How many days do puppies open their eyes. When puppies open their eyes and care reborn

In this article I will talk about caring for newborn puppies. I will list the problems associated with opening the puppy's eyes. I will name the main stages of pet development from birth to puberty, when they begin to open their eyes, hear how many days after birth, at what age you can pick up a puppy from its mother.

The first stage of development of a newborn ends at 18-20 days of life. During this time, the baby shows the ability to keep warm, curling up into a ball with his brothers, when the mother is not around, the cub can crawl, find nipples, suck.

Hearing, ear, sense of smell and vision, babies acquire during this period. The peephole in dogs opens on the 11-13th day. If by the 18th day the opening of the eyelids has not happened, you should help - moisten the eyes with boiled water.

In no case should you try to open the dog's eyelids on your own. This can damage the lacrimal glands and vision.

The eyelids do not open synchronously, the difference can be several days, but if the eyes have not opened by the 25th day, you should contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.

The age of opening the eyes depends on the breed of the dog, some breeds are predisposed to pathologies in the development of the eyelids,. After a veterinarian diagnoses a torsion of the eyelid, surgery must be performed, or to avoid loss of vision. If pus accumulates on the eyelids, it is possible in a dog that is treated with drops and tetracycline ointment.


Puppies are born helpless and need to be cared for by their mother.

After how many days do they start walking

At the second stage of development (18-35 days), babies take their first steps.

Sense of smell, hearing and vision are quite developed. The cub is no longer so dependent on the mother. The sucking reflex at this time is replaced by chewing, enzymes appear in the baby's body that help digest meat. In the wild, the mother transitions the pups to solid food by regurgitating food after the hunt.

Rules for the care of newborns

For little ones and bitches, it is necessary to build a nest in which the dog could stretch out and relax, and the kids would not fall out thanks to the sides. Use a heating pad to maintain a constant temperature so that they are comfortable and warm.


The development of each baby is individual, and it is impossible to determine a strict time frame.

In the first week of life, the dog licks the belly of the cubs and eats their secretions. If the female does not do this, or does it rarely, you need to help the babies with bowel and bladder emptying. In this case, massage with a soft towel dipped in warm water will help.

You should put the bitch's nipple in your mouth and hold the baby until he begins to feed on his own if the baby is weak.

Bitches may have problems with milk or mammary glands. In this case, they are fed with mother's expressed milk or canine milk replacer, which can be purchased at a veterinary clinic. Frequency of feeding: every 2 hours, 0.5-1 ml. As the baby grows, the dose of milk increases, a two-week-old cub eats 5-10 ml at a time.

Meat complementary foods should be introduced after 25 days. Finely planed beef is rolled into pea-sized balls and offered to puppies. You can’t force meat to eat, you can only lightly dip your pet’s muzzle into food or put a tiny portion of complementary foods in your mouth.

It is important to ensure that each puppy gets one serving, if you do not watch the kids, the strong will take away food from the weak and overeat. Specialized and natural foods should be diluted with water so that the consistency is mushy. With the introduction of complementary foods, it is necessary to monitor the puppies' stools; in case of diarrhea or light stools, it is necessary to urgently contact a veterinarian and for a while limit yourself to feeding with mother's milk.

From the beginning of the introduction of complementary foods, it is necessary to take care of a sufficient amount of clean water in the public domain for puppies.

When can I pick up a puppy from a dog

The third stage of development is 6-12 weeks. The nervous system of the cubs is being formed, the kids acquire individual qualities of character and differ in behavior. The baby at this age is playful and affectionate. Weaning from the mother is best done at the end of the third stage at 12-16 weeks, when the immunity of the bitch no longer applies to the cubs, and the newborns are actively exploring the world.


At 4 weeks old, puppies play with each other and run around.

From 4 to 7 months, the 4th stage of development proceeds, in which the baby is finally separated from the mother. should be done at 3 months of age. Purebred dogs, which the future owner wants to show at exhibitions, are best taken as adults, then his exterior will be visible and developmental defects will appear.

When puppies appear in the house, it is necessary to monitor their development and note the dates of eye opening and the introduction of complementary foods.

With developmental delays, do not panic, the rate of development depends on the breed of dog, but it is better to seek the advice of a veterinarian. If you start treating pathologies earlier, it is possible to avoid unpleasant consequences. It is worth remembering that each individual is unique, and in each litter weak puppies are born who need extra help.

