. <3 If she does seem to be in pain, or is doing weird things (behaviorally or tempermentally), or seems to be having issues seeing, walking, balancing, etc., then call the vet.
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Sassy does lip smacking if she has acid reflux. Now she had that before the cancer but I know Jill (the kitty) had just gotten acid reflux while she was having chemo. I don't know what exactly hers looked like and her mommy is busy with working right now and will probably check in on this also.
And if I remember correct someone's dog had tremors or shivers after chemo but I can't remember where I read that on here it was awhile ago
I hope she is ok.
Michelle & Sassy
Sassy is a proud member of the Winter Warriors. Live long, & strong Winter Warriors.
sassysugarbear.tripawds.com
07/26/2006 - Sassy earned her wings 08/20/2013
05/04/2006 - Bosch, Sassy's pal, earned his wings 03/29/19 fought cancer for 4 months.
"You aren't doing it TO her, you are doing it FOR her. Give her a chance at life."
Why don't I ever notice when posts like this are under the "ask a vet" section? I just jumped in when I saw it on the list of recent posts... sorry. 
Hope it IS horses & not zebras. 
This is all such good information to know! Dharma it's always good knowing about other people's experience here, you can jump in anytime.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
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oh my gosh.. Franklin does the same thing!!! It usually involves cooking in the kitchen though!! It's like a teeth chattering 'thang going. I just figured he was savoring the scent of the steaks on the grill or the chicken in the oven. Funny.. he doesn't do it when the brussel spouts or lima beans are cooking though... lol 
Franklin, he was the Happiest Dog on Three Legs! Diagnosed 09/26/2012 with Osteosarcoma, amputated 12/4/2012. Had a wonderful 5 1/2 months painfree until he ran for the Bridge on 5/15/2013. Always in my heart, and always a guardian angel of my pack... You can follow his Tripawd Adventures, before and after, in my blog, Frank'n'Farter!
Christine said
oh my gosh.. Franklin does the same thing!!! It usually involves cooking in the kitchen though!! It's like a teeth chattering 'thang going. I just figured he was savoring the scent of the steaks on the grill or the chicken in the oven. Funny.. he doesn't do it when the brussel spouts or lima beans are cooking though... lol
Now THAT is definitely a Flehmen response! I've been known to do the same thing when there are steaks on the grill!
Two things jump into my mind: Roxy may be painful or Roxy may be nauseated.
It is absolutely true that many dogs often do the jaw quivering thing when smelling something very interesting and when they get excited, but if Roxy has never done this before, it seems very odd that she would all of a sudden start doing it now. I think that because of Roxy's recent surgery this new symptom is most likely tied to that. The jaw quivering can be a sign of pain in the mouth, but it can also be a sign of generalized pain. Also, the lip smacking is a notorious sign of a dog being nauseated. You may want to call you vet and see about getting Roxy on some more pain management and an antiemetic.
Good luck!
Thanks. That makes sense. I ended up calling my vet about it too and they basically said the same thing. It doesn't seem to happen too often but I am keeping an eye on it - it seems to happen less frequently as time goes on.
Franklin never did this prior to his surgery... and it does't happen all the time either. Since there is usually some type of good scent around.. and he is a bird dawg.... I'm summing his up to his nose and taste buds.. lol
I usually do that too dharma... when steaks are on the grill!!! ass the sauteed mushrooms and onions.. and I'm rolling on the ground for a belly rub!!!lol
Christine & Franklin
Franklin, he was the Happiest Dog on Three Legs! Diagnosed 09/26/2012 with Osteosarcoma, amputated 12/4/2012. Had a wonderful 5 1/2 months painfree until he ran for the Bridge on 5/15/2013. Always in my heart, and always a guardian angel of my pack... You can follow his Tripawd Adventures, before and after, in my blog, Frank'n'Farter!
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