Unlike human babies, puppies aren’t born with their eyes open. Here’s what to expect as a newborn puppy’s eyes develop.
Why are puppies born with their eyes closed?
Puppies’ eyes aren’t yet fully formed at birth – this part of your puppy’s development happens after they are born. Their central nervous system is still developing, which includes their optical nerves. Until these have developed, the puppy’s eyes can't handle bright light, so the eyes remain closed while this vital part of development takes place.
With the eyes closed, the eye can develop safely, without the risk of any dirt or damage causing a problem.
Puppies don’t actually need to see in these first couple of weeks of life, as at this age, they generally don’t move much and are mostly feeding from their mothers or sleeping.
When will the puppies’ eyes open?
Once the important process of the central nervous system development and eye formation is complete, puppies will open their eyes for the very first time. Usually, this 1-2 weeks after birth, although it can be a little longer for some breeds. Don’t worry if one eye opens before the other; puppies don’t always open both eyes at the same time, and it might be a few days before both eyes are open.
Once a puppy’s eyes have opened, their vision is blurry and they won’t be ready for bright sunlight, so they are best kept in a dimly-lit room in these early days.
Never be tempted to try and open a puppy’s eyes yourself – this will happen by itself when the puppy is ready. By trying to help things along you could cause damage or infection.
When should I be worried?
Usually, a puppy will open its eyes without any issues, however, if any of the following occur, you should consult your vet for advice:
- The puppy has passed two weeks of age. Although some breeds do take slightly longer, this could be a sign of developmental delay
- Swelling under the eyelid – this could be a sign of infection
- Any discharge or pus around the eye area is another sign of potential infection
If you have an Agria Pet Insurance policy, you can access the free Pet Health Helpline, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The veterinary-trained team will advise on any concerns or queries that you may have over your pet’s health – much like the NHS 111 service for people. Call free on 03333 32 19 47.
Puppies are a lot of work and responsibility at any age, but they’re even harder to care for when they’re newborns. There are a lot of things to watch out for, especially in the first few weeks after birth. Puppies are still developing after birth, so it’s crucial to ensure they develop at a healthy rate.
When puppies are born, their eyes are closed and can’t open. The retinas in their eyes are still forming and growing, so they keep their eyes closed to protect them from the light. But when do they start to open their eyes and see the world around them? Read on to find out about eye development in puppies and when they start opening them:
Birth to 2 Weeks: From Closed to Open Eyes
Puppies are always born with their eyes closed, which are still developing after birth. They are born without the ability to open them because they don’t really need their vision right away. Their bodies cannot move well, and the mother is typically nearby to feed, so vision isn’t the most important sense to have as newborns. Along with their eyes being closed, newborn puppies also have closed ears at birth.
It generally takes around 10–14 days for the eyes to open, or around two weeks of age. While this may seem like a long time, it’s perfectly natural and a necessary part of puppy growth. However, their eyes at this stage are far from being done with developing. Their vision will be very blurry, both close up and with distance, but they’ll be able to blink, open, and move their eyes.
Image Credit: ziviliebj, Pixabay2 to 6 Weeks: Vision Starts to Develop
From the time they open their eyes to around 6 weeks, newborn puppies go from near-blindness to some clarity. While they won’t really see much, their vision begins to change and focus up close. Their ability to see at a distance doesn’t develop until later, so visual abilities are all nearsighted.
The next few weeks are crucial for proper eye development, but puppies’ eyes are especially sensitive to bright lighting. To ensure no damage or vision development issues, puppies should stay in a place with dim lighting. Once their eyes grow accustomed to being open and taking in light, they can begin to see the world around them.
Image Credit: TheLionRoar, Shutterstock6 to 8 Weeks: Clearer Focus and Vision
Once puppies are around 6 to 8 weeks of age, their vision becomes clearer and sharper. While they’ll still struggle with distance at this stage, they will be able to distinguish things up close. Things like light sensitivity won’t be as much of a problem, but very bright places may still cause discomfort. Puppies will start to recognize their mother and littermates at this age, but they are already familiar with their scents.
As puppies hit the 8-week mark, seeing things at a distance will be clearer and sharper. While their distance vision is still becoming less blurry, their close-up vision is typically done developing. Puppies can also start to distinguish faces, which is why puppies are sometimes sold at as young as 8 weeks.
