puppies opening eyes

Question
We have a litter of 5 sheltie puppies born May 31st.  Three began opening their eyes on Monday, June 14th.  Two have still not opened their eyes.  Should we be concerned?  What should we do?

Answer
Hi Beth!  Some pups are just "late blossomers."  I would give them a few more days.  Conjunctivitis of the eye can also cause the eyes not to open.  The infection will cause excess tear buildup, which will crust.  This will mend those lids shut.  You may want to gently wipe their eyes with a warm, wet cloth, as if they are crusted closed, this can help losen the crust.  If you do notice any crusty substance on their eyes, this would definately indicate infection and you may need your veterinarian to prescribe some antibiotic drops/ointment to cure the infection.
I hope this has been helpful!  Those sheltie puppies must be gorgeous!  I love this breed!  I wish you the best of luck with those little ones, and please, give them all, and mama dog, tons of kisses for me!
Hilary