Question:

I have a Cocker Spaniel that is 15 months old and I have been noticing a chattering that has been worrying me. Whenever he bites down on something hard for a short duration and then lets go his teeth chatter. It happens mostly when we are playing tug of war or fetch and he lets go of the toy. Is this a sign of something that I should be worried about, or is this a natural reaction for a dog that’s been clamped down on something in his mouth? — Kendal

Response:

Teeth chattering ‘can’ be a sign of fever. How are his teeth?Have you tried taking his temp.?

Response:

This has been an ongoing thing for months. I just never thought much about it until last night when it was really noticeable. He has been to the vet many times and gotten a clean bill of health (as far as temperature, weight, etc. are concerned – I never did ask about the chattering).

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Teeth chattering ‘can’ be a sign of fever. How are his teeth?Have you tried > taking his temp.?

Response:

> This has been an ongoing thing for months. I just never thought much about > it until last night when it was really noticeable. He has been to the vet > many times and gotten a clean bill of health (as far as temperature, weight, > etc. are concerned – I never did ask about the chattering).

When my dog has been tugging on something and lets go, his jaws go through what could be described as a chattering motion–for about 1-2 seconds. He seems to just be rearranging his lips so he can close his mouth. (Stop laughing.) Seriously, my dog does this too, and it’s No Big Deal. Is your dog’s chattering similar? Cate

Response:

It usually lasts a little longer, around 10 to 15 seconds. The tip of his tongue sticks out and his whole head vibrates a little bit with the chatter. I can see muscles on the top of his head moving as his teeth chatter too. It’s very similar to a person’s teeth chattering when they are very cold or nervous. I suppose that I shouldn’t worry too much about it. It doesn’t seem to affect him much and it goes away after the 10 to 15 seconds while he is calming down. I just want to be sure that it’s nothing with his health. — Kendal

| > This has been an ongoing thing for months. I just never thought much about | > it until last night when it was really noticeable. He has been to the vet | > many times and gotten a clean bill of health (as far as temperature, | weight, | > etc. are concerned – I never did ask about the chattering). | > | | When my dog has been tugging on something and lets go, his jaws go through | what could be described as a chattering motion–for about 1-2 seconds. He | seems to just be rearranging his lips so he can close his mouth. (Stop | laughing.) Seriously, my dog does this too, and it’s No Big Deal. Is your | dog’s chattering similar? | | Cate | | |

Response:

does it happen in ‘warm’ temperatures? In other words, have you ruled out the obvious? (Is he chattering because he is COLD?)

Response:

> It usually lasts a little longer, around 10 to 15 seconds. The tip of his > tongue sticks out and his whole head vibrates a little bit with the chatter. > I can see muscles on the top of his head moving as his teeth chatter too. > It’s very similar to a person’s teeth chattering when they are very cold or > nervous. I suppose that I shouldn’t worry too much about it. It doesn’t seem > to affect him much and it goes away after the 10 to 15 seconds while he is > calming down. I just want to be sure that it’s nothing with his health. > — > Kendal

Sounds like a question for your vet. Just call up, describe the problem, and ask if a visit is warranted. Vets’ offices are used to getting such calls, and you should feel comfortable calling them any time with such questions. It’s better to answer such questions now than deal with a potentially serious problem down the road that could’ve been attended to earlier on. Good luck. Cate

Response:

>> I can see muscles on the top of his head moving as his teeth chatter too. > It’s very similar to a person’s teeth chattering when they are very cold >or > nervous.

Teeth chattering often occurs in play, as an offensive or defensive threat and possibly in conflict or distress situations. My Dane does this when he’s excited or nervous.  He’s prefectly healthy Dogstar716 Come see Gunnars Life: http://hometown.aol.com/dogstar716/index.html "AKC papers do not mean you are getting a quality dog. They are merely a birth certificate. Even puppy mill pet shop pups have AKC papers" – Bob Maida

Response:

>Sounds like a question for your vet. Just call up, describe the problem, and >ask if a visit is warranted. Vets’ offices are used to getting such calls, >and you should feel comfortable calling them any time with such questions. >It’s better to answer such questions now than deal with a potentially >serious problem down the road that could’ve been attended to earlier on.

