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Is it normal for my 5-week-old puppy's third eyelid to be visible?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Goldendoodle | Female | unspayed | 1 month and 9 days old | 9 lbs

I have a golden doodle puppy reserved and her third lid is visible. She is 5 weeks and I don't know if it is developmental or a problem. Please help.

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2 Answers

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on May 9th, 2017

Belle is a beautiful girl! No, it isn't normal for the third eyelid to be visible so I would have her seen by a vet in the morning. When it's visible, that's a sign of illness in dogs such as an eye infection. The vet can diagnose what is causing her third eyelid to be visible and how best to treat it.

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    Answered By David Elbeze, DVM, MRCVS

    Veterinarian

    Published on December 15th, 2016

    If you noticed a change in the third eyelid color then it is probably not normal, especially so if she has eye discharge as well, it could be an infection, a foreign body or some other eye condition that needs to be treated, I would indeed recommend taking Lucy to the vet to get it checked.

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