Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat unable to close mouth due to jaw locking and joint issue
By Fuertes-Recuero, Manuel et al.·Published in Veterinary research communications·2024·Veterios Veterinary Hospital, Spain·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Open-mouth jaw locking in a 5-year-old Persian cat: a case report.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 5-year-old neutered male Persian cat was brought to the vet because it couldn't close its mouth and was drooling. After a thorough examination and a CT scan, the vet found that the cat had a jaw misalignment and a dislocated jaw joint. The vet manually fixed the jaw and confirmed it was back in place with another CT scan. The cat was given meloxicam for pain relief and wore a muzzle and collar for two weeks. At the follow-up, the cat showed no signs of the jaw locking again.
People also search for: cat jaw locking treatment · Persian cat drooling · cat jaw dislocation symptoms
Abstract
Open-mouth jaw locking is an uncommon condition in feline patients. A 5-year-old neutered male Persian cat was evaluated for an acute inability to close its mouth and ptyalism. The general physical examination was unremarkable. A complete oral examination revealed a reduced vertical range of motion, as well as an asymmetric malocclusion with severe displacement of the mandibles to the left. Advanced diagnostic imaging included computed tomography (CT), which revealed a typical brachycephalic conformation, skeletal malocclusion and a bilateral temporomandibular joint (TMJ) subluxation, with the left coronoid process of the mandible abnormally positioned ventrolateral to the zygomatic arch. The open-mouth jaw locking was manually reduced and resolved. Once the coronoid process was repositioned, a second CT scan was performed and confirmed complete reduction of the TMJ subluxation. Supportive treatment with meloxicam was administered and a loose-fitting tape muzzle and Elizabethan collar were applied for two weeks. There was no recurrence of open-mouth jaw locking at long-term follow-up. This case report highlights the relevance of CT imaging and 3-dimensional reconstruction in the diagnosis of this unusual condition.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39264572/