My dog's third eyelid shows, he can't blink. Could it be paralysis?

It actually sounds like Oso could have facial nerve paralysis on that side that is making him unable to close his eyelid. The third eyelid is controlled by a different nerve so dogs with facial nerve paralysis will use the third eyelid to protect the eye. Facial nerve paralysis can be caused by a severe ear infection, or some neurologic diseases. I'd recommend seeing your veterinarian to see if this is a possibility. You may want to try applying an artificial tear ointment to keep his eye lubricated until you can see your vet

What you are seeing on Jax is his third eyelid (known as the nicitating membrane) sticking out over the rest of his eyeball. I can not say for sure why it has prolapsed. This can happen due to an injury or an infectious process. The nicitating membrane has several important responsibilities, so making sure that it is still fully functional is important. While it is not an emergency, if the membrane does not return to its normal location by tomorrow I would consider bringing Jax in for an appointment. In the mean time, I would recommend obtaining some artificial tears from the drug store and keeping the eye nice and lubricated. Do this every 4 to 6 hours in case there is a lack of tear production.

With TECA (total ear canal ablation) surgeries, there is a good likelihood of developing facial nerve paresis, which is most often a temporary condition. The facial nerve wraps around the base of the ear and can often be "bruised" during the procedure. This nerve controls the muscles of facial expression, including eyelid movement. In most cases (>90%), there is significant improvement in these deficits within 2 months, with most returning to normal function. Some dogs retain permanent facial nerve deficits, but fortunately, that is much less common. Initially, I would recommend following the prescribed dosage of eye lubricant closely. The cornea can dry out pretty easily, opening it to more possible damage from irritation.

Hi, and thanks for your question. That is likely to be due to a mild to moderate conjunctivitis, probably secondary to a trauma or infection. A check up would be needed as appropriate treatment would include antibiotics and anti-inflammatory eye drops. Corneal injuries must be ruled out as well. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. Please find the time to give us a feedback about the consultation as that will be used to improve our service.

A closed eye is often a painful eye, and a painful eye should be seen by a veterinarian. A scratch or ulcer of the cornea is the most common reason I see this, although many other problems can cause it as well. Good luck and I hope he improves soon.

If you are talking about the pink triangle tissue in the middle corners, this is her 3rd eyelid. They aren't suppose to be showing but will sometimes come up when the eyes are irritated or their is an allergic reaction. I would start giving her benadryl twice a day. I would also have her eyes recheck if it isn't starting to improve. I can't tell for sure in the 2nd picture but it does look like the pupils may be different sizes. If this is true, I would have your vet recheck them to see if anything has changed. I hope this helps! https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/dog/benadryl/#

Unless it gets inflamed or starts irritating her eye, I would just keep watch on it. You might ask your vet to look at it the next time she is in for her annual exam and ask their opinion. It doesn't look like something worth anesthetizing her for alone, so unless she is getting another procedure at the same time, your vet may not think it's necessary to repair unless it starts to cause problems.