JustAnswer
>
Dog
Ask A Question
|
Register
|
Login
|
Help
Dog
Ask a Dog Question, Get an Answer ASAP!
Have your own Dog question?
5 Vets and Dog Experts are Online Now
characters left:
Not a Dog Question?
Related Dog Topics:
Dog
,
Eye
,
Ill
,
May
,
Pet
,
Vet
,
Two
,
Dogs
,
Eyes
,
Head
Question
I have a blue doberman. This morning he was fine. Tonight both his eyes seem like they have sunken into his head. They look like a bloodhound's. He's eating and active still. I can take him to the vet tomorrow but the pet sitter I have lined up for the holiday, is just my neighbor. So I'm worried.
Submitted: 363 days and 4 hours ago.
Category: Dog
Value: $15
Status: CLOSED
+
Read More
Optional Information
Age: 5; Male; Breed: doberman
Already Tried:
I haven't tried anything.
Posted by
Dr Pete
363 days and 3 hours ago.
Info Request
Hi
I wonder if you could supply with a little more information
1. Does he spend any time outside and if so what sort of garden?
2. Is there any discharge from the eyes?
3. Is he drooling or showing any signs of discomfort eating?
4. Is his thirst normal the last 24 hours?
Hope to hear from you sson.
Peter
363 days and 3 hours ago.
Reply
I looked more closely at his eyes and he has always had this brown flap of 'skin' on the lower portion of the one eye. It appears that's become detached because I can now see white below it and on the other eye the skin flap appears to be more pronounced than usual.
He spends all day outside while I'm at work. My yard is basic. No flowering plants, just grass and trees. There is no discharge. He ate his dinner without hesitation and isn't drooling. I haven't noticed a change in thirst but basically the dog bowl is outside and all I can see is that it had been drinken from. I have two dogs and the other one is fine.
Posted by
Dr Pete
363 days and 3 hours ago.
Answer
Thanks
At the corner of each eye, between the eyelis sits a thin membrane called the nictatating membrane (or third eyelid). It sweeps accross the eye when a dog blinks and normally you would not notice it. The leading edge of this memebrane is often pigmented. When a dog is in some way unwell or if the eyes are a bit sore the nictitating membrane will sometimes rise up accross the eye slightly. Behind the leading edge of this membrane the tissue can be totally unpigmented and this will highlight the leading "blade"I am thinking that this is what you are seeing. This site shows a nictitataing membrane in a chicken...sorry I could not quickly find a dog picture, but that's what it looks like
http://www.search.com/reference/Nictitating_membrane
Do you think this is what you are seeing?
Peter
363 days and 3 hours ago.
Reply
Probably. He's always had the membrane visible in the one eye. I was told it was due to inbreeding and merely cosmetic. Why would it be irritated? It's definitely worse than normal.
Accepted Answer
It may be that one of his nictitating membranes is always a little more pronounced on one eye, but sometimes it can just appear that way due to pigmentation. Whichever way, that is not important.
Prolapse of these membranes does not always imply an irritation in the eyes (although it can). That is why I asked if there was a discharge. Lack of discharge makes it unlikley we have any inflammation of the eye.
Most likely here the membranes have slid accross because he is slightly unwell. This does not necessarily mean anything serious. Just like us, dogs can have öne of those days". It can happen after heavy exercise, emotional trauma and heat stress for instance. I often see it in dogs with no evidence of any other problem. It is usually transient (24 hours).
Because your dog is well otherwise I suggest you just monitor him and hopefully it will clear and that is the end of it. If on the other hand it progresses or he shows other signs of ill health then you should get him checked over by your vet.
Regards, XXXXX
Expert:
Dr Pete
Pos. Feedback:
99.7 %
Accepts:
Answered:
11/26/2008
Dog Veterinarian
Bachelor of Veterinary Science (University of Melbourne, Australia)
+
Read More
Related Dog Questions
I have a 3year Ragdoll cat and recntly got two puppy's ...
When a dog's water breaks, what am I to expect next?
i found a wierd gowth on my dogs leg it showed up ...
I have a 4 month old chihuahua, and last night he fell
I run a no-kill sanctuary for abandoned dogs out of my ...
I am a proud owner of a male brindle boxer, he is 2 years .....
how long do dogs stay preganat
Both of my dogs have loss a patch of hair on each side ...