Image Credit: Songdech Kothmongkol, Shutterstock8 Weeks and Older: Fully Matured Vision
From 8 weeks and on, puppies will start to have fully-working vision. Their ability to see at a distance starts to sharpen, though it can take up to 16 weeks to completely finish developing. By the time your puppy reaches 16 months of age, their eyes should be fully done maturing. Vision at a distance and close-up should be sharp and no longer blurry unless there are medical reasons for a delay in development.
Image Credit: JStaley401, ShutterstockWhat if My 3-Week-Old Puppy’s Eyes are Still Closed?
Although puppies should have their eyes open by 14 days, there are some puppies that can take longer to develop. Whether it’s simply how their eyes are developing or a medical condition causing a delay, some puppies may take up to 3 weeks for their eyes to finally open. Look for signs of swelling, bumps, or discharge and consult with a veterinarian to ensure everything is developing correctly.
Puppies may open their eyes at 2 weeks, but it can be somewhat difficult to tell if their eyes are actually open at first. They may not open them very wide, so an open eye may actually look closed. Watch their eyelids to see any squinting or movement, which may indicate blinking or opening.
Things to Check Once your Puppy’s Eyes are Open
From the time your puppy’s eyes are open to the last week of development, you should check for any signs of vision impairment or eye conditions. Although it can be hard to tell at first, it’s important to check. However, never force a puppy’s eyelid open, especially before the eyes open on their own.
Here are some signs to look out for that need a vet visit for a diagnosis:
- Milky, white film over the eyes
- Cloudy, smoky spots
- Irregular-shaped pupils
- Discharge and swollen eyelids
- Swollen tear ducts
Featured Image Credit: Rosa Jay, Shutterstock
Everyone loves puppies. The soft coat, big eyes, little squeaks and that special puppy smell seem perfectly designed to make you want to scoop up and cuddle puppies forever. Because most people get puppies when they are 8 to 10 weeks old and ready to leave their mother, you may be surprised to find out that puppies are actually very helpless when they're first born. They're born without a sense of hearing and with their eyes closed, and these senses continue to develop after the puppy is born. So, when do puppies open their eyes? We've got the answers right here.
Most puppies open their eyes when they're between 10 and 14 days old. However, this can vary a bit by breed. For example, on average, Cocker Spaniels open their eyes sooner than most Fox Terriers. It's important that a puppy's eyes don't open too soon because they are continuing to develop behind the protection of the eyelid. If they open their eyes too soon, it could cause damage to their ability to see.
Hearing develops even later than sight, with most puppies being able to hear around 3 weeks of age. Luckily, puppies can smell as soon as they are born, and they use this sense to be able to move closer to their mother to nurse and to start to identify their litter mates. By the time a puppy is weaned, which is usually by 8 weeks, it can hear, see, smell and run around after humans and other puppies alike. This is also the age when puppies are ready to go with their new human families.
Why Are Puppies Born With Their Eyes Closed?
Every animal is different in how developed its babies are when they are born. Many reptiles are fully independent at birth, and marsupials still develop for months inside the mother's pouch. Dogs are somewhere in the middle. They are dependent on their mother's care for the first few weeks of life and are born deaf and blind.
The reason that puppies are born with their eyes closed is because their eyes aren't fully developed at birth. Over the next two weeks, the eyes continue to develop, which means that they need to be protected from outside factors that could damage them. This includes light, particles in their air like dust or dander and potential scratches from litter mates, who haven't yet perfected their paw coordination.
Even after a puppy's eyes open, it's important to take care not to accidentally expose them to too much strong light before they are ready. If you notice that your puppy has milky spots on the eye or doesn't seem to be able to see things by 3 or 4 weeks old, it might mean that the puppy is blind or has some kind of eye issue and needs a vet check.
Remember, you should never force a puppy's eyes open. Every breed, litter and puppy within that litter will open their eyes at their own pace when they are ready. Forcing their eyes open before they are ready can lead to infection, eye damage and even permanent blindness.
In most cases, mother dogs know just what to do to nurse and raise their newborn puppies, but bringing a puppy home to your human family can be a completely new experience. Get tips on feeding, potty training and exercising your new puppy in Purina Canada's library of dog and puppy articles.