My senior dog's eyes roll back sometimes. Is this normal or serious?

It could be that Jezzie's eye aren't actually rolling up into her head; rather, you may be seeing the third eyelid sliding across her eye. This third eyelid isn't normally seen when a dog is awake and has their eyes open. It's function is to protect the eye, and spread tears across the eye's surface. When it is raised, this could be due to irritation to the eye, such as injury and infection. The other possibility is that it isn't the third eyelid, and Jezzie rolling her eyes back could be due to a seizure. Given that she acts ok and responds to you, I would be less inclined to think it was a seizure. She should be seen by a vet, as any eye problem is considered an emergency. The vet can diagnose if it is her third eyelid coming out or not, or if seizures are the cause, and can treat according to the diagnosis.

It is possible that it was a seizure, or it may have been what we call a syncopal episode. A syncopal episode occurs when there is a sudden decrease in blood flow to the brain, often due to an abnormal heart rhythm or other heart condition. Its also possible that was neither---if she remained conscious (was responsive and aware of her surroundings), it could just be that she had a itch or uncomfortable spot on that side she was trying to get to. As long as she's been acting normal since, its fine to just keep a close eye on her and get her to your vet for the appointment. Your vet may recommend running some lab work (probably some blood tests) to see if there are any abnormalities. Ask yourself and your mom if there is any possibilities of toxin exposures your dog could have gotten into, and be sure to let your vet know. Thank you for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

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!

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.

The two big rule outs here would be seizure activity or syncope (like a fainting spell) that could be due to an underlying heart condition. I suggest you get him to your vet for an exam as soon as possible.

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.

These signs could be compatible with a seizure episode, possibly caused by epilepsy. Causes of epilepsy are several but can be summarized in intracranial (idiopathic neoplastic, inflammatory) and extracranial (metabolic, toxic, and many others) causes of it. A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. 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.