Did you know that dogs, like cats, have a third eyelid? Okay, don't panic if you haven't noticed because it's not as obvious as the other two. That's why, because it's a part of your hairy body quite unknown but very important to him, we dedicate this article to that third eyelid in dogs.
Third eyelid in dogs: what is it?
The first thing you should know is that the third eyelid in dogs is also known as nictitating membrane, so you'll hear about it both ways.
And that's what it's like, a membrane or gland that lines the eye from the furry. This third eyelid has a very important function: to protect the animal's eye.
In the face of a possible injury, that gland will move by covering the eye as it retracts a little. It is normal that once the danger has passed everything returns to its place, however, this may not happen and you will give what we know as prolapse of the third eyelid, cherry eye or cherry eye.
Third eyelid prolapses in dogs or cherry eye
In case the third eyelid in dogs comes out of place and does not return, it will appear quite visible as a cherry red mass (hence its name) in the animal's eyeball.
There are breeds that are quite prone to this problem, as is the case of pug or Chihuahua, but none is exempt from a prolapse in the nictitating membrane.
In case this happens to your pet, the reaction should be to go immediately to a veterinarian. It is normal for the professional to perform surgery to get the third eyelid back in place.
You should be clear that, as much as your pet suffers such a prolapse, it is never advisable to remove the membrane completely, since it provides many necessary things to your pet.
So what are the advantages of the third eyelid in dogs?
Let's clarify the main advantages of the pirates having that third eyelid:
The main one is the one we have already mentioned: protect the eye from injury or external agents.
In addition, it also promotes the hydration of the eyeball, as it is usually attributed 30-35% of the production of tears in the animal.
And it's not just about hydration; it also helps clean up small particles that can stick to the eye, like street dust when you go out with it for a walk.
As you can see, if your dog didn't have such a gland, he'd be much more exposed to eye diseases and continuous dryness of the eye, which would cause him quite serious problems.