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When you bring your new puppy home, one of the first things you’ll want to do is find out how well he can see. Puppy eyesight is something that all new puppy owners should be aware of since it can affect everything from his daily activities to his safety. In this article, we will go over the vision changes that your puppy will face.
We will be including the stages of development shortly after birth, how well your newborn puppy can see, the colors they see, and vision symptoms to look out for. So you can further understand puppy eyesight and what your pup can actually see!
How long are puppies blind?
Puppies are born with no vision at all. Their only developed senses at birth are touch and taste. Surprisingly, puppies are easily able to find their mother, keep warm, and fill their belly for about two weeks before they can see.
Around two weeks old, your puppy’s eyes open up. Their little puppy eyesight at this point will still be quite fuzzy and blurred. If you squint your eyes, you’ll still be able to see some movement of blobs and colors.
This is how your puppy first views the world. Your puppy’s eyes will appear cloudy with greyish blue color, but with most breeds, they will change color as they grow.
It takes a few weeks for their eyes to adjust to the light and focus properly. By eight weeks old, puppies typically have good vision and can see as well as an adult dog.
However, it’s important to note that eye development can vary from pup to pup, so some may take a little longer to adjust to seeing the world clearly.
What Does a Puppy Vision Look like?
As we have learned, by the time puppies are seven to eight weeks old, they have full visual acuity. But what, exactly, does a puppy see?
Puppies see the world in shades of gray and blue. They also have difficulty distinguishing between nearby objects and those that are far away. This is because their eyes are still growing and their visual processing center is not fully developed.
As puppies mature, their vision improves and they are eventually able to see color and judge distances more accurately.
So, next time you look into your puppy’s eyes, remember that they are seeing a world that is somewhat different from your own. But with time and maturity, their vision will become just as sharp as yours.
Puppy eyesight development – How long does it take for puppies’ eyesight to develop?
Puppy eyesight at 8 weeks
At eight weeks old, your puppy’s eyes will have fully developed. The colour eyes which your puppy will keep for the rest of its life will finally set in. At this point, as amazing as it may sound, their puppy eyesight is as accurate and developed as an adult dog! Continue to monitor your puppy’s vision development and consult your veterinarian if you have any concerns.
Protection
During this time, it is also important to protect their eyes from anything that could damage them. This includes harmful UV rays, bright lights, and sharp objects. One way to protect a puppy’s eyes is to keep them indoors when possible. If they must be outside, make sure they are in a shady area.
Another way to protect their eyes is to use eye drops or ointments specifically designed for puppies. These can help to soothe their eyes and prevent any irritation or inflammation.
Finally, it is important to monitor their activity level and avoid letting them jump or play too roughly. By taking these precautions, you can help ensure that your puppy’s eyes develop properly and stay healthy for years to come.
Eye Infection in Puppy
Puppies are born with their eyes closed, and they don’t open them until they’re about two weeks old. During this time, their eyes are very vulnerable to infection. To help protect your puppy’s eyes, you should clean them gently with a cotton ball soaked in warm water.
You can also apply a small amount of eye ointment to help keep the area moisturized. It’s important to be gentle when cleaning your puppy’s eyes, as the area is delicate and can easily be irritated. If you notice any discharge or redness, consult your veterinarian. With proper care, you can help keep your puppy’s eyes healthy and free from infection.
How to check puppy eyesight?
To test your puppy’s vision, wave something quietly in front of them, left, right, up, down – pay attention to whether or not they follow your movement.
Another way to assess your puppy’s eyesight is to do so by tossing a cotton ball silently into the air and observing your puppy’s visual response. A puppy with normal eyesight should follow the hand motion and the cotton call as it moves through the air and falls to the floor.
Try to be quiet, since your puppy’s hearing has also developed at this time. If your puppy only shows interest with one eye, or neither, you will need to make an appointment with your veterinarian.
Cool fact: Dogs tend to be farsighted since their ability to see things close up is not really necessary due to their amazing sense of smell!
What colours can dogs see?
The Truth About Dog Colour Blindness
Humans see in a three-color spectrum; red, yellow, and blue. Puppy eyesight is only able to see a two-color spectrum: blue and green. Dogs see color similar to humans who have red and yellow color blindness.
What this means is when holding a red ball and a yellow ball, these are observed as different shades of the same color. They don’t see black and white; it’s more brown or tan tones. If you hold a blue and a green ball, your dog can tell the difference. You can even train your dog to distinguish between colours!
Now, although dogs see fewer colours, they are able to bring more light into their eyes and can see in darker surroundings with much more clarity than people.
Can puppies see in the dark?
By the time they’re eight weeks old, puppies have pretty good eyesight and they can certainly see better in the dark than humans do. However, their vision isn’t quite as sharp as an adult dog’s. Puppies also have poorer night vision than adult dogs. This is because their eyes don’t produce as much of a pigment called rod opsin, which helps people and animals to see in low light conditions. So, while puppies can see in the dark, they’re not quite as good at it as adult dogs.
How to tell if a puppy is blind?
One of the most important things to do when you get a new puppy is to make sure they are healthy. This includes checking for any physical conditions that may impact their quality of life. One condition that you should be on the lookout for is blindness. While it may not be immediately apparent, there are a few telltale signs that your puppy is blind. For instance, they may bump into things or have difficulty finding their way around. They may also seem to be afraid of bright lights or fail to respond to your calls. If you suspect that your puppy is blind, it’s important to take them to the vet for a checkup. With proper care, puppies with blindness can still lead happy and healthy lives.
Identifying Issues with Eyesight
We don’t think we need to explain how important eyesight is to your puppy. But here are some symptoms you need to be aware of that would merit a call to your vet.
- Eye swelling
- Foreign object in the eye
- Bumping into thingsDischarge or leaking
- Cloudiness
- Sudden clumsinessSquinting
- Itching eyes
- Redness
See, puppy eyesight is actually a little less ‘black and white’ than myths lead you to believe! Don’t forget to read up on other articles of your puppy’s health.