Look, I am all for taking dogs to the vet when they are sick. But people who are dog owners should learn a teeny tiny bit about dog behavior as well. One more time: when dogs play they can get really revved up. If this happens,their teeth will chatter. IT IS NORMAL!!!!! When male dogs smell pee, they will often have chattery teeth and even drool. THIS IS NORMAL!!!!! If the dog mentioned in the first post is playing tug, and the tug object is not in his mouth, and he’s really into tugging, odds are his teeth will chatter. IT IS NORMAL!!! None of this is worth bothering a vet over, or dragging the dog in for an office visit. If more people pushed back from their computers, turned off their modems, and WATCHED what their dogs did, they could learn an awful lot about the health and well being of their dogs. And, they’d save money at the vet and worry about their dogs. So, in conclusion: this dog is not sick, is not suffering from anything, he’s PLAYING!! Am I the only one here who watches my dogs play and who plays with them? Why is everyone trying to scare this poor Cocker owner? I think it’s wonderful to see a Cocker with so much interest in playing. I bet it would be a fun dog to take out and try agility with. Ann, Twzl, Sligo and Roy — Whenever A annoys or injures B on the pretense of saving or improving X, A is a scoundrel. – H. L. Mencken

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Sounds like a question for your vet. Just call up, describe the problem, and >ask if a visit is warranted. Vets’ offices are used to getting such calls, >and you should feel comfortable calling them any time with such questions. >It’s better to answer such questions now than deal with a potentially >serious problem down the road that could’ve been attended to earlier on. > Look, I am all for taking dogs to the vet when they are sick. But people > who are dog owners should learn a teeny tiny bit about dog behavior as > well.

[...] With the preponderance of numbskulled posts on Usenet saying things like ‘My dog’s leg broken in pieces. Is there anything I can do?’ I hardly think it can hurt to suggest someone with even a routine health *or* behavior question call their vet. If the OP’s vet wants to chide her for calling with such a question, then leave it to her vet to set the standard for what constitutes a reasonable issue to ‘bother’ him/her with. It’s a phone call, for pete’s sake, not a subpoena. Cate

Response:

If you are so ’smart’ why didn’t you say "it has been ‘my’ experience with ‘my’ dogs that sometimes in the middle of play their teeth chatter." You canNOT say this dog is NOT sick because it has been MY experience that TWO of MY dogs had teeth chattering and in both cases it turned out to be sign of infection. (one had an impacted tooth and the other a kidney infection).  I agree nobody knows your pet more than YOU do but that doesn’t make you a VET. *and therefore the following quote (yours) pretty much proves WHY I know you are NOT a vet!!  I’m sure you meant well, but there simply was NO way for you to draw the conclusion your not only drew but then passed along and called it "Advice"! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->So, in conclusion: this dog is not sick, is not suffering from anything, >he’s PLAYING!! Am I the only one here who watches my dogs play and who >plays with them? Why is everyone trying to scare this poor Cocker owner? I >think it’s wonderful to see a Cocker with so much interest in playing. I >bet it would be a fun dog to take out and try agility with. >Ann, Twzl, Sligo and Roy

Response:

>With the preponderance of numbskulled posts on Usenet saying things like ‘My >dog’s leg broken in pieces. Is there anything I can do?’ I hardly think it >can hurt to suggest someone with even a routine health *or* behavior >question call their vet. If the OP’s vet wants to chide her for calling with >such a question, then leave it to her vet to set the standard for what >constitutes a reasonable issue to ‘bother’ him/her with. It’s a phone call, >for pete’s sake, not a subpoena.

