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Is my new puppy blind? How can I check its eyesight at home?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

How Can I Tell If My Puppy Is Blind?

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Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

Licensed Veterinary Technician

Published on October 10th, 2015

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.

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