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My new puppy's eye looks off. Is it a corneal abrasion or cataracts?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Shih Tzu | Female | unspayed | 5 months old | 10 lbs

Hi I am about to purchase a puppy, one of the eyes looks a little off to me. I asked the breeder and they said it is fine. Can you give me your advice. I am concerned for a corneal abrasion or cataracts? She is a 5 month shih tzu and seems active and healthy- is able to track her toys. I know she already got surgery for an umbilical hernia and right nare opening.

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2 Answers

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Answered By Dr. Paula Simons

Veterinarian

Published on June 17th, 2022

Hello! Getting a new puppy is so exciting. Unfortunately, from the photo, it is very hard to get a sense of the abnormality you're concerned about. I would make sure that any puppy from a breeder has a health guarantee and also has recent records of a clean bill of health from their veterinarian. You can ask for these things or even ask that the puppy be examined by an ophthalmologist prior to purchase to make sure the change of her eye truly is 'nothing'.

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    Answered By Jeffrey Milner

    Veterinarian

    Published on June 15th, 2017

    Mallow sounds like she is having quite a number of issues! Shortness of breath and inappropriate, involuntary movement of the legs are both very troubling findings for such a young puppy. I would be worried about exposure to some sort of toxin at some point in time or some sort of infectious process going on systemically. While I can not rule out their relationship, the problem with the eyes could very well be separate entirely. They look very cloudy, which could be an indication of a corneal problem, juvenile cataracts, glaucoma, or some other benign cause. Taking into account the discharge coming from the eyes, I have doubt that something benign is the cause of her issues. I would suggest having her evaluated fully by a veterinarian for all of these issues. Based on the clinical signs, they are almost certainly going to want to obtain blood work and x-rays to assess the situation. Best of luck!

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