Why Are Puppies Born With Their Eyes Closed?

When puppies are born, they are always dependent on their mothers. But, Why are puppies born with their eyes closed? At birth, puppies only have the sense of smell and touch. Other animals are born well developed, while others continue to develop for months inside their mother’s pouch after they are born.

Continue reading to understand:

• Why puppies are born with their eyes closed
• what happens when puppies eyes don’t open
• And so much more…

Why Are Puppies Born With Their Eyes Closed?

Puppies are born with their eyes closed, and they remain shut because their optic nerve is not fully developed. The puppies’ eyes continue to develop behind the protection of their eyelid for a few weeks after birth. They are born with their eyelids tightly closed because they still develop their vision.

Puppies are actually born both blind and deaf at birth. They end up developing these later on in their lives.

As newborn puppies are born vulnerable, dog owners should ensure that they are well protected from outside factors like dust and intense light. In addition, you should allow the puppies to develop under the care of their mother. A mother dog can care for her puppies. Newborn puppies require their mothers to stimulate them to defecate.

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How Long Do Newborn Puppies Have Their Eyes Closed?

How long your puppy will take before they open their eyes is dependent on the breed and the individual pace of their development. Changes from birth to two weeks happen slowly, and puppies spend most of the time sleeping.

Their eyes start to open at around day twelve or day fourteen. At around ten days after birth, your puppy should start opening their eyes little by little. When the newborn puppies open their eyes, their eyesight is blurry. Puppies still don’t see entirely well; they need a few days to continue developing their vision, senses, and other organs.

Puppies should open their eyes on their own. After two weeks, they should differentiate between light and shadows. When the puppies finally open their eyes, protect them from intense light exposure. It would be best if you never forced your puppy to open its eyes; allow them to develop at its own pace naturally.

What Happens When Puppies’ eyes Don’t Open?

The eye-opening process for your puppy should occur naturally, but it might not happen as expected in some cases. Do not be alarmed when your puppies do not open their eyes by the 12th day. Every litter and breed will open their eyes at their own pace. Forcing their eyes to open can lead to infections, injury, or damage their ability to see.

You should allow them to naturally develop even after two weeks. Some litter may experience some sort of delay but nothing that a quick lick from their mom won’t fix. Don’t interfere as it may lead to infections an injuries.

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When To Talk to a Vet

Discuss with your vet if you observe symptoms that indicate a problem. Things you should look out for as puppies develop their eyesight;

• Swelling under the eyelid; any kind of swelling under the eyelid before the puppy’s eye opens could indicate an infection.
• Puss around the eye; any kind of discharge around the puppy’s eyes may be a sign of an infection.
• If your puppy is two weeks or older and has not opened its eyes even once, it may be an indication that your puppy has a developmental issue.
• Milky spots around the puppy’s eyes; at around four weeks old, if your puppy has milky spots on the eyes or they appear to have an improper vision.

Have a vet check them if you notice any signs of an infection. Your vet should advise you and diagnose and treat any infections your puppies might have. The last thing you’ll want is for your little fur baby to get conjunctivitis, as this can be very dangerous. Conjunctivitis could easily lead to permanent blindness if not treated.

Adult dogs, mothers to the puppies are well knowledgeable and capable of nursing and nurturing their newborns until they are fully independent.

At around one month of life, the puppy should begin to have a good vision. At around three months, they have full vision. On average, breeds such as Cocker Spaniels open their eyes earlier.

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How Do Dogs See?

Dogs see colors, but they see less quantity and perceive colors differently than we do. They are only sensitive to two colors, yellow and blue. On average, dogs can see well for up to six meters away. They have a light-reflecting tissue that allows them to see well at night.

It’s due to this as well as their alert ears and great sense of smell that makes them great at being able to hear and detect dangers from far. Same case when it comes to hunting dogs.

Conclusion

Puppies are born with their eyes shut since their optic nerves are not fully developed. Their eyes will continue to develop behind the protection of their eye lid for a few weeks. This should take about two weeks to be fully developed allowing your pups the sense of sight.

When it comes to newborn development and opening their eyes, allow nature to take its course. Maintain a clean environment for your puppies and ensure they are kept warm. Constantly be on the lookout for red flags that indicate that their eyes might have an infection. The best you can do is watch the wonder as your puppies transform from their state of blindness to developing sight.