The word heterochromia comes from the Greek, formed by the words hetero, khroma and the suffix -ia which means “difference in color of the iris, tez or hair”. It is considered a “genetic defect” and is common in dogs, cats, horses and humans.
Would you like to meet breeds of dogs of two colors? Continue reading this Animal Expert article where you can find eye races of different colors. I’m sure you’ll be surprised!
- Heterochromia is a condition that can be expressed in all species and is defined by genetic inheritance.
- Depending on the color and the amount of melanocytes in the iris (melanin protective cells).
- One color or another may be observed.
There are two types of heterochromia and two causes that cause it
Out of curiosity we can add that complete heterochromia is not common in humans, but in dogs and cats, for example. In addition, it is essential to note that this condition does not alter the vision of the animal.
Different colored eyes are common. This condition can be seen in various breeds of dogs, such as:
It is important to note that in the case of husky, the standard AKC (American Kennel Club) and FCI (International Cynological Federation) accept a brown eye and a blue eye, as well as partial heterochromy in one of the iris eyes, as in a catahoula leopard dog.
The Australian shepherd, on the other hand, has entirely brown, blue or amber eyes, although there may be variations and combinations of them.
The Merle gene is responsible for the blue color of the iris and the pigmentation in “butterfly” of the nose of dogs.This gene also causes partial heterochromy, for example, by showing a brown eye, a blue eye and, in the blue eye, a blue eye.brown pigmentation.
The Australian shepherd and border collie are examples of dogs that may have the Merle gene.Albinism and white spots around the eyes are also caused by this gene.Each dog is special regardless of its characteristics, including heterochromia, which makes it distinct and unique..
In the iridi or partial heterochromy, the dog has a multicolored eye, that is, several different shades can be observed in the same iris. It is common in dogs carrying the Merle gene, some of which are:
This is the result when eumelanin is diluted or modified by D-series or B-series recessive genes, which can result in greenish-yellow or grayish-yellow shadows.
The Merle gene dilutes random pigments in the eyes and nose. Blue eyes can occur as a result of pigment loss. It is important to note that on this list, the Siberian husky is a breed that may also have partial heterochromia.
There are different legends about dogs in different colors. According to Native American tradition, dogs that have an eye of each color protect the sky and earth at the same time.
Another ancestral history suggests that while dogs with heterochromia protect humanity, those with brown eyes or amber are the ones that protect spirits.Eskimo legends explain that dogs that pull sleds and have this eye color are faster than those with eyes of the same color.
The truth is that dogs with eyes of different color have genetic differences. Some breeds that we have not mentioned above may manifest this condition spontaneously, such as the Dalmatian, pit bull terrier, rooster, French bulldog and boston terrier. In addition, there are also cats with heterochromia.
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