Dogs Eyes: How Many Eye Lids Do Dogs Have?
How many dogs eyelids are there on each eye? Humans have 2 eye lids, our upper and lower eye lid. The correct answer is dogs eyes have three (3) dog eyelids on each eye!
Each dogs eyelid is a layer of protection. Unlike people who only have an upper and lower eyelid, dogs have a third eyelid, or nictitating membrane, that closes horizontally over the eyeball as the most inner layer. The outer lids, similar to human eye lids, close vertically. These outer dog eyelids are the ones we most easily see. Curious about your dog’s third eyelid? If you’ve ever observed your dog deep asleep, and seen their outer eyelids a bit separated, chances are that gross mucous-like tissue is the third lid and not the dog’s actual eye. This is normal, and the third eyelid is there for protection as you can see. Do not try to change for fix your dog’s eyelid positioning if you observe this while they are sleeping.
How To Find Your Dog’s Third Eyelid
If you have ever noticed your dog fall asleep, you may have wondered about that grayish, brown or flesh colored mucous membrane you’ve noticed close horizontally over your dog’s eyeball, just noticeable through partly opened outer eyelids.
You might also see a dog’s third eyelid, if you get your dog to look up and to one side. If the dog looks left, you will probably see the left third eyelid best on the inner aspect of the left eye. Make sure the dog’s head is straight and only the eyes are moving. This can be tricky. If you are successful, to get our dog looking to the right with only his or her eyes, the right third eyelid will be best visualized in the inner aspect.
Do not try to force your dogs eyes (lower lid or upper lid) open, you could damage your dog’s tender eye skin and forcing your dog’s eye open will hurt the dog and frighten them. This is a nice to know fact, not a must-see!
Why Do Dogs Get An Extra Eyelid?
It served more of a purpose for dogs thousands and thousands of years ago before they became domesticated. The outer eyelids protect from scratches and dirt, the inner lid or third lid also protects but has the ability to clean and heal if needed. Think about wild dogs running through a forest – maybe they get a branch in the face, don’t scratch the cornea! Also don’t want to get an eye infection, since dogs would submerge their face in carcasses as they ate what they hunted.
Dog Eye Health
Even now that dogs have been domesticated, they can actually get a prolapse of the nictitating membrane in which the eyelids get very swollen and very noticeably red. This is known as “cherry eye”. If you think this is happening to your dog’s eyelid, please see your veterinarian.
Has Your Dog Ever Had Cherry Eye?
If you want to know more about how dog’s eyelids and how their vision works, you can read: “The World Through Your Dog’s Eyes”
