In this blog post, How Long Does it Take for Puppies to Open Their Eyes, Having a newborn puppy and worries about its developmental growth? Worried about why are your puppy’s eyes and ears still closed after its birth? Well, worry no more as we have got all the details as to why it is so. Find out more below!
When Do Newborn Puppies First Open Their Eyes?
Newborn puppies are very gentle and fragile in this harsh world. For us humans, we may find it weird to see their eyes closed. But they are for a reason which we will discuss later.
They usually open their eyes in about 5-14 days; this depends on each pup’s development.
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Puppy Eye Development: A Complete Timeline
| 1st Week | Can’t see Can’t hear Cant manage body temperature Can cry |
| 2nd Week | Little eye opening 5 to 10% body mass |
| 3rd Week | Can sit and stand Wag its tail Growl Socialize Hear and eat |
| 4th Week | Little eye-opening 5 to 10% body mass |
| 5th Week | Learning to run play Learning to bite Barking |
| 6th Week | Fully weaned from mother 5-6 meals a day that r small Still have Mom’s milk |
| 7th Week | Fear development Protection against other animal |
| 8th Week | Becoming a dog Adapts to environment Playful phase |
When Puppies Open Their Eyes, How Much Can They See?
After opening their eyes these newborn pups can not see very well as they are still developing. Their vision is quite blurry and they are very sensitive to bright light.
Their eyes appear to be blue and greyish but this will change as they develop.
We advise you to keep them in dim light until the complete development of their eyes occurs.
We have always heard that dogs can not see colors to bust this myth dogs can actually see colors but not as many as humans. They are sensitive to some colors, motions, and even shapes which helps them in identifying their prey.
The Eyes of Puppies Grow at What Age?
Inside its mother’s womb pups develop their eyes after four weeks of gestation but they are closed during the whole birth process. They open only after a few weeks of birth. They are still developing and adapting to their surroundings.
Why are puppies born with their eyes closed?
As their optic nerves are still developing it is good that their eyes remain closed. They have delicate eye membranes and tissues inside to protect their eyes. These membranes are formed in an early stage to protect their eyes from light sensitivity and eye infections too.
We advise you to help them in this process by keeping them in a clean and dimly lit area. Do not force them in any way as it may hinder their developmental process.
Eye Problems in Puppies
While it’s possible for an infection to occur before a puppy’s eyes open completely, eye problems during the first couple of weeks are rare. You’re more likely to encounter eye problems in puppies when they’re a little older. The most common issues include:
Corneal injuries:
These injuries may result from playing with siblings and having some sort of a scratch on the cornea. Even playing with toys can cause this.
Symptoms:
- Bloodshot eyes
- Holding eyes closed
- Eye Discharge.
Entropion:
This is a condition where the puppy’s eyelid rolls in, causing the lashes to rub against the cornea. Entropion is one of the most common hereditary eye problems and can affect both bottom and top eyelids.
Symptoms:
- Squinting eyes
- Holding eyes shut
- Excessive tearing
Dry eye
Dry eye occurs when there is inadequate tear production. Since tears lubricate the eye and carry away foreign material, reduced tear production can lead to infection or damage to the cornea.
Symptoms:
- Excessive Eye Blinking
- Pawing the eye
- Eye discharge
If Puppy Doesn’t Open Their Eyes after Birth?
In case your puppy does not open its eyes in 3 or more weeks we advise you to visit a vet as soon as possible.
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Health Issues that can cause this problem are:
- Possible eye injury
- Eye Infection
- Congenital defect
Why are puppies’ ears closed and when do they open?
Just like with a puppy’s eyes, the structures within a newborn puppy’s ears are incredibly fragile. This means that they are very sensitive to sound and can be easily damaged by loud noises.
Puppies are born with extremely delicate eyes and ears. They are very sensitive to the world.
In the case of ears, they are sensitive to loud noises.
Because of this, their ears are closed till their ear canals develop and become fully functional against the loud noises of this world. The periods to open their ears however varies from breed to breed.
The usual time period for puppies to open their ears is around 3 weeks after birth.
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At what point should you worry about the puppies’ development?
Similar to human developmental rates these puppies also have a developmental rate that varies from each breed. In case your puppy doesn’t open its eyes or ears in the 3 to 4-week mark then you should take it to the vet ASAP.
In case they do open their eyes and ears but you notice them to be blind or not able to hear properly then you must call the vet as your puppy might be blind or deaf.
Keep in mind to visit your vet after your puppy’s 3 to 4 weeks of development to ensure that everything is completely normal.
Conclusion
Puppies are quite fragile and delicate after birth. The initial 3 weeks after birth are very crucial for its proper growth. We suggest you take proper care at this time to prevent any defect in its growth. In case you see any problem or delay in its growth please consult the vet as soon as possible.
