French Bulldog, can't open mouth

[opal]

My Frenchie is having problems opening his mouth more than a 1/2 inch..

Mind you this little guy is usually opening his mouth big and WIDE all the time.
He is just 6 months old and I can't find anything on the net and can't get him into the Veterinarian till Monday.

So if ANYONE has any suggestions of what this might be..

I am open to listening..
I have checked his ears. Still might be something down further that I just can't see though.
Maybe his teeth??

He had hives last week from something we have yet to figure out...
(my husband and I)
Me everyday...
I have never had a dog in 25 years do this so I am stuck..

Anyone...

[Tucker'sMom]

I am not trying to scare you, but....has he had any wounds, cuts, etc. recently...as recent as a few weeks?

Has he had problems walking?
Has he had a surprised or worried look on his face?
Are his 3rd eyelids protruding, looking "bug-eyed"?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should get him to a Veterinarian immediately!!! Cornell University School of Veterinarian Medicine puts out a very nice newsletter called "Dog Watch". My Mom is a subscriber, and she gives me hers to read, I scan anything I would like to read later, or refer to later and keep a copy. I remembered something in one about tetanus in dogs. The symptoms I just mentioned, and a stiff jaw are all signs of tetanus. If left untreated, it can lead to severe breathing problems. There is no test for tetanus, and the brain is not impaired, so the dog knows what is going on. When the dog has difficulty breathing, it is the end point of the infection. The answer is immediate and aggressive treatment. If the wound is still visible, it should be thoroughly cleaned...usuallly the wound has healed before the symptoms of tetanus start. The bacteria is especially sensitive to Penicillin, however, the toxins that have already been produced are not. Tetanus anti-toxins are usually given. The dog can be especially sensitive to light and sound, so they are usually treated in a dark, quiet room. Some dogs have to be on a ventilator until their body can fight off the toxins, with the help of the anti-toxin meds.

I hope this is not the case, but it could be very serious. Please keep us informed.