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Topic Dog Boards / Breeding / Could three week old puppy be blind
- By smudge [gb] Date 16.06.16 15:51 UTC Edited 17.06.16 07:45 UTC
I have a litter of six puppies (small breed). They opened their eyes about 5 days ago.
One of them had an infection in one eye before they were open, at about a week old.
The vet gave me drops for his eyes and now they are open they seem to be alright.
However, another puppy also caught the infection, which I also treated with the drops.
Both her eyes were very swollen for one night but had gone down by the morning. Now her eyes are open they are pale and cloudy and I am afraid she may be blind.
- By Goldmali Date 16.06.16 17:25 UTC
Hard to say, you best get your vet's opinion. I've never had it in dogs but I've had the same in kittens. Sometimes continued medication clears it up and the eyes return to normal, however I had one kitten who was blind in one eye for life.
- By smudge [gb] Date 24.06.16 17:00 UTC
Have now been to the vet and he does not think that she can see anything. He has given me steroid drops and said that if there is no change in around five days that he can refer her to a specialist.
After researching the Internet, and reading about neonatal opthalmia and purulent conjunctivitis, it seems that if the cornea is damaged that the prognosis is not good.
I phoned the specialist, but was told that they would need to speak to the vet, and couldn't give me any information.
I have now emailed the vet with photos to forward to them,  and he has replied saying that he has requested an advice call from them.
If it turns out that there is nothing that can be done, then I will have to make a very difficult decision about her future.
I think animals learn a lot by imitation, and when a dog has lost its sight later in life that it is different to a dog that is born blind (the horrible thing is that she wasn't born blind).
All I can do is to see how she copes. I desperately want to give her a chance, but I don't want her to have to struggle her whole life.
- By furriefriends Date 24.06.16 17:17 UTC
Hopefully it will.be good news but many dogs born blind have very normal lives in the right home which i ssometjing tjat yoi would.have to.think carefully about .infact.from what I have been told  and seen their other senses are so good that for many you would hardly know. Let's hope.it's all.going to be ok.
- By Goldmali Date 24.06.16 17:52 UTC Upvotes 1
I'm sorry to hear that. If it was my pup, I'd keep her and see how she gets on and how she copes.
- By gsdowner Date 24.06.16 18:39 UTC
There is someone of a greyhound rescue group who is currently fostering two pups handed in by the breeder, from a merle to merle mating. Both are blind and deaf but both seem very well adjusted and are just awaiting clearance to be rehomed. They have 'learned' their surroundings and are being taught basic commands by an experienced trainer. Both will only be homed where there is experience with dealing with these conditions - i refuse to call them disabilities as the pups are just so happy.

There is also someone on a facebook group who has taken on a deaf GSD and a deaf Frenchie - two very different breeds but again they are very happy in their home.

Wait and see what the prognosis is - even if you cannot keep her yourself, I am sure there is a forever home somewhere out there for her - you will just need to vet very carefully and charge a nominal fee.

Good luck.
Topic Dog Boards / Breeding / Could three week old puppy be blind

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