Why do dogs chatter their teeth

Keep your furry friend especially short-haired dogs! Dogs sometimes use a form of communication called displacement language to ward off potential threats. Teeth chattering is a subtle way of communicating with other dogs who feel threatening to them. The sound of clicking teeth can distract a threatening dog, turning its attention to figuring out the sound. It also helps the threatened dog to stay calm. Other forms of displacement language are licking the face and spinning in circles.

This is one of many amazing survival instincts in dogs! If it comes out of nowhere and your dog seems stressed out, it is often an indication that she is experiencing pain somewhere in her body. She may also chatter as a way of communicating frustration or distress. Nervousness — Most owners know that a dog baring its teeth is a sign of feeling threatened or defensive.

Chattering is a signal for stress and nervousness. Fur might not be enough to warm your dog. If you have a small dog, this reaction to cold weather can happen long before it happens to you. For instance, a chihuahua might be feeling the effects of your air conditioning more than you do. In that case, consider getting your dog a sweater or warm place for it to rest. Pain — For geriatric dogs who might be experiencing other bodily pain, chattering along with other frustrated behaviors like growling may be your indication that something more severe is wrong.

Sniffing — Dogs can make very strange faces and mouth movements while smelling new scents because they are using their vomeronasal systems. This is perfectly normal. Diseases Periodontal Disease — Dogs get gum disease just like humans.

Also, see if it only chews on one side, or avoids letting you touch its head or face. Tooth Abscess — Much of the same symptoms can be applied to other dental issues like rotten teeth, though it might come with swelling on one side.

Periodontal disease is the most common cause of teeth chattering in dogs. This extremely painful condition is the result of bacterial buildup, which causes gum inflammation and leads to deterioration of the teeth, bones, and surrounding tissues.

Furthermore, as the teeth start to lose the enamel, they become more sensitive, which can also cause chattering and grinding. Dogs chatter their teeth for a variety of different reasons. Some of the most common causes of teeth chattering in dogs are low body temperature, fear, anxiety, excitement, scent detection, and displacement behavior.

However, teeth chattering can also be a sign of a serious medical condition. Chattering teeth can be a symptom of dental disease, epilepsy, dog shaker syndrome, old age, or pain.

Some dogs will chatter their teeth and quiver their jaw when they feel threatened, as a way to distract the other dog. If you suspect that your pooch has a fever, take them to your vet for a checkup. Besides their powerful scent receptors, dogs also have a vomeronasal organ that allows them to taste the smell they are sniffing. Dogs use pee as a form of communication, and your pooch can learn a lot about other dogs while sniffing their pee.

Chattering their teeth while sniffing pee gives your pooch a wealth of information, including the age, sex, and reproductive status of the other dog. By now, you have a better understanding of why dogs chatter their teeth and what you should do the next time your pooch starts to exhibit this quirky behavior.

In most cases, teeth chattering is completely harmless and nothing to worry about, but sometimes it can be a symptom of an underlying health problem. The most common causes of dog teeth chattering are:. If your pooch chatters their teeth from time to time, observe them carefully and try to figure out what is causing this behavior. If you ruled out all likely causes, err on the side of caution and take your dog to your vet for a full checkup. For a list of all the supplies we get for our new service dog puppies check out our New Puppy Checklist on the PuppyInTraining.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Low Body Temperature 2. Excitement And Joy 3. Smelling New Scents 4.

Stress, Fear, Or Anxiety 5. Displacement 6. Dental Problems 7. White Dog Shaker Syndrome 8. Epilepsy 9.