Though it seems unique, the phenomenon of dogs with two different colored eyes is actually fairly common among certain breeds. Read on to learn what causes heterochromia in dogs and whether it can cause health issues.
Heterochromia is the scientific term for two different-colored eyes. It not only occurs in dogs but also affects cats, horses and occasionally even people. Heterochromia is caused by a lack of the pigment melanin in all or part of one eye. In dogs with heterochromia, the lack of melanin causes one of their eyes to appear blue or bluish-white.
Heterochromia in dogs is often hereditary, meaning it is passed through their genetic makeup. But it can also be acquired later in life as the result of an eye injury or a health condition, points out Dogster. While hereditary heterochromia eyes are usually nothing to worry about, if you ever notice either of your dog's eyes changing color, you should contact your veterinarian and get your pup's eyes checked.
Heterochromia shows up in the following three ways:
Though it seems unique, the phenomenon of dogs with two different colored eyes is actually fairly common among certain breeds.
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Heterochromia is most common among these breeds:
The color and pattern of a dog's coat appear to have an influence on how heterochromia manifests in dogs, according to Dogster. Generally, heterochromia is more common in dogs with dappled, merle or white coloring around their heads. Heterochromia iridis occurs most frequently in huskies, Dalmatians, and Australian shepherds and cattle dogs. The other breeds are more prone to the other two types of heterochromia.
While it's commonly believed that having two eyes with different colors is a sign of blindness or vision problems, dogs with hereditary heterochromia have normal vision. Another fairly common belief is that dogs with heterochromia have hearing problems. This is untrue in the vast majority of cases, though Dogster points out that Dalmatians with heterochromia do have a higher prevalence of deafness.
As mentioned previously, acquired heterochromia can result from an eye injury or a health condition. Acquired heterochromia can also be similar in appearance to several eye conditions, including cataracts and glaucoma, so it's important to check with your veterinarian if you notice your dog's eye colors changing.
Most dogs with heterochromia don't have any related health problems — they just have a more unique set of peepers than other pups!
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