| The average puppy or Shih Tzu puppy's eyes open | | | | eyes and keep them moist with a warm washcloth. |
| between 12 and 15 days of age. The ear canals open | | | | The glands do not always initially function adequately. |
| soon thereafter, usually within a day or two. All puppies | | | | Well-functioning tear ducts are indicated by glisteningly |
| are born with their eyes and ears sealed shut. Do not | | | | bright "reflective" eyes. Sometimes if the Shih Tzu |
| try to open them. If you force or pry open the puppy's | | | | puppy's eyes open early or if the Shih Tzu puppy is |
| eyelids during any development stage, you can cause | | | | premature they do not have fully developed and |
| the puppy irreversible injury. Shih Tzu puppies are | | | | functioning tears ducts. In these cases apply an |
| unable to see or hear before this time. Shih Tzu | | | | ophthalmic ointment just under the eyelid, or consult |
| puppies are receptive to the stimuli of light and dark, | | | | with your vet for an appropriate routine to follow. If |
| noise and quiet. Some Shih Tzu puppies will open their | | | | you use the ointment, apply it five or six times daily or |
| eyes before 12 days; some are even later than the 15 | | | | according to your vet's instructions. It is important to |
| days. | | | | treat unproductive tear duct glands. Blindness can |
| If all but one or two Shih Tzu puppies have their eyes | | | | result if left unattended. Treatment is usually only a |
| open and functioning well, check with your veterinarian | | | | few days. A sterile 5 percent boric ophthalmic |
| about the slower developing Shih Tzu puppies. A Shih | | | | ointment solution can be purchased from your vet or |
| Tzu brood matron's eggs become fertilized during the | | | | pharmacy (under your vet's instructions). The ointment |
| breeding process at different times due to multiple | | | | can be applied every four hours. Treatment should |
| inseminations. Some Shih Tzu puppies that develop | | | | continue until the Shih Tzu puppy's eyes lose the dry |
| later may be just simply because they were | | | | "flat" (non-reflective) appearance. |
| conceived at a later time. | | | | Shih Tzu puppies' eyes when first opened will have a |
| Keep the Shih Tzu puppy area under subdued lighting | | | | protective film, bluish in color. If the Shih Tzu puppy's |
| conditions during the eye-opening period. Use heat | | | | eyes are white or solid blue consult your veterinarian. |
| lamps with caution once Shih Tzu puppies' eyes have | | | | By three weeks of age, Shih Tzu puppies' should be |
| begun to open. If you need to continue using a heat | | | | able to focus fairly well. |
| lamp, construct a large aluminum foil "basket" or "hood" | | | | Use extreme caution when photographing Shih Tzu |
| around the light. Punch numerous tiny holes in the fabric | | | | puppies between 8 and 20 days of age. Prior and |
| with a pin, thin, sharp pen or pencil tip. | | | | after this time a flash may be safer. Extreme and |
| Check the Shih Tzu puppy's eyes as they first open to | | | | bright light can damage a Shih Tzu puppy's delicate |
| see if the ear ducts are functioning properly. Wash the | | | | eye tissues. |