My dog sleeps with his eyes open – or does it only look like it? Is this normal or should I take him to the vet? There are fundamental differences between the sleeping habits of humans and dogs. Dogs sleep much more often, wake up more often in between and, in addition to deep sleep, also know resting and dozing as resting phases. Some of them, due to their breed, can never fully close their eyes and some are constantly on the lookout due to their strong guard instincts. And when the dog’s nictitating membrane is closed but the eyelid is open, the observer thinks: My dog sleeps with his eyes open. Only in rare cases is an illness the reason why a dog either cannot sleep or the eyes actually remain open during sleep. In this article, you will learn more about dog sleep.
How much sleep do dogs need?
A human needs between seven and nine hours of sleep, an adult, healthy dog has a much higher sleep requirement. Depending on the breed and age, sleep requirements vary somewhat, but on average, dogs need 15 to 20 hours of rest each day. Of these, they spend about eight hours asleep and the remaining hours in a relaxing half-sleep. Puppies and older or sick animals sometimes sleep as much as 22 hours a day.
Sleep is not only important for the dog to recover from the phases of activity, but deep sleep also serves to better process and store what has been learned. However, when dogs are socialized through human training, they sometimes lose their ability to fulfill their natural need for sleep on their own. Lack of sleep can also have a very lasting effect on four-legged friends and damage their health in the long run. Dog owners must therefore make sure that they give their darling regular breaks.
Sleep cycles in dogs
While humans normally get their daily amount of sleep in one go, dogs sleep about eight hours at night and spread the remaining hours of sleep over the course of the day. They can fall asleep spontaneously in any position and love to take a short nap from time to time. We, humans, sleep in cycles of 90 minutes to two hours. When transitioning from one cycle to the next, we sometimes wake up briefly. In dogs, the cycles are much shorter, lasting only 20 to 45 minutes. A dog will therefore wake up more often in between, then the human thinks: My dog sleeps with his eyes open. Dogs were prepared by nature to constantly guard themselves and their surroundings. Therefore, a fur nose must regularly check the situation and make sure that there is no danger.
Why is my dog sleeping with his eyes open?
There can be many reasons why a dog sleeps with its eyes open. Maybe he has a strong waking instinct or he doesn’t sleep at all, just dozes. It can also be a result of overbreeding or a disease such as epilepsy, REM behavior disorder, narcolepsy, or a prolapsed nictitating gland.
Dog sleeps with eyes open – Possible reasons
If a dog is sleeping or appears to be sleeping with its eyes open, there is usually nothing to worry about. Only in rare cases is a disease or a consequence of overbreeding the trigger, but much more often there is a natural and harmless explanation.
Nictitating skin
Like many other animals, dogs have a third eyelid, the so-called nictitating membrane. Humans also have a nictitating membrane, but it is so short that it disappears under the eyelids. The natural protective goggles not only protect the dog’s eyes from drying out, but also from dust, dirt, and scratches. Dogs cannot control their nictitating membrane, it covers the entire eye while sleeping and retracts automatically when waking up. When a dog sleeps, it sometimes leaves its eyelids open with only the nictitating membrane covering the eye. From a distance, it looks like he’s sleeping with his eyes open.
Waking instinct
In some breeds, especially guard dogs and shepherd dogs, the guard instinct is so strong that they keep their eyes open even when they are napping. This instinct may serve to scare off other animals, giving them the impression that the dog is wide awake. Perhaps the partially open eyes actually send signals to the brain, so that the dog can react more quickly to danger in an emergency. Dogs that are born to be constantly alert do not sleep deeply for many hours at a time, but rather doze more often with their eyes slightly open.
Agony breeding/lagophthalmos
Some dogs have been bred to have their faces shortened so much that they can no longer close their eyes fully. Because many people find dogs with a round head, big wide eyes and a flat nose particularly cute, specimens with these characteristics are bred despite health disadvantages, which is referred to as torture breeding.
For example, pugs, Pekingese, English, and French bulldogs, Boston terriers, and Shih Tzus are particularly susceptible to this eye problem called lagophthalmos. If the dogs cannot close their eyelids properly, the eyes dry out quickly. The animals are not adequately protected against dirt and dust particles and are particularly susceptible to conjunctivitis and corneal changes. If you have a dog with such breed-typical problems, you should first use eye drops to counteract dehydration after consulting your veterinarian. In some cases, the eyelids are corrected by surgery.
