Dog Owner Spots 'Crack' in New Puppy's Eye, Internet Stunned at Reason Why
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A worried dog owner turned to Reddit for answers after noticing what looked like a thin crack across her new puppy's eye—sparking a flurry of helpful responses from fellow pet lovers and professionals.
The original poster, u/AllineCICI, wrote in the subreddit r/dogadvice that she had recently brought home an Alaskan Malamute puppy from a local seller. While describing him as "super sweet," she noticed something unsettling about his eye.
"There's a very thin, straight line on the surface of one of his eyes. It almost looks like a tiny crack or a scratch. It doesn't seem to be bothering him—he's not squinting or pawing at it—but it's definitely there," she explained in the subreddit.
Although the puppy already had a vet check-up scheduled, she admitted: "I'm trying to tell myself not to panic, but it's hard when you're a new owner."
In her full post, she elaborated that she was hoping for advice or insight from the community to ease her mind in the meantime, asking if anyone had encountered something similar. Despite struggling to get a good photo due to her puppy being a "total wiggle worm," she remained concerned.
Veterinary professionals and experienced pet owners were quick to respond—many pointing to a possible diagnosis: persistent pupillary membranes (PPMs).
What Are Persistent Pupillary Membranes?
Dr. Eliza O'Callaghan, managing veterinarian for Small Door Vet, explained to Newsweek PPMs are remnants of a fetal blood vessel network that once nourished the developing lens. These membranes usually regress before or shortly after birth, but in some cases, tiny strands remain visible in the eye.
"In simpler terms, PPMs are leftover tissue from before a puppy was born," said O'Callaghan. "You might see them as tiny threads or lines inside the eye. They're relatively common, especially in certain breeds, and most of the time, they're harmless."
She noted that Alaskan Malamutes are among the breeds predisposed to PPMs, alongside Basenjis, Pembroke Welsh Corgis, Chow Chows, and others. In most dogs, the condition is merely cosmetic, but it can occasionally interfere with vision depending on where the strands attach.
Medically, PPMs are categorized based on attachment points: iris to iris (most common and benign), iris to lens, or iris to cornea. Complications may arise if the strands attach to the lens or cornea, potentially causing cataracts, cloudiness, or corneal edema.
A stock image of Alaskan Malamute puppy.
A stock image of Alaskan Malamute puppy.
William Eickler / 500px/500Px Unreleased
"If your puppy is under 4 months old, there's still a chance they may fully regress," said O'Callaghan. "For more involved cases, topical treatments, laser therapy, or even surgery might be considered, but that's rare."
Most dogs with mild iris-to-iris PPMs go on to live completely normal lives. However, because the condition is suspected to be inherited, O'Callaghan emphasized that dogs with PPMs—especially those affecting the lens or cornea—should not be bred.
She also cautioned that other eye anomalies in puppies, such as iris colobomas, synechiae, trauma-related scarring, or congenital cataracts, can sometimes be mistaken for PPMs, and may require a veterinary ophthalmologist for an accurate diagnosis.
Reddit Weighs In
Reddit users were quick to offer their thoughts—some even recognizing the condition immediately.
"Vet here. This is a persistent pupillary membrane. It's a remnant left over from birth. Majority of the time it doesn't affect sight and most dogs don't have any issues. But it's sensible to get this assessed by a vet or veterinary ophthalmologist because it depends where the strands are attached to know if it will cause an issue further down the line. It's recommended not to breed from dogs who have PPM. This isn't an emergency," one commenter wrote.
Another added a personal touch: "Yep I have one on myself, not as remarkable as this one. Only really see it when I look thru scopes like microscope, rifle scopes... anything that has narrow tunnel and light entering thru it to your eye."
One Redditor named Becca shared a relatable story: "I knew right away because my cat has one! It's not near as noticeable as this but the vet that told me about it was really excited to see it in my cat! My cat does have vision issues in that eye but of course not because of the PPM."
Newsweek reached out to u/AllineCICI, for comment via Reddit. We could not verify the details of the case.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
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