Yes - your dog does in fact have a 3rd eye lid and did you know, humans used to have one too? A dog's third eye lid is also known as the 'nicitating membrane.' 
Throughout evolution, the third eye lid in humans has shrunk and today is simply a small feature in the inner corner of our eyes, which helps to drain tears and keep debris away from the eyes. 

Like humans today, animals have two eye lids that move vertically, the upper and lower eye lids. These eye lids work to protect the eye lids from any debris, damage, sun light and to maintain moisture on the eye balls. It is responsible for creating up to 50% of a dog's tears so is vital to their eye health. 
The third eye lid of dogs and other animals such as cats adds even more protection to the eye ball and is not normally visible. 

A dogs third eye lid is located under their lower eye lid and sits in the corner of the eye. When needed, the third eye lid will extend across the dog's eye to protect it from any damage and helps to spread moisture across the eye ball. 
The third eye lid is opaque in colour and a dog is unable to see through it. It moves horizontally across the eye. 
The third eye lid also contains lymph nodes so helps to prevent eye infections. Unlike the upper and lower eye lids, the third eye lid does not move voluntarily and moves independantly. It is often triggered by the retraction of the dog's eyeball into it's socket (closing it eyes)

in normal circumstances, no. In healthy dogs, their third eye lid is often not visible and will not cause any interruptions to your dogs day to day life. For this reason, if the third eye lid is visible, it's a good indication that there may be a health concern for your dog. Some conditions that can affect the third eye lid in dogs includes;

• Cherry Eye - a condition where the third eye lid tear gland becomes swollen and bright red in colour, swelling out from the edge of the dog's eye. This condition is more common in some breeds than others, including Bulldogs, Beagles and Shih Tzu's. 
• Conjunctivitis - which can be caused by a virus, allergy flare ups or dry eye. This can cause a flare up of the third eye lid and cause it to be exposed from a dog's eye. 
• Poor Health Conditions - such as dehydration, weight loss, malnourishment or any condition that can affect the muscles around a dog's eye, can cause the third eye lid to be exposed. 
  

Should you have any concerns about your dogs third eye lid or their eye health, you should always consult your vet for an examination. If a dogs third eye lid is not functioning correctly, it could lead to eye damage, pain or discomfort for your dog. 

​Bloat is when gas and/or food stretches the stomach many times its normal size and the stomach turns more than 180 degrees on its longitudinal axis, sealing off both the entry and exit from the stomach. This causes the spleen swells placing pressure on the major vein bringing blood back to the heart from the lower body. Many damaging events follow including the release of toxins from the dying stomach lining and heart dysfunction. Without immediate care the dog goes into shock and dies. Bloat is an extremely serious condition, and should be considered a life-threatening emergency when it occurs. 

​Sadly, the exact cause of Bloat is still unknown.  even after extensive testing in controlled situations, Bloat does not occur consistently in the same simulations. 
It does however, seem to appear that it occurs as a combination of events. There are many theories about the cause of Bloat from Veterinarians. Factors may include feeding large meals of dry food followed by exercise, abrupt changes in diet, drinking a large amount of water after eating, and fast gulping of food. Other causes have been suggested but nothing has been proven.

​The most obvious signs are abdominal distention (swollen, hard belly) and non-productive vomiting (animal appears to be vomiting, but nothing comes up) and retching. The stomach and abdomen will be distended and hard to the touch. This distension is first apparent on the left hind side of the abdomen Other signs include restlessness (pacing & panting), abdominal pain, and rapid shallow breathing. Profuse drooling may indicate severe pain. If the dog’s condition continues to deteriorate the dog may go into shock and become pale (check gum colour), have a weak pulse, a rapid heart rate, become lethargic and eventually collapse. 
There are no home remedies to treat bloat, your dog needs to be seen by a vet as soon as possible. Bloat is an emergency situation. Your dog will be assessed by the vet to establish what stage of bloat they are in and if a tube can be used to remove the gas from the stomach or if surgery is needed. 

Under Australia's Disability Discrimination Act 1992, it's unlawful for airlines to deny boarding to passengers travelling with an Assistance Dog. This ensures people with disabilities can fly with their vital companions - both domestically and internationally.

Major Australian carriers like Virgin Australia and Qantas welcome service dogs from approved organisations. These dogs travel free of charge in the cabin, right by their owner's side, as their assistance may be needed mid-flight.

