Why are my 17-day-old puppy's eyes staying shut after opening?

Some puppies will open their eyes later than other puppies. If there is no discharge from the eyes, mucus or matting over the eyelids, it seem like the muscles around the eyes 'blink' even though his eyes are not open, and he's eating and otherwise thriving, he may just be slow to open his eyes. If you see any of the signs I mentioned above, there is a medical reason behind why he isn't opening his eyes, and you need to take him into your vet.

Puppies’ eyes usually do not open until about 14 days of age. At 11 days of age, Baby girl would need to be bottle fed Puppy Milk Replacer at least every 2 hours until about 6 weeks of age, and stimulated to urinate/defecated several times a day with a hypoallergenic baby wipe in the genital area (mother dogs usually stimulate their pups to urinate, defecate by licking them down there). I recommend bringing the puppy to your veterinarian for an evaluation as young puppies are extremely susceptible to hypothermia and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), in addition to dehydration if not fed every 2 hours. They may recommend subcutaneous fluids and possibly offer medical day boarding where their techs can feed Baby girl for you while you are at work (likely pricey though for several weeks). Good luck!

If she is weak and not doing well then she needs to be seen by a vet to determine the cause. She could have an infection, parasite, or congenital abnormality. Your vet may be able to prescribe medications to help. You are going to need to continue to supplement her with a puppy milk replacer if she is not eating on her own. Hope she gets better soon!

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!

The eyes typically open between 1-2 weeks of age. If the one is still closed and there is discharge then an exam with your vet is strongly recommended to diagnose infection, injury or congenital defect.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Joji. How lovely of you to rescue her! Yes, they can appear to be sealed shut, and it take take between 2-3 weeks of age of them to open their eye. As long as there is no discharge coming from her eyes, it's likely normal. I hope this helps!

If your puppy cannot open its eyes properly then I suspect there may be an issue with the way the eyelids have grown. They may be turned in or overgrown. This can predispose to irritation which could explain why the eyes are dirty. You need to take the puppy to a vet to have s thorough examination then they will be able to advise you on treatment which could be medicine or surgery.