The appearance of offspring in a beloved dog is a real test. Newborn puppies are completely helpless and extremely vulnerable. They need care not only from the mother, but also the attention of the owner. The health and immunity of dogs in the future depends on how correctly they treat the brood, how they react to signs of dysfunctional development and what measures they take. That is why the breeder must be aware of each stage of development, including when the puppies open their eyes and begin to respond to sounds.

Stages of development of a newborn brood

It must be understood that for each breed, as well as for each puppy, development is individual - here you cannot set strict deadlines. It happens that puppies of the same litter differ significantly from each other. They can grow and gain weight in different ways. Usually they sleep for a long time, while pushing a lot - this is necessary for the formation of muscle tissue and the development of the nervous system.

The umbilical cord in puppies falls off on the second or third day after birth. If this does not happen, then there is a reason to worry - you need to contact your veterinarian. The brood begins to actively move around its couch in a week and a half. At this time, the cubs of the dog can only navigate by smell - after all, the time has not yet come when the puppies begin to open their eyes. However, they are already trying to get back on their feet. At first, babies look funny and clumsy: their paws move apart, their gait is staggering, their head gets in the way. But as the muscle tissues strengthen, puppies begin to walk confidently. This occurs towards the end of the third week of life.

It is very important for puppies to feel warm, which is why they tend to huddle together and be closer to their mother. All the first week, the babies suck it every 1.5-2.0 hours, and sleep the rest of the time. After feeding, the mother licks the genital and anal area of ​​each cub, stimulating the process of defecation and micturition.

Development of the organs of vision of puppies

The palpebral fissure of any puppy opens from the inner corner to the outer. This does not happen all at once, but over several days. Usually both eyes open at the same time, but it also happens that one eye opens first, and the second one after 1-2 days. However, once this has happened, the brood should be protected from exposure to bright light for a few days. Sometimes puppies may not respond to light. This should not scare the breeder, as baby puppies usually do not distinguish between dark and light. Therefore, after the day when the puppies open their eyes, some time must pass before they can see as well as adult dogs.

At what age do puppies open their eyes?

This question arises as soon as a dog breeder becomes the owner of a new offspring. Most inexperienced owners are interested in timing. Usually this moment comes at the age of 10-15 days after birth. By the way, almost simultaneously with the insight of a young brood, hearing begins to fully function. However, these are average values, therefore, such terms should only be guided, but not taken as a rigid framework. For each breed of dog, the process of complete enlightenment can occur at different times. Often times range from 10 to 17 days. But if by the eighteenth day the eyes have not yet opened, the puppy needs help.

Why do the eyes not open immediately after birth?

Why aren't puppies born sighted right away? This is due to the fact that it takes some time for the full development of the muscle tissues of the eyelids. As you know, the eyelids play a crucial role in healthy development - they protect the eyes from drying out and have protective functions when exposed to external factors. It is from what time the puppies open their eyes that the overall development of the pet will depend.

Early insight can adversely affect the puppy's health, because the eyelids are still underdeveloped and cannot fully perform their intended functions. For the proper development of the baby, a certain period of breastfeeding with mother's milk is necessary, when the dog will receive all the vitamins and trace elements necessary for normal growth.

Possible problems

The wait for the puppies to open their eyes cannot be too long. If the eyes do not open on the eighteenth day, the puppy needs help. To do this, they are washed with warm boiled water or lubricated with eye ointment. It is advisable to show such a puppy to a veterinarian - he will advise suitable drops.

However, if by the end of the first month of life the eyes still have not opened, a visit to the veterinarian is inevitable. Do not try to open the eyelids on your own. If the pathologies of the puppy's eyelid require surgical intervention, then all manipulations are recommended only after four months of age. Typically, indications for surgery are inversion of the eyelids, found in breeds with folds on the muzzle.

Features of the development of newborn puppies of breeds

There are a huge number of different breeds of dogs in the world, and every person who wants to have a pet seeks to find a four-legged friend to his liking, character and temperament.

Chihuahua

Newborn representatives of this breed are characterized by extremely low weight and extremely helpless condition. The mass of a newly born puppy is usually about 70 grams, but sometimes larger cubs can be found in the litter. They can add only 2-4 grams per day. Immediately after birth, they are practically incapable of even small movements. Only licking the mother encourages babies to make at least a rare breath.