Hello? Let’s read for content this time, ok? Here is her first post: : I have a Cocker Spaniel that is 15 months old and I have been noticing a : chattering that has been worrying me. Whenever he bites down on something : hard for a short duration and then lets go his teeth chatter. It happens : mostly when we are playing tug of war or fetch and he lets go of the toy. So, we have a young dog who, when he bites something hard, has chattering teeth. Now, let’s *r*e*a*d* her next post on the topic: : This has been an ongoing thing for months. I just never thought much about : it until last night when it was really noticeable. He has been to the vet : many times and gotten a clean bill of health (as far as temperature, : weight,etc. are concerned – I never did ask about the chattering). So, the dog goes to the vet on a regular basis, his teeth have been chattering all the while, during play, and the vet hasn’t seen a problem with the dog. The owner too, has not seen a problem, as it’s been going on for months, without a thought to that there may BE a problem. Look: I am all for people taking their dogs to a vet when there is a problem. And I think that people who post things like "my dog’s guts are hanging out, should I go to a vet"? are idiots. But people who own dogs should learn to observe them. The dog plays tug or fetch. He’s a Sporting breed. He probably LIKES to play fetch and or tug. Dogs, when they are excited, often have chattering teeth. Taking this dog to a vet would be akin to saying, "gee my dog is wagging his tail when he walks past a mirror, maybe he’s blind". While it’s good to take a dog in when there is a problem, it’s also good to learn about dogs and their behavior, so that you can tell what is physical and what is not. This dog sounds like he has regular vet visits, and that the chattering has gone on for awhile. I don’t see how, with the information provided, you can decide that there is a physical problem with the dog. Hey, it’s her money: she can take him to the vet, and no one is going to stop her. But if it were my money, I’d observe cause and effect: dog tugs, dog teeth chatter. Shrug. Ann, Twzl, Sligo and Roy — Whenever A annoys or injures B on the pretense of saving or improving X, A is a scoundrel. – H. L. Mencken

Response:

>If you are so ’smart’ why didn’t you say "it has been ‘my’ experience with ‘my’ >dogs that sometimes in the middle of play their teeth chatter."

What are you, some sort of usenet lawyer? >You canNOT say this dog is NOT sick because it has been MY experience that TWO >of MY dogs had teeth chattering and in both cases it turned out to be sign of >infection. (one had an impacted tooth and the other a kidney infection).

Her dog (I do not know about your’s) apparently goes to the vet on a regular basis. Given the dog’s age, it’s probably gone to the vet quite often for puppy shots and then rabies shots and then a well puppy check up. If my dog had a kidney infection, I would hope that I would notice it sooner than the chattering teeth stage. And, I would also hope that weekly teeth cleaning and scaling (which i do: do you?) would find a tooth problem sooner than that. Ann, Twzl, Sligo and Roy — Whenever A annoys or injures B on the pretense of saving or improving X, A is a scoundrel. – H. L. Mencken

Response:

<snip snarky comments> > Taking this dog to a vet would be akin to saying, "gee my dog is wagging > his tail when he walks past a mirror, maybe he’s blind". While it’s good > to take a dog in when there is a problem, it’s also good to learn about > dogs and their behavior, so that you can tell what is physical and what is > not. This dog sounds like he has regular vet visits, and that the > chattering has gone on for awhile. I don’t see how, with the information > provided, you can decide that there is a physical problem with the dog.

I did not advise her to take her dog to the vet. I advised her to call the vet if she has any questions about her dog’s health or behavior. I also did not decide that her dog has a physical problem. To play it your way, *r*e*a*d* for content. > Hey, it’s her money: she can take him to the vet, and no one is going to > stop her.

Shouldn’t cost her anything to call and ask a question.  But if it were my money, I’d observe cause and effect: dog tugs, > dog teeth chatter. Shrug.

You may observe that, and I may observe that, but it’s quite obvious that some people are just not going to make that connection. Why are you chastising me for suggesting someone take responsibility in their own hands and ask a question of a known, competent professional if they feel it’s warranted? So what if the vet might think the question is silly? That’s for the client and vet to work out, don’t you think? Cate

Response:

message >  But if it were my money, I’d observe cause and effect: dog tugs, > dog teeth chatter. Shrug. > You may observe that, and I may observe that, but it’s quite obvious that > some people are just not going to make that connection.

