Is my puppy blind? She doesn't flinch when I jolt my hand at her.

It can be tricky to determine if newborn pup is [blind](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/blindness/) since puppies don't [develop full eyesight](https://www.petcoach.co/article/sight-development-in-the-dog-puppy) until around 8 weeks of age. Vision will gradually improve to adult capacity over the next several weeks. You can gauge your puppy's vision by throwing a cotton ball into the air and watching his/her response. A puppy with normal sight will watch the hand motion, then the cotton ball as it falls to the floor. Do this silently as sound may distract the puppy. If your pup fails to spot or follow the cotton ball, see your veterinarian or a [veterinary ophthalmologist](https://www.acvo.org/) for a complete eye exam.

A congenital blindness is suspected in these cases but a physical/ophthalmological examination would be essential to confirm your suspicion. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

This is definitely suspicious for hereditary blindness, which is occasionally seen with this breed. It's best to have a vet to examine him and determine if he's blind. Since Toby is old enough for his first shots, this can be done at the same time. I hope that helps and all is well with Toby.

Oh dear! It sounds like Oliver may have a vision problem of some kind, but he would need an exam by a veterinarian to confirm this and determine what might be causing it. If this started suddenly, I would recommend taking him to an emergency clinic tonight to be seen, as some causes of blindness can start suddenly and may need immediate treatment in order to have a chance of restoring vision. If you feel that it's been a more gradual problem, then it's less likely to be an emergency - but I would still have him seen by your regular veterinarian tomorrow for an exam, if possible.

Eyelids in puppies typically open between 10-14 days of age, and I can see that Pumpkin Pie is just past that point at 17 days. At this point, his eyes may simply be opening later than normal, or may have a congenital or infectious issue occurring. It would be best to take him to a vet (or ideally, a veterinary ophthalmologist) for further evaluation. If he does have a congenital issue leading to blindness, there are plenty of dogs that happy, full lives without sight. It just takes some dedication, consistency in training/routine, and extra caution around new people and children. Give it more time before worrying about having a blind dog! :-) I hope that all goes well for Pumpkin Pie!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Dixie. I recommend seeing her veterinarian to have her vision assessed. Some young puppies run into things as they are still developing their coordination. However, it is important to ensure that she does not have any vision defects. I hope this information helps!

Puppies do not develop the respond to blink due to an object in front of the eye until they are 10-12 weeks old (usually). Place objects in front of Leo and see if he walks around them. You can also have a toy and see if his eyes follow it while encouraging play. Your vet can also access and help you if needed. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.