On the 12-16th day, the moment comes when the Chihuahua puppies open their eyes. This process is practically no different from the insight of cubs of other breeds of dogs. Up to the 13th day, the palpebral fissure remains tightly closed, however, the cubs react to a source of bright light with a blinking reflex. It will disappear only by the 21-22nd day, when the puppies have already learned to control the movements of the pupil. The presence of a palpebral reflex (twitching of the eyelids) is observed on the third day of the life of a fragile creature, and by the 9th day it should already be fully developed.

The opening of the palpebral fissure occurs from the inner edge to the outer. Usually the eyes open at the same time, but sometimes it happens that first one eye sees through, and after a couple of days the other. On the first day after opening, the palpebral fissure remains narrow, however, the very next day the incision becomes correctly formed and natural lacrimation develops. Vision becomes complete only by the 21-25th day of life.

Husky puppies

They usually open their eyes 13-15 days after birth. The unique bright blue color of the iris of the eyes of newborn husky puppies is mesmerizing. However, in most representatives of this breed, the icy shade begins to change by 3-4 months and by six months it becomes green-brown, brown or almost black. The blue color of the eyes of an adult husky is a rather rare phenomenon; different eyes are even rarer. This is not a marriage of the breed. Most often, manifestations of heterochromia occur after the transfer of any diseases at a young age, when the shade of the iris has not yet had time to change. With congenital heterochromia, signs of the disease can be noticed immediately after the Husky puppies open their eyes. This anomaly is not considered a defect. On the contrary, many connoisseurs of the breed strive to get just such dogs.

A puppy is born absolutely not ready for an independent life: his eyes, ears are closed, he has no teeth.

The baby can only move by crawling, the thermoregulation of the body is still broken, so the puppies huddle together and cuddle up to their mother. Dogs have a highly developed sucking reflex, while still in the womb, they make sucking movements.

So how long to wait?

About for 10-13 days the baby's eyes open, but at first he can only distinguish between light and dark. In some breeds, they will open only after 14 days.

Over time, he will be able to distinguish the contours of objects that are close. The baby will be able to see in full force somewhere by the age of three weeks.

Open even earlier ears, about a week. Hearing is not immediately manifested in full measure. At 3 weeks, the dog will begin to react to loud sounds, and after a week, the hearing will become sharper.

Sometimes there are cases of late opening of the eyes. It is advisable to show the puppy to the veterinarian, he will prescribe drops, if this is not possible, then lubricate the eyelids with eye ointment (tetracycline) until the age of one month.

Do not try to open your pet's eyelids. When you understand that the operation cannot be avoided, it is recommended to carry it out after the age of four months. The indication for surgery is torsion of the eyelids, which occurs in dogs with facial wrinkles.

They are so cute that not only children, but also adults enjoy them. Their future fate also depends on how well the owners treat and care for their pets. Probably, many people know that the eyes of babies do not open immediately after birth.

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Peculiarities of eye opening in newborn puppies

The eyes begin to open from the inner corner to the outer until the palpebral fissure opens completely. Opening happens gradually and individually. For example, only one eye can open in a day, while the second only after a day or two. And sometimes they cut at the same time.

At this time, it is necessary to exclude bright light from entering the puppy, it is advisable to observe this correctly for several days. There is no need to be afraid if the baby reacts little to light, since at such an infancy, babies may not distinguish between light and darkness. Only after a few days the baby will see in the same way as an adult dog. This process may take several weeks.

Age of puppies

Many people are interested in the question of how many days should pass after the birth of a puppy so that he opens his eyes. When a small pet is born, his eyes and ear canals are closed, so for the first time after birth he does not hear or see anything. On average, the eyes are fully opened in dogs at 10-15 days from birth, around this time the ears begin to fully function. In some animals, the ears open on the seventeenth day, and they begin to hear only by 4 weeks. But it should be understood that each dog is individual, so the process of full opening does not always occur during this period.

When 18 days have passed since birth, and the eyes are still closed, you can help your pet by washing them with boiled water. Some puppies can open their eyes as early as the fourth week of life. It was at this time that the animals already begin to skillfully walk and move around in their box or couch. Of course, after opening, all processes are accelerated, and the baby can learn to walk even earlier.

When a dog's eyes are cut through, it becomes more mature, learns to turn its head on its own and already chooses a place for itself to sleep. It is at this time that the character of the dog begins to be built, which will be difficult to change. But if the baby is already a month old, and he still has not seen the light, it is recommended to contact the veterinarian, since the health of the puppy is important for any owner.

