My dog sleeps with eyes open. Is this normal, or should I be worried?

Some dogs do this for unknown reasons just like with some people that sleep with their eyes open. Every person sleeps with their eyes rolled backwards because the nerve that innervates the eye is inactive therefore the eyes return to their most relaxed position. There is nothing to worry about in this situation. Belle is still just a normal dog. I hope this helps!

Oreo is adorable!! I would not worry about this at this point. Puppies can have deep sleep and dream and paddle or kick. Brachycephalic breeds such as Frenchies and pugs can have larger, rounder eyes that can.l cause the eye not to close all the time. the most important part to monitor is the eye... if it stays like this too long it can get dry and have a slight discharge. If that is noticed, rinse the eye wash to help

It can be normal for the third eyelid to be slightly visible in some dogs, due to the shape of their faces and skull bones. In the photo, Ziggy's eyes look normal to me. If this is how he has always looked, and he does not have any other signs of an eye problem such as redness, squinting, or discharge, I would say that this is probably normal for him and not a reason for concern :)

That could be Bailey's third eyelid, which is a normal part of the dog's eye anatomy. But it should not be out when the dog's eye is open, which indicates a problem. I'd have her seen by a vet for this.

It is normal for dogs to go someone limp and have rapid eye movement while in deep sleep, just like with people. In some cases, you may see your dog whimper or even twitch their limbs if they are dreaming or deep in REM. If your pup seems in distress, or this happens often or when she isn't asleep, a vet checkup is always a good idea.

Some puppies will open their eyes later than other puppies. If there is no discharge from the eyes, mucus or matting over the eyelids, it seem like the muscles around the eyes 'blink' even though his eyes are not open, and he's eating and otherwise thriving, he may just be slow to open his eyes. If you see any of the signs I mentioned above, there is a medical reason behind why he isn't opening his eyes, and you need to take him into your vet.

If he is otherwise normal I'm not concerned. He may be stressed from moving to a new home or dreaming. If it was a seizure you would notice him going from normal to having muscle spasms, then getting back to normal in a few minutes. It's a good idea to video the behavior and write down when it occurs so you have a history to discuss with your veterinarian should it get worse. I like to write down the episodes on a calendar so I can go back and check the frequency. Willis may stop this as he becomes settled in your house and as he gets older. If he appears agitated, weak or ill please take him right in for an exam. You may want to double check with his breeder to see if any other pups or the parents are doing this. Cavaliers do get heart disease, but usually when they are old, and purebred dogs can get epilepsy but seizures often don't start until they are six months to a year old. Again I would just watch him to make sure there are no other symptoms. Enjoy your new puppy! I love Cavaliers, it's a fun, gentle and loving breed. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Willis.