FWIW, I’ve never seen a dog’s teeth chatter. Kristine & Oscar

Response:

>FWIW, I’ve never seen a dog’s teeth chatter. >Kristine >& Oscar

Is Oscar intact or neutered? Almost any intact male, and probably most neutered males, will, when they sniff where a bitch has recently peed, have chattering teeth. I’m sure that his teeth have chattered, you just may not have been in the habit of observing what happens after he sniffs bitch pee. Dogs who are also very food motivated will also show teeth chattering when they smell something that is really good to them. Dogs who are very toy motiviated may also chatter teeth when they are playing with a toy that they like a great deal. Ann, Twzl, Sligo and Roy — Whenever A annoys or injures B on the pretense of saving or improving X, A is a scoundrel. – H. L. Mencken

Response:

>message >  But if it were my money, I’d observe cause and effect: dog tugs, > > dog teeth chatter. Shrug. > You may observe that, and I may observe that, but it’s quite obvious that > some people are just not going to make that connection. >FWIW, I’ve never seen a dog’s teeth chatter.

neither have i.  and if i had, it would have seriously weirded me out.  i don’t think the OP should be chastised for asking the question, nor the people who suggested she ask her vet. if one of my dogs’ teeth had been chattering, even after playing tug, i would have either asked here or asked my vet about it.  it’s nice to know that it’s a "normal" thing, though.  i’ll file that info away for later. shelly and elliott & harriet http://members.home.net/scouvrette/index/

Response:

Yes, it happens in the house at room temperature.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> does it happen in ‘warm’ temperatures? In other words, have you ruled out the > obvious? (Is he chattering because he is COLD?)

Response:

> Dogs who >are very toy motiviated may also chatter teeth when they are playing with >a toy that they like a great deal.

Two of my three when given an object to hold may chatter their teeth on it, especially when it’s in fun or the object is very hard. Bobster will also spend ages on the bitch urine thing – sniff, taste, chatter, circle, sniff, taste, chatter, circle… – ANDREA —   Get PAID for the emails you already send and receive!                   ANDROMEDA – Internet Goddess Bloodaxe’s History Links:   http://www.geocities.com/Athens/5055/ The Loony Bin Archive:               http://loonies.net800.co.uk/

Response:

Well, I most certainly didn’t mean to cause so much fuss over the matter…but for what it’s worth thank you to everyone who responded. I have come to the conclusion that my Cocker (who, by the way, is my first dog) is fine and that the chattering is a result of being excited. He is a serious chomper (he destroys bones in no time flat!) so it doesn’t surprise me that the chattering is happening. He has indeed been to the vet many,many times and I trust that my vet would have found a problem if there were one. I tried agility with him. He got seriously freaked out and never seemed to take a liking to it. As for having so much interest in playing, he sure does! I only wish he had as much interest in going for walks at night. Thanks again! — Kendal – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Sounds like a question for your vet. Just call up, describe the problem, and >ask if a visit is warranted. Vets’ offices are used to getting such calls, >and you should feel comfortable calling them any time with such questions. >It’s better to answer such questions now than deal with a potentially >serious problem down the road that could’ve been attended to earlier on. > Look, I am all for taking dogs to the vet when they are sick. But people > who are dog owners should learn a teeny tiny bit about dog behavior as > well. > One more time: > when dogs play they can get really revved up. If this happens,their teeth > will chatter. IT IS NORMAL!!!!! > When male dogs smell pee, they will often have chattery teeth and even > drool. THIS IS NORMAL!!!!! > If the dog mentioned in the first post is playing tug, and the tug object > is not in his mouth, and he’s really into tugging, odds are his teeth will > chatter. IT IS NORMAL!!! > None of this is worth bothering a vet over, or dragging the dog in for an > office visit. > If more people pushed back from their computers, turned off their modems, > and WATCHED what their dogs did, they could learn an awful lot about the > health and well being of their dogs. And, they’d save money at the vet and > worry about their dogs. > So, in conclusion: this dog is not sick, is not suffering from anything, > he’s PLAYING!! Am I the only one here who watches my dogs play and who > plays with them? Why is everyone trying to scare this poor Cocker owner? I > think it’s wonderful to see a Cocker with so much interest in playing. I > bet it would be a fun dog to take out and try agility with. > Ann, Twzl, Sligo and Roy > — > Whenever A annoys or injures B on the pretense of saving or improving X, A > is a scoundrel. – H. L. Mencken

Response:

>Yes, it happens in the house at room temperature.