Why do puppies' eyes take so long to open?

When a puppy is born, its eyelids do not have time to fully develop, and so development continues after birth. Their full development plays one of the important roles for the full development of the animal.

Eyelids perform different functions:

  • do not allow the eyes to dry out;
  • protect the cornea from various factors;
  • produce tears that clear the eyes.

When the eyes erupt too early, it is not very good for the development of the dog. After all, if they open early, then the eyelids do not have time to fully develop, which means they will not be able to perform their main functions. That is, it is better if the kids have vision in one to two weeks from birth.

Problems that can prevent the eyes from opening

There are also known cases when various health problems are associated with the opening of the eyes of a dog. To prevent trouble with your animal, you need to carefully care for it and control its development, there are special recommendations for this.

If the baby does not open his eyes for a long time, this may be the following reasons:

  • the entry of microbes into the eye gap;
  • development of conjunctivitis;
  • accumulations on eyelashes and eyelids.

But do not be upset if your dog has deviations, you need to start treatment after identifying problems. If we are talking about the development of conjunctivitis, you need to wash your eyes regularly with a solution of furacilin and apply drops with antibiotics. It is recommended to use drugs no more than six times a day. After such procedures, all problems will disappear and they will open. If the eyes do not erupt due to accumulations of secretions, then they should simply be wiped with swabs dipped in warm water several times a day. This procedure is completely harmless.

Despite the fact that there are certain limits for opening the eyes, it should be borne in mind that each animal is unique and individual - this determines when the eyelids open. A lot depends on the age at which the puppy's eyes opened, including the full development. After all, the age when the dog begins to walk, hear and lead an active life depends on it. After how many days your animal's vision will erupt, depends primarily on the structure of the body.

Video Husky puppies open their eyes

In this video you can see funny babies who are at the age when the eyes are cut through.

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All puppies are born completely blind, so they are helpless and extremely vulnerable. Mom-dog carefully cares for them: licks the fur, feeds them and takes care of the kids in every possible way. During this period of time, it is very important not to disturb the puppies and the adult dog.

People who have a dog for the first time often ask the question: “When do puppies open their eyes?”. After all, they can’t wait to play enough with the kids and look into their tender eyes.

At what age do puppies open their eyes?

The birth of puppies is an exciting and joyful event that everyone looks forward to. When puppies are born, after 10 to 14 days they open their eyes.

The eyes of pets begin to open gradually, from the inner corner of the eye to the outer. Most often, a gap appears in one eye, and then the whole eye opens. But it also happens that the puppy's eye opens all at once.

How to care for pets during eye opening:

  • When the time is right and the puppies should start to open their eyes, they must be protected from bright light. It is best to place the box with pets in a room that is twilight. So pets will be easier to get used to the light.
  • Never open your pet's eyes on your own. If you see a gap in the puppy's eye, wait until the eye is fully open.
  • Visit the veterinarian in advance, and get special eye drops and ointments, just in case.

Opening their eyes, puppies learn about the world around them and begin to learn how to live.

After the birth of pets, the eyelids of puppies continue to form and develop.

The main functions that the eyelids perform:

  • They protect the pet's cornea from adverse factors;
  • The eyelids produce tears, and tears help clear debris from the eye;
  • The eyelids prevent the eyes from drying out.

Do not forget that too early opening of the eyes in puppies is fraught with unpleasant consequences. Therefore, with an early opening of the eyes, the pet should be shown to the veterinarian.

However, there are situations when puppies do not open their eyes, although the time has already come? What to do in this case?

Reasons Puppies Don't Open Their Eyes

Of course, if the pet does not open its eyes in time, then this is not normal. With this problem, it is better to consult a doctor.

The main reasons why puppies do not open their eyes on time:

  1. Microbes could get into the palpebral fissure and cause a common eye disease - conjunctivitis. In this case, it is necessary to take the pet to the doctor and treat the baby.
  2. The puppy may not open its eyes if dirt and other accumulations have accumulated on the eyelids. In this case, you should gently wipe your pet's eyes with warm water.

Eye problems in dogs are very serious. After all, because of them, the dog can lose his sight. Therefore, in order for the pet not to completely lose its sight, it is necessary to regularly examine the eyes and eyelids of the dog.