To board without issues, owners must meet these standards:

• Proof of Status: Present a current Public Access Card at check-in or boarding.
• Onboard Rules: Keep the dog tethered throughout the flight and use an absorbent mat to manage any messes.
• Advance Notification: Inform the airline in advance of your booking and submit all required paperwork ahead of time.

Allowing Assistance Dogs to accompany their owners everywhere promotes an active lifestyle and ensures a safe, supportive experience for both. Airlines carefully consider factors like:

• Flight duration
• Stress from cabin noise and new environments
• Quarantine rules for international returns to Australia

Decisions always prioritise the health and wellbeing of the owner and dog.

Hear from Sheree and her Assistance Dog, Jade, on their travel adventures;

'My assistance dog, Jade, is a perfect candidate for airline travel: she has frequent exposure to busy places and public transport, remains calm in every situation and settles readily in any location. We have shared 12 domestic flights together and, typically, Jade has afforded herself the opportunity of sleeping through them all! She has breezed through all airport procedures and apparently only once looked suspicious. Fortunately the security guard who ‘pat down’ her orange jacket found no concealments!
Taking up temporary residence in a hotel room without our usual ‘doggie door’ has only the added challenge of providing Jade with late night and early morning toilet breaks. Fortunately she is no stranger to elevators!  Whether at home or away, Jade’s daily exercise and free play needs must be met, so locating suitable parks is always a priority.

Though our experiences have all been overwhelmingly positive, and airport and flight staff accommodating without exception, I would only ever have Jade accompany me on flights of up to two hours duration. Being a wheelchair user I am required to board the plane first and disembark last, a procedure which potentially doubles the time Jade is not permitted to drink, toilet or freely move about. When I am occasionally required to take a long flight Jade enjoys a well deserved holiday of her own with my parents.'

This information and so much more available from ASDOG Australia website here!

Be sure to not miss any of our other Therapy Dog Thursday blogs here! 

When a dog has a luxating patella, this means that their kneecap (the patella) slips out of its normal position in the thigh bone (femur). This causes the knee to dislocate (luxate) sideways. The term “luxating patella” simply means the kneecap dislocates out of place.
There are two types of luxating patella:
MPL – Medial Patellar Luxation
This is where the kneecap moves inward out of position. This is the most common type of patellar luxation, and symptoms are usually seen earlier in a dog’s life. It is most commonly seen in small dog breeds.
LPL – Lateral Patellar Luxation
This is where the kneecap moves outward from its normal position. This is less common and is often seen in medium to large dog breeds. It is also more common in dogs that suffer from hip dysplasia.
A knee affected by a luxating patella is more likely to develop arthritis earlier in life due to consistent rubbing on the joint cartilage.

In most cases, a luxating patella is a hereditary condition passed down from breeding parents. However, it can also develop over time or be caused by a degenerative condition.
It’s important to ensure that the medical history of breeding parents is known, to help prevent luxating patellas from being passed on to future litters.

In mild cases, signs of a luxating patella may remain asymptomatic, and dogs are often able to pop their kneecap back into place on their own, sometimes without the owner even noticing.
A common sign is a dog walking with a “skip” in their step. They may briefly hold up the affected leg, kick it out, or shake it. If they quickly return to normal walking, it usually means the patella has slipped back into place on its own.
As a dog ages with a luxating patella, they may become increasingly lame in the affected leg. This is due to ongoing cartilage wear, which can lead to discomfort and arthritis.
If a dog needs help getting the patella back into place, they may cry out in pain and lick at the knee joint. It’s best not to handle the leg, as dogs can often correct it themselves. However, if the issue persists or the dog becomes distressed, veterinary attention should be sought as soon as possible.

During a physical examination, your vet can diagnose a luxating patella and assign it a grade. Luxating patellas are graded from 1 to 4 to determine severity, guide treatment, and monitor progression over time.

• Grade 1: Mild and unlikely to significantly impact day-to-day life
  
• Grade 4: Severe, painful, and likely to require surgery
  

Grade 1–2:
These cases often don’t require major intervention. Management includes maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding activities that involve sudden stopping, sharp turns, or spinning. Dogs may also benefit from physiotherapy or anti-inflammatory medication if discomfort is present.
Grade 3–4 (or frequent Grade 1–2 cases):
Surgery is usually recommended. This helps realign the patella, reduce pain, and minimise the risk of early-onset arthritis, especially in younger dogs.