Content
- Can dogs have heterochromia?
- Dog breeds with complete heterochromia
- Dogs with one blue eye and one brown
- Dog breeds with partial heterochromia
- Legends about heterochromia
The word heterochromia originates in Greek, formed by the words straight, khroma
and the suffix -was going which means "difference in the color of the iris, the complexion or the hair". It is considered a "genetic defect" and is common in dogs, cats, horses and humans.
would you like to meet dog breeds with two-color eyes? Continue reading this PeritoAnimal article where you can find some breeds with different colored eyes. You will definitely be surprised!
Can dogs have heterochromia?
Heterochromia is a condition that can be expressed in all species and is defined by the genetic inheritance. Depending on the color and amount of iris melanocytes (melanin protective cells) we can observe one color or another.
They exist two types of heterochromia and two causes that provoke it:
- heterochromia iridium or complete: one eye of each color is observed.
- heterochromia iridis or partial: distinct hues are observed in a single iris.
- Congenital heterochromia: the heterochromia is genetic in origin.
- Acquired heterochromia: can be caused by trauma or some illness such as glaucoma or uveitis.
Out of curiosity, we can add that complete heterochromia is not common in people, but in dogs and cats, for example. In addition, it is essential to emphasize that this condition does not change the vision of the animal.
Dog breeds with complete heterochromia
Different colored eyes are frequent. We can observe this condition in several breeds of dogs, such as:
- Siberian Husky
- australian shepherd
- catahoula cur
It is important to note that in the case of the husky, the AKC (American Kennel Club) standard and the FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale) standard accept a brown and a blue eye, as well as partial heterochromia in one of the iris eyes, as in the catahoula leopard dog.
The Australian Shepherd, on the other hand, has eyes that are completely brown, blue or amber, although there may be variations and combinations of these.
Dogs with one blue eye and one brown
O Merle gene it is responsible for the blue color in the iris and the "butterfly" pigmentation in the nose of dogs. This gene also causes partial heterochromia, for example, showing a brown eye, a blue eye and, within the blue eye, brown pigmentation.
The Australian Shepherd and Border Collie are examples of dogs that may have the Merle gene. Albinism and white patches around the eyes are also caused by this gene. Every dog is special whatever its characteristics, including the heterochromia, that make it distinct and unique.
Dog breeds with partial heterochromia
in heterochromia iridis or partial, the dog presents a multicolored eye, that is, we can observe several different shades in the same iris. It is frequent in dogs with the Merle gene, some of them are:
- catahoula cur
- Great Dane
- Pembroke Welsh Corgi
- Border Collie
- australian shepherd
This is the result that is obtained when eumelanin is diluted or modified by recessive genes from the D or B series, which can result in yellow-green or yellow-gray shades.
the merle gene dilutes random pigments in eyes and nose. Blue eyes can appear as a consequence of loss of pigment. It is important to highlight that from this list, the Siberian husky is a breed that can also show partial heterochromia.
Legends about heterochromia
There are different legends about dogs with different colored eyes. According to the native american tradition, dogs that have an eye of each color protect the sky and the earth at the same time.
Other ancestral history suggests that while dogs with heterochromia protect humanity, those with brown or amber eyes are the ones that protect the spirits. The legends of the eskimos explain that dogs that pull sleds and have this color of eyes are faster than those with eyes of the same color.
What is certain is that dogs that have eyes of different colors have genetic differences. Some breeds that we didn't mention before, can express this condition spontaneously, as the case of the Dalmatian, the pitbull terrier, the cocker spaniel, the french bulldog and the boston terrier. In addition, there are also heterochromic cats.
