Dog mouth pain – when should I see a vet?

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: PDSA

Book a vet visit

This is not usually an emergency on its own – contact your vet if it lasts, gets worse or your dog seems unwell in any other way. It can be linked to dental disease, inflammation inside the mouth, wounds, burns, lumps, jaw problems, mouth ulcers or something stuck in the mouth.

When to contact a vet What to do now

Contact a vet if you see any of this

Reduced appetite
Weight loss
Difficulty eating or shying away from food
Crying when they yawn, pant or their mouth is opened

What you can do now

Contact your vet.
Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see.
Take a photo or short video to show the vet.
Keep fresh water available.

Don't

Do not give any human medicine.
Do not wait if it gets worse.

What it can mean

Mouth pain can be caused by dental disease or inflammation inside the mouth.^[1] It can also be associated with wounds, burns, lumps in the mouth, jaw problems, mouth ulcers or something stuck in the mouth.^[1]

Other signs that can come with it

Chewing on one side only
Bad breath
Drooling
Rubbing or pawing at the face
Preferring soft food over biscuits
Not wanting to be touched around the face
Matted coat
Hiding away

Possible causes

Dental disease
Inflammation inside the mouth
Wounds, including stick injuries
Burns
Lumps in the mouth
Jaw problems, including a jaw fracture or Westie jaw
Mouth ulcers
Something stuck in the mouth

What the experts say

“Dental disease ; Stomatitis (inflammation inside the mouth) ; Wounds such as stick injuries ; Burns (heat, chemical or electrical) ; Lumps in the mouth ; Jaw problems such as a jaw fracture and 'Westie jaw' ; Mouth ulcers ; Something stuck in the mouth”
— PDSA [1]

If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

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Common questions

What can mouth pain mean in a dog?

Mouth pain can be linked to dental disease, inflammation inside the mouth, wounds, burns, lumps in the mouth, jaw problems, mouth ulcers or something stuck in the mouth.^[1]

What signs can come with mouth pain?

Signs can include eating less, weight loss, difficulty eating or shying away from food, chewing on one side, bad breath, drooling, pawing at the face, or crying when the mouth is opened.^[1]

What other changes might I notice?

Some dogs with mouth pain may prefer soft food over biscuits, avoid being touched around the face, hide away or have a matted coat.

Sources

PDSA

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages

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