Craniomandibular Osteopathy in Dogs
Craniomandibular osteopathy is a bone disease that affects puppies. It causes excessive growth of skull bones, including the lower jaw. Also called lion jaw, this is typically a painful disorder. Craniomandibular osteopathy is not curable, but veterinarians can treat it.
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Affected Breeds
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Craniomandibular osteopathy (CMO) is most common in terriers, particularly West Highland white terriers, and also Scottish, Cairn, Boston and bull terriers. Researchers have determined a genetic cause for CMO in the West Highland terrier and continue to look for a genetic cause in the other terriers. The disorder is rare in other breeds.
Jaw Signs
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The first signs of craniomandibular osteopathy usually appear between 3 and 8 months of age. The dog's jaws swell, and he has difficulty eating. He shows signs of pain when opening his mouth. Eventually, he may not be able to open his mouth at all if excess bone growth prevents the jaw joint from moving.
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Other Symptoms
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Dogs with craniomandibular osteopathy may drool and have a fluctuating fever. In severe cases, the dog may have swollen glands, and the muscles used for chewing may atrophy.
Treatment
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No treatment can stop the abnormal bone growth, but it usually stops on its own by the time the dog is 1 year of age. Some of the excess bone may decrease after that. Treatment during disease progression involves pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medications, and making sure the dog gets enough nutrition.
Surgery
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Once the bone growth stops, surgery can help dogs who continue to have difficulty eating because of the abnormal bone structure.
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