Newborn Puppies: When Do They Open Their Eyes?

Section 1: Precautions Before Puppies Open Their Eyes

It's important to remember that puppies within the same litter can have varying rates of opening their eyes. Some may open as early as 7 days, while others might take up to 20 days, with an average around 10 days. The speed at which a puppy opens its eyes can be influenced by its constitution and personality; generally, those with stronger constitutions and more lively dispositions tend to open their eyes sooner. If your puppy takes longer to open its eyes, don't worry. Just keep an eye on its breathing rate and ensure it's nursing and defecating normally.

Be cautious not to force your puppy's eyes open with your hands, as your nails and skin could easily scratch the puppy's corners of the eyes or the conjunctiva, potentially causing permanent damage.

Section 2: Feeding Newborn Puppies

1. Puppies that haven't opened their eyes yet may struggle to reach milk. If there are multiple puppies in the litter, the owner should help allocate feeding times so that each puppy gets enough milk to prevent them from becoming unevenly developed.

2. For puppies without a mother,人工 feeding is necessary. Use specially formulated puppy milk replacer that is suitable for the growth and development of young dogs. Additionally, a mother dog stimulates her puppies to urinate and defecate by licking their anal area. You can mimic this by using a damp cloth to encourage elimination.

3. If a puppy hasn't opened its eyes by 20 days old, you can gently drop a few drops of saline solution into the puppy's eye corners to stimulate opening. Also, use a medical cotton swab to clean around the puppy's eyes of any discharge or crust. If the puppy still doesn't open its eyes after a few days, it's advisable to seek veterinary attention.

4. Puppies should continue to feed on milk or formula until they are 45 days old, at which point they can gradually be introduced to softened puppy kibble. By the time they reach 3 months, puppies should be fully weaned and eating solid food.

This concludes the information on when puppies can open their eyes. If you have any further questions, feel free to consult an online veterinarian. Puppies have weaker immune systems before they become adults, so it's crucial to invest extra care and attention in their early days!