While dogs are known for their keen visual abilities, the same is not true for newborn puppies.Many of the puppy’s sensory functions, including its vision and hearing, aren’t fully developed at birth. In fact, newborn puppies cannot fend for themselves, and their initial lives center around their mothers.After birth, the first few weeks of a puppy’s life may seem unremarkable as they start their lives as altricial beings. Born with underdeveloped sensory functions and in a fairly helpless state, puppies remain almost entirely dependent on maternal nursing. Newborn puppies are fairly immobile during the initial weeks of their life. In fact, they are too weak to even carry around their own weight. In this stage, the puppy receives its primary source of nutrition from its mother. Eyesight and hearing develop at a fairly uniform rate among puppies. By three weeks old, a puppy’s hearing matures to its utmost potential. However, even though puppies open their eyes around the two-week mark, eyesight development is a rather slow process and undergoes several stages of development. Since they are born without developmentally mature optical receptors, their closed eyelids need to be given time (eight weeks) to fully develop before they are ready to open.Keep reading to know more interesting facts about newborn pups and when they open their eyes! You can check out what to do puppy teeth fall out and teacup pomeranian to discover cute dog facts.Why Puppies Are Born With Their Eyes ClosedA common pattern found in all puppies, that they are born with their eyes and ears closed, may seem baffling but the condition can be explained through science. In fact, the answer to the underdevelopment of sensory functions can be understood if one looks closely at how the canine species evolved and the reproductive strategies they exhibit.The blank slate phenomenon is quite common in altricial (born in an undeveloped state) animals and newborn puppies are no exception. In contrast to precocial species (relatively mature as soon as they are born), an altricial puppy requires intense parental care. Not only are puppies born blind and deaf but they are born without teeth. Several types of research posit that this survival disadvantage occurs due to a shorter gestation period in dogs. Since dogs have evolved as a hunting species, a 58-63 day gestation period can be effectively viewed as a negotiation with nature. Carrying a litter puts dogs at a serious disadvantage in the wild, especially during hunting. Therefore, shorter gestation is an evolutionary mechanism that enables a dog to prosper in the wild. As a price, puppies are born prematurely with underdeveloped sensory capabilities. The same is true for the puppy’s eyes. The closed eyelids, in effect, are a survival mechanism in the dog species and naturally shield the puppy’s optical framework from any permanent damage.The Hiatus Before A Newborn Puppy Opens Its EyesThe first weeks of life for a puppy are rather stationary as they are born functionally deaf and blind. During this period puppies remain predominantly inactive and survive on their mother’s milk.Due to an underdeveloped optical network in newborn puppies, their eyes cannot process visual information and therefore, remain effectively dormant at birth. For about two weeks (12-14 days), a puppy’s eyelids remain firmly glued shut. During this period the puppy remains at potential risk against several external threats. Unlike adult dogs, the nerves in a newborn puppy’s eyes make them extremely sensitive to light. Exposure may even lead to permanent damage to the photoreceptors. Moreover, newborns can sometimes be susceptible to Neonatal Conjunctivitis (a severe eye infection resulting from accumulated bacteria in the eyes). The condition requires veterinarian attention and if left untreated, results in permanent loss of vision. After their eyes open, a puppy’s immediate sight is at best blurry since they are unable to focus properly. Even though puppies are able to detect motion by this stage, they cannot identify objects. Their vision continues developing from this point and matures fully at about eight weeks of age.Time Taken By Small Large Breeds To Open Their EyesAlthough the exact time when the puppy’s eyes would open is hard to predict, it generally happens around the two-week mark. However, eyesight development even within a litter is subject to variation as it is not impossible for some puppies to develop their vision a few days ahead or later.A common misconception among new pet owners is that small breeds, such as Chihuahuas, function differently than larger breeds like Pitbulls or Labradors. However, irrespective of breed, the average time taken by puppies to open their eyes ranges from about 10-14 days soon after which their ears open. After their eyes open, most pups appear to have a bluish-gray eye color which soon changes to a color that remains permanent for the rest of their lives. The changes typically occur when the puppy is about seven to eight weeks old.Ways to Ensure Healthy Vision Of Your Forever Fur-ballJust like human babies, who rely on intensive care for their growth and health, the same is true for newborn puppies. Puppies have overly sensitive eyes which can be a common cause of their vulnerability. The condition is intensified by the fact that puppies do not hear sounds till they are three weeks of age. Therefore, until about two to three weeks of age newborns remain almost completely unaware of their external environment.By four weeks of age, puppies start weaning. In this regard, puppy food containing blueberries is a good place to start to maintain a healthy vision and build the overall health of puppies. Moreover, a puppy’s eye needs to be protected from any exposure to bright light. In puppies, eyes open slowly after 14 -16 days of age. In the course of the next three to four weeks, they are able to see a little bit more clearly. Their eyes continue to develop until they turn eight weeks old. Therefore, a vet advises against forcefully opening the eyes of a puppy as they may still be developing. However, if 18-21 days old puppies do not open their eyes, other issues may be involved. In case of birth buildup, human intervention may be necessary to ease the process. In such a scenario, it is important to gently clean the puppy’s eyes using a cotton ball and lukewarm water in order to prevent an eye infection. Besides, it is important to keep an eye on whether the puppy is discharging from the eye and consult a vet before it transforms into a serious infection. Hence, quality dietary habits combined with continuous visual monitoring are some preventive measures that pet owners can take to protect a newborn puppy’s vision.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for your furry paw friend facts: when do puppies open their eyes? then why not take a look at why do we have baby teeth, or when do kittens start pooping pages.
While dogs are known for their keen visual abilities, the same is not true for newborn puppies.
