puppies eyes

Question
I have a litter of 4 Min Pins. They are now 8 weeks old. They have been checked by my vet and have had their first shots. One of the puppies now has something wrong with it's eyes. The eyelids are pale and the eyes are watery. It doesn't seem to bother the puppy though. What can cause this. I appreciate your help.
                                    Jenny Smith

Answer
Hi Jenny!

Healthy puppy eyes should be bright and shiny. Mucus and watery tears are normal but should be minimal and clear. The pink lining of the eyelids should not be inflamed, swollen, or have a yellow discharge. Sometimes you can see your dog's third eyelid, a light membrane, at the inside corner of an eye. It may slowly come up to cover his eye as he goes to sleep. The whites of your dog's eyes should not be yellowish. Eyelashes should not rub the eyeball.

It's a good sign that this puppy is still active, and the discharge isn't yellow or green, and that there isn't any swelling, blinking or squinting. Those symptoms would signal infection.

Puppies are pretty active, it may be that this particular pup has irritated his eye. Just walking through a grassy lawn can be enough to irritate a small puppy's eyes.

By your description, it sounds as though it's minor non-colored, watery type discharge. You can try flushing out the puppy's eyes. Squeeze warm water on the eye by using a sterile gauze pad. Sometimes pups being so low to the ground get an irritant that can be washed out.

Another problem that can cause watery eyes can be very difficult to spot. Sometimes a few tiny little hairs grow out from the inside of the eyelid and begin scraping the cornea when the puppy blinks.

If it persists for more than a few days, contact your veterinarian.

I hope this has been helpful and I wish you the best of luck!Please keep me posted and give those Min Pins millions of kisses for me!Sending wagging tails your way!
Nicole.D.