When Do Puppies Open Their Eyes?

If you’ve spent any amount of time around puppies, you know they’re experts at exploring the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes in their environment. However, puppies are born with their eyes and ears closed. Keep reading to learn more about puppy development, discover why their eyes are closed at birth, and find out when puppies open their eyes.

Why Puppies Are Born With Their Eyes Closed

Many animals are born with their eyes open. So, why don’t puppies fall into that category? One reason why puppies are born with closed eyes is because of a dog’s short gestation period. Most dog pregnancies last from 58 to 68 days. This gestation period is relatively short, but it’s enough time for a puppy’s lungs, heart, kidneys, and other major organs to form.

However, the gestation period is not quite long enough for a puppy’s sensory organs to fully develop. Puppies are born with their eyes closed because their optic nerve is not fully developed. This makes a newborn puppy’s eyes very vulnerable to injury, as well as sensitive to light. So, a puppy’s eyes remain closed to protect them until their development is complete.

Fortunately, sensory development can continue after a puppy is born. Puppies don’t need sight for the first few weeks, as they can rely on a fully developed sense of smell to guide them to their mother. A mother dog can also protect and care for her helpless puppies after their birth. Therefore, the puppies can safely move through this stage of development under the watchful eyes of their mother.

When Do Puppies Open Their Eyes?

Most puppies first open their eyes between 10 and 14 days old, but this can vary somewhat by breed. Some puppies open their eyes as late as 21 days. However, even with their eyes open, a puppy’s vision is still developing. When they first open their eyes, puppies can see light and detect movement. They can even see shapes, but images lack detail.

Fortunately, puppies sleep a lot during their first few weeks of life. Newborns sleep as much as 22 hours a day for the first two weeks. So, while they are sleeping, there is a lot of growth happening behind their eyelids.

At around 3 to 7 weeks, puppies can see more detail, and they can see colors. Puppies do not have fully developed eyesight until they are around 8 weeks old. This is also when their eyes change from blue to their adult color.

Some Breeds Open Their Eyes Sooner Than Others

Some puppy breeds open their eyes sooner than others. For instance, German Shepherd and golden retriever pups generally open their eyes within the 10 to 14-day range. However, some breeds take a few days longer. Fox terrier puppies sometimes go 21 days before they open their eyes.

Different breeds have different schedules of development. Even puppies from the same litter do not all open their eyes at the same time. The biggest puppy in a litter is likely to open its eyes a day or two before the smallest puppy, because the larger puppy is a little further along in its development than the smaller one.

When to Contact Your Veterinarian

Of course, there are some situations where puppies don’t open their eyes within the typical period. This could mean there’s a problem with the growth of a puppy’s optic nerve or that another health issue has arisen.

A bulge or swelling beneath the puppy’s eyelid may be a sign of infection and could be the cause of its eyes not opening. Discharge or pus around the eye can also be an indication of infection. Observe the puppy to see if it is nursing from its mother and relieving itself regularly. A puppy with closed eyes that is not eating much and not using the bathroom regularly should be taken to the veterinarian for a checkup.

Never try to force a puppy’s eyes open. This can lead to an eye injury, infection, or pain. An owner who touches the closed or partially closed eyes of a puppy is potentially adding dirt, dust, or other debris to the pet’s eyes. This can bring on bacterial growth or infection. Take the puppy to your veterinarian to get the proper care. A veterinarian can determine the reason why the puppy’s eyes are not open and will know what to do about it.