Dogs can do the strangest things, and winking is one of them. You might have caught your dog winking at you and wondered why! When dogs close one eye and leave the other open, we call that a ‘wink’, just like as humans do.
To protect its eyes
Sometimes a foreign object may unexpectedly fly into your dog’s eye, and blinking, as well as winking, shields the eye from harm. The eye is a sensitive area for a dog, and can be damaged by foreign objects such as dust particles, dirt and even its own fur. Sometimes an insect such as a fly can also zoom towards your pet’s eyes.
Strong light, or sudden flashes of light can also cause your dog’s eyes to close. This is just a natural reaction because strong light can be uncomfortable and even damaging to your dog’s eyes, just like for us humans too.
A foreign object or flashes of light can trigger an automatic winking action in your dog. This winking will hopefully protect its eyes from any damage and a trip to the vet!
To copy humans
They say dogs can take after their owners’ personalities. Indeed, a social human owner can bring about a more social, friendly dog. And an anxiety ridden owner can influence the anxiety levels in their pet. It has even been proven to be somewhat true! A scientific study in Austria showed that dogs can mirror the anxiety and negativity of their owners. And when it comes to specific actions, such as winking, it no longer sounds outrageous. We’ve all seen videos of dogs “singing” with their owners – mirroring the owners’ own singing. So next time you catch your dog winking at you, it’s possible that it is observing and copying you!
It’s a muscle twitch
Muscles can twitch on their own, and often times it is harmless. Your dog could just have a facial muscle twitch or spasm, causing it to ‘wink’ at you. In humans, eyelid twitching can be caused by tiredness or stress. An uncontrollable blink, wink, squint or squeeze of the eyelids in humans is called blepharospasm. And blepharospasms can occur in dogs as well. Sometimes blepharospasm is harmless, but sometimes it is something to be concerned about, which will be covered in the next section.
It’s a health issue (or something to worry about)
Dog winking or blinking can be caused by issues which require veterinary attention. Some of these are detailed below:
- A foreign object or irritant: as mentioned before, a foreign object such as dust, dirt or fur could be causing your dog to blink repeatedly. Likewise, strong light or flashes of light, or even something in the air (e.g. fumes) can make your dog close their eyes. In this instance it’s best to find out what the irritant is and stop the irritant from harming your dog.
- Entropion: a hereditary condition present in dog breeds such as bloodhounds, bulldogs, Dalmatians and Great Danes amongst others. It is when the eyelid turns or rolls inwards towards the surface of the eye, causing irritation through abrasion. The eyelashes can rub against the surface of the eye, called the cornea, and cause discomfort and even ulcers of the eye. Entropion can affect the upper or lower eyelids.
- Corneal ulcer: is an open sore on the cornea, the surface of the eye. It can occur from direct irritation and abrasion to the eye, or through bacterial, viral or fungal infection. It can also be as a result of entropion (rolled in eyelids) in certain dog breeds.
- Distichiasis: is a condition where hairs grow in an area of the eyelid that causes irritation to the eye. The irritation can cause inflammation, discomfort and even corneal ulcers.
- An infection: bacterial, viral or fungal infection can also cause your dog to repeatedly blink or wink. In addition to this, it can also cause your dog to produce more tears, looking like they are crying, as well as eye discharge.
The above are just some possible issues that may cause your dog to blink or wink. It’s best to consult a veterinary surgeon for the proper advice in diagnosis and treatment, to ensure the best outcomes for your pet dog.
Conclusion
Dogs can and do wink – and it could be for a variety of reasons. It could be a health condition, a natural reaction to protect its eyes, it could be a muscle twitch or it could just be copying its human owner (you!). Most of the time, however, it’s harmless, and it just makes your beloved pet all the more adorable!