I asked the obvious because sometimes I myself forget to "Think Small" (a valued tool I once learned as a teacher and forget to use Often in everyday life).

Response:

>When I got Solo he wasn’t neutered, and I didn’t neuter him for about >three weeks (he was such a basket case that I thought it best to let him >settle in first).  He would drool like a madman and lick and taste other >dogs’ pee (we live in the middle of the city, there are lots of dogs >around here, and lots of irresponsible owners, so there must be plenty of >intact bitches).  I have never seen his teeth chatter in this context.  

Boy dogs often won’t care if they are intact bitches or not. Any port in a storm and all that. Sligo doesn’t chatter. He’ll drool and his mouth will do a humina, humina thing like in the Three Stooges. Roy will chatter. In both cases you can see the tops of their skulls moving their ears around. All of this is as dopey as it sounds! Ann, Twzl, Sligo and Roy — Whenever A annoys or injures B on the pretense of saving or improving X, A is a scoundrel. – H. L. Mencken

Response:

> Is Oscar intact or neutered?

Oscar is somewhat lacking in the testicle department.  And people often call him "she" (thanks to his long girly legs and graceful ears.) That’s okay – I get called "sir" on a semi-regular basis, as I loom over shop counters, etc. No complexes here, nope. Kristine & Oscar

Response:

>> Is Oscar intact or neutered? >Oscar is somewhat lacking in the testicle department.  And people often call >him "she" (thanks to his long girly legs and graceful ears.) >That’s okay – I get called "sir" on a semi-regular basis, as I loom over >shop counters, etc.

Well, people often ask if Roy is a boy or a girl. Considering that his boy parts are swinging in the breeze, it’s sort of odd… maybe they’re afraid to look? Ann, Twzl, Sligo and Roy — Whenever A annoys or injures B on the pretense of saving or improving X, A is a scoundrel. – H. L. Mencken

Response:

Very well said!!!! Mitzu and Lady Boss Keep up the good work – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Sounds like a question for your vet. Just call up, describe the problem, and >ask if a visit is warranted. Vets’ offices are used to getting such calls, >and you should feel comfortable calling them any time with such questions. >It’s better to answer such questions now than deal with a potentially >serious problem down the road that could’ve been attended to earlier on. > Look, I am all for taking dogs to the vet when they are sick. But people > who are dog owners should learn a teeny tiny bit about dog behavior as > well. > One more time: > when dogs play they can get really revved up. If this happens,their teeth > will chatter. IT IS NORMAL!!!!! > When male dogs smell pee, they will often have chattery teeth and even > drool. THIS IS NORMAL!!!!! > If the dog mentioned in the first post is playing tug, and the tug object > is not in his mouth, and he’s really into tugging, odds are his teeth will > chatter. IT IS NORMAL!!! > None of this is worth bothering a vet over, or dragging the dog in for an > office visit. > If more people pushed back from their computers, turned off their modems, > and WATCHED what their dogs did, they could learn an awful lot about the > health and well being of their dogs. And, they’d save money at the vet and > worry about their dogs. > So, in conclusion: this dog is not sick, is not suffering from anything, > he’s PLAYING!! Am I the only one here who watches my dogs play and who > plays with them? Why is everyone trying to scare this poor Cocker owner? I > think it’s wonderful to see a Cocker with so much interest in playing. I > bet it would be a fun dog to take out and try agility with. > Ann, Twzl, Sligo and Roy > — > Whenever A annoys or injures B on the pretense of saving or improving X, A > is a scoundrel. – H. L. Mencken

Response: