Hi, my girl had her puppies 16 days ago, two lovely girls. She had to have a cesarean in the end, but everything is fine, pups are both doing well and the smaller pup has almost caught up weight wise with the bigger pup.
My worry/question is, the larger pups eyes opened on day 10/11 but the small one has still not opened her eyes, one eye is slightly open, I noticed this yesterday but no change today, should I be worried?
Both are feeding/sleeping, mum is doing a brilliant job, even if she was reluctant to cleaning them at first and she prefers to lie/sleep at the side of the whelping box, they are very happy contented puppies. Other people's thoughs on the eye opening would be much appreciated.
Karen

I'm no expert, I've only bred 2 litters. But the pups eyes opened at different times. One four days before the rest. All in all it took about 2-3 days to open.

Again I'm no expert I'm just saying what happened to me, I'm sure so one will tell you if its normal soon.

i wudnt worry to much they all open there eyes at different times

Thanks for your replies, I know they open at different times, it just seemed quite late at 16 days. Not had this before, normally 10 to 12 days.
Regards
Karen

I'm no expert either but if they were born by C section it is possible the smaller one is not as advanced as the other and is just a little behind in finishing the pre birth stage, if you understand what I mean. Providing she is feeding and content I would not worry but make sure there is no discharge.

If there's no sign of soreness and discharge I wouldn't worry yet, they are all different. My first litter was around the normal time, but my 2nd litter of one opened her eyes at 7 days old!!

7days wow :) nosiey pup lol xx

i had a pup many years ago and it didnt look like its eyes was open cuz its eyes was more or less black but they was open only like a pin prick but a day or to later they eas open so i wouldnt worry

I can help you with this one if there is any gunk/crust around the eye. I know, because my vet (one I had an argument with over vaccinations) charged me £26 to tell me to use cooled boiled water and sterile gauze to clean around them, which my neighbour (who's a nurse) had told me for free.
If there's no discharge then don't panic. Ours did have the discharge but within a couple of days their eyes were opening fine. The only thing is, don't try to prise them open, just let nature take it's course. If there's a discharge that doesn't clear up within a day or two or that looks worrying (green, smelly, blood etc), take them straight to the vet. Also, all of ours got runny noses while their eyes were opening and as soon as they were open, it cleared up too.
But it was obvious that their eyes all opened at different rates so I wouldn't panic just yet. You will also find that they have a blue film over their eyes when they're born, but again that's normal.
Hope that helps.

i have a litter at the moment who are 8 days old  and at 6 days 2 of them had opened their eyes! they are all open today! i was most surprised as have never had them open their eyes this early!

> Other people's thoughs on the eye opening would be much appreciated.
>

True story!  Happened to me a couple of years ago.  I have related this on CD before!

One pup opened eyes on day 12, another day 13, and one day 14.  The last pups eyes were firmly closed.  As time passed I was becoming paranoid - all sorts of thoughts going round in my head (were there any eyes, would pup have to be PTS), the usual frantic worry that besets us all at some time or another.

The one thing I was certain of, and that was not to mess with the eyes in any way.  In the end, I booked an appointment at the vet.  I was at work, but didn't want dog sitter to take pup, I wanted to be there, so got an evening appointment.

Day 17, and I was ready to kiss puppy goodbye to be honest.  Got home from work, picked puppy up to take to the vet.  Kissed his sweet little face,,,,,,

Little sod opened both eyes, blinked hard, and said  "GOTCHA!"  Well, it seemed like he did!  I couldn't stop kissing him.  He was the first to stand the very next day.  :-)

Hi All,
Well this morning she has one eye half open! There is no discharge or sticky gunk. Last night she even took a bit of minced steak off my finger, so nothing wrong with her appetite, the bigger one wasn't interesed. They are both trying to sit up and are getting up on their feet to move around now.
Guess I just have to be paitient, I have never had a puppy so late in opening it's eyes, I was starting to imagine allsorts of things.
Thanks for all your repiles.
Regards
Karen

i am so happy for you xxxx

Well, pups are 3 weeks old tomorrow and we are no futher forward with the little one and her eyes, one slightly open other one firmly shut.
So I have rung the vet this morning and we have an appointment later today to get her checked out, fingers crossed I'm worrying about nothing.

hope pup is ok? xx

Any news Lollie?

Well the news is not good.
Little ones eyes are open! but her eye sockets are tiny, that's why we can't actually see all of her eyes, The one eye we can see slightly, does not look good and the vets says that only time and growth will tell if she has any sight and as of the other eye again they don't think that she actually has any eye there.
So to all intense and purpose she will more than likely be blind.
The vets are going to monitor her over the next few months to see if there are any changes.
Needless to say I am devistated, but she will much loved and has got a forever home with us.
The other pup is fine no problems and she had been the one I was going to keep to take into the show ring but now she will be going to a great family who have been waiting for a long time for a puppy from me.
So now I need to think of a suitable name for my little girl, as my boys keep calling her Moley and I think she needs a nicer name than that.
Regards Karen

I am sorry the news was not good but fingers crossed there still may be some improvement. I am sure she will have a great life with you now we will have to play the name game again.

She's a toy breed, fawn black mask and just lovely, trying to think of things relating to her predicament.

as she is a fawn how about bambi :-)  sorry to hear about her eyes:-(

so sorry to hear this lollie i hope things change for her xx

Sorry to hear that, but I'm sure she will get around just fine.

Karen I am so very sorry to hear the outcome.

Many years ago I had a toy breed with PRA.  One eye was removed, and the other went blind very quickly.

He was with me for 14 years, and went for walks, and was very much loved. 

It can be done.

{{{{HUGS}}}}

Jean

Sorry about your pup, that's a shame, it might turn out ok though.

Names - maybe something from Watership Down :( - Hazel or Fiver.

A big thank you to all of you, for your kind words of support.
I guess like most things, she will not know any different and will cope as all her other senses will take over, and at the moment It's my human nature being selfish thinking about myself and how I will cope.
Rest assured she will be one much loved pup and I'm sure the rest of the gang will help, I have said that George (bullmastiff) who is so sweet natured will become her best friend and eyes on the world.
Now back to the important name!!
Once again many thanks to all of you.
Regards
Karen

Names - hows about Almond or Apple.

Just a quick 1 to cheer you up...Did you read in the paper yesterday about the Border Collie farm dog, that injured his leg and went to the vets.  The vet advised the owner he had been blind from birth, yet had been a brillant working sheepdog for 3 YEARS. Just proves they use their other senses and get along just fine :)

I think the dogs nose is very important to the dog senses wise.

> as my boys keep calling her Moley and I think she needs a nicer name than that.
>

What about Molly? Much nicer than Moley but similar enough to appease your boys :-) Our horse is called Molly and she is just fantastic :-) so I love the name.

I hope she has some sight but as others have said dogs do seem to cope well with their other senses taking over. Good luck with her.

M

I put my vote in for Molly too.

hi,
yes It was the first thing that came on the news the morning after we had got the news from the vet, it really cheered me up and put things into perspective.
I think we are going to stick with the name we were originally going to call the puppy we kept and she will be called Elsie.

lovely name lollie xx

Bless her. Love the name Elsie, I had a xbreed (smartest and most beautiful girl) called Elsa (named after the lioness - same colour and used to drag a fur jacket around like a kill) but we used to call her Elsie. Makes me feel all warm inside thinking of her. She's been gone 6 years now.

I'm sure she will be such a character and will manage just fine. All the luck in the world with her
Kat

hows little Elsie doing? xx

Hi White Lilly,

She is doing ok,She is such a lovely puppy. Pups are 4 weeks old today and I'm trying to get the weaning process started, but mum is doing such a good job that they really are not that interested in what i have to offer.
Of course the hard thing with Elsie is getting her to the bowl, at the moment I am hand feeding both puppies small amounts to encourage them to try and feed, the other puppy does go to the bowl (standing/sits in it LOL). It is really going to be slowly does it but I'm sure we will get there in the end. Any words of advice to help with the weaning will be gratefully received, it's 7 years since my last litter and you do forget things!
She is such a lovely puppy.
Thanks to all for you help and words of support.
I will keep you all posted and no doubt be on here for more help and advice as Elsie gets older.
Regards Karen.