Dog sleeping with eyes open due to REM behavior disorder
Dogs dream too, and dreams are fundamentally just as important and to be evaluated positively as they are for humans. Eyelid movement and muscle twitching are normal features of a dream. Sometimes the dog will bark softly even while sleeping. All of these signs are completely natural and harmless. In rare cases, however, dogs can also sleepwalk and behave in a way that is dangerous to themselves or others. Because when a dog is having vivid nightmares, it may lash out and bite. He might be walking around with his eyes wide open. You may have REM Behavior Disorder, most commonly due to stress or anxiety, and should be evaluated by a veterinarian.
What is the nictitating membrane in dogs?
The nictitating membrane is like a third eyelid that can extend over the entire visible eye in dogs. It protects against dust and scratches and protects the eyes from drying out.
Dog sleeps with eyes open: epilepsy
Epilepsy is a disease that can occur not only in humans but also in dogs. Around 1% of all fur noses are affected by seizures, the disease is most common in young, male dogs. During an epileptic seizure, the dog will lie down on the ground and begin to twitch uncontrollably while its eyes are wide open. Other signs of epilepsy include severe shaking, tense posture, and foaming at the mouth. In addition, the four-legged friend does not react to human speech in this state.
If you suspect epilepsy, your dog should be taken to a veterinarian. In many cases, medication can permanently suppress seizures. In the meantime, remember that the apartment should be made dog-proof. All angular, edgy objects on which the four-legged friend could injure themselves must be removed from their surroundings.
Sleep apnea
Another possible cause: the dog is sleeping with its eyes open because it suffers from sleep apnea. Unconscious breathing pauses during sleep lead to a short-term lack of oxygen in the brain. As a result, the dog suddenly wakes up again and again during its sleep cycles. Especially often this problem affects overweight animals and dogs with a short muzzle. Breeds at risk include Boston Terriers, Pugs, and some Great Dane species. Sleep apnea is often accompanied by other symptoms, including irritability, daytime tiredness, loud snoring, and restless sleep. If obesity is the trigger, a diet will help to free up the airways that are affected by fat. In other cases, the veterinarian must decide whether drugs or an operation promise success.
Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is a mostly harmless nervous disorder that causes a dog to suddenly fall asleep without warning. This happens above all when the four-legged friend gets upset – either with joy or with tension. If a dog suddenly falls over during a happy greeting ceremony and then pretends nothing happened, it may have narcolepsy. Twitching eyelids and half-open eyes are typical of this sleep attack. The nerve disorder is mostly inherited and is particularly common in dachshunds, poodles, Doberman pinschers, and Labrador retrievers. Depending on its type and severity, it can sometimes be treated medically.
Nictitating gland prolapse
If a dog sleeps with its eyes open, a prolapsed nictitating gland can also be to blame. With this painful eye disease, the nictitating membrane enlarges, which then becomes visible as a so-called cherry eye on the inside of the eye. The reddish bump prevents the dog from closing its eyelids completely. A prolapsed nictitating gland in a dog can be recognized by the owner at first glance, the visible swelling on the inner eyelid is often accompanied by reddening of the eyelids and the conjunctiva. In most cases, the swelling first occurs in one eye and after a while, it also becomes noticeable in the second eye.
The disease should be treated immediately because the nictitating membrane now produces less tear fluid, causing the eye to dry out easily. The result is often conjunctivitis. Above all, the dog is in pain and can no longer see without restriction. Massage and antibiotics can sometimes restore the gland to its normal state. If not, the veterinarian can mechanically invert the nictitating membrane under anesthesia. Before the operation, the four-legged friend needs an eye ointment that counteracts drying out.
Insomnia
Dogs can also suffer from insomnia. When you’re insomniac, your mind and body desperately want to rest, but you just can’t get the restorative deep sleep you need. As in humans, persistent insomnia can result in numerous health problems, the main one being brain damage. There are many causes, such as stress and anxiety or physical illnesses that can keep the dog from sleeping. Common triggers include diabetes, liver disease, joint disease, and dementia.
A painful injury that prevents the dog from assuming a comfortable lying position at its roost can also lead to insomnia. In order to help the animal and give it the sleep it deserves, the cause must be investigated. Once the underlying disease has healed, the dog will be able to relax in his bed again.
When is it dangerous if the dog sleeps with his eyes open?
Many dogs occasionally sleep with their eyes half-open, or they are in a dozing phase where they remain alert. Only if specific symptoms appear, is a disease likely to be the trigger that needs to be examined by a veterinarian.
My dog is sleeping with his eyes open – should I wake him up?
Even if a dog sleeps with its eyes open, there is usually no need to wake it up. Basically, a dog should only be disturbed while it is sleeping if it is really necessary. And even if the eyes are open, he may be in a deep sleep phase. Anyone who has to wake up their loved one should therefore always keep a safe distance. Perhaps he is dreaming intensely of delicious sausages and will bite with pleasure when touched. It is better to call him his name from a distance until he responds to his master’s familiar voice.
