{"id":9413,"date":"2022-03-25T06:41:45","date_gmt":"2022-03-25T06:41:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-purebred-dogs-have-heterochromia\/"},"modified":"2022-03-25T06:41:45","modified_gmt":"2022-03-25T06:41:45","slug":"can-purebred-dogs-have-heterochromia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-purebred-dogs-have-heterochromia\/","title":{"rendered":"Can purebred dogs have heterochromia?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_17 counter-hierarchy counter-decimal ez-toc-grey\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"display: none;\"><i class=\"ez-toc-glyphicon ez-toc-icon-toggle\"><\/i><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class=\"ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1\"><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-purebred-dogs-have-heterochromia\/#Can_purebred_dogs_have_heterochromia\" title=\"Can purebred dogs have heterochromia?\">Can purebred dogs have heterochromia?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-purebred-dogs-have-heterochromia\/#What_breed_of_dog_has_heterochromia\" title=\"What breed of dog has heterochromia?\">What breed of dog has heterochromia?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-purebred-dogs-have-heterochromia\/#Can_dogs_have_partial_heterochromia\" title=\"Can dogs have partial heterochromia?\">Can dogs have partial heterochromia?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-purebred-dogs-have-heterochromia\/#Why_is_heterochromia_so_common_in_dogs\" title=\"Why is heterochromia so common in dogs?\">Why is heterochromia so common in dogs?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-purebred-dogs-have-heterochromia\/#Can_purebred_dogs_have_different_colored_eyes\" title=\"Can purebred dogs have different colored eyes?\">Can purebred dogs have different colored eyes?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-purebred-dogs-have-heterochromia\/#Can_all_dogs_have_heterochromia\" title=\"Can all dogs have heterochromia?\">Can all dogs have heterochromia?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-purebred-dogs-have-heterochromia\/#Is_heterochromia_in_dogs_bad\" title=\"Is heterochromia in dogs bad?\">Is heterochromia in dogs bad?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-purebred-dogs-have-heterochromia\/#What_is_the_rarest_eye_color_for_dogs\" title=\"What is the rarest eye color for dogs?\">What is the rarest eye color for dogs?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-purebred-dogs-have-heterochromia\/#Can_heterochromia_be_slight\" title=\"Can heterochromia be slight?\">Can heterochromia be slight?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-purebred-dogs-have-heterochromia\/#Is_partial_heterochromia_rare\" title=\"Is partial heterochromia rare?\">Is partial heterochromia rare?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-purebred-dogs-have-heterochromia\/#Why_does_my_dog_have_a_half_blue_eye\" title=\"Why does my dog have a half blue eye?\">Why does my dog have a half blue eye?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-purebred-dogs-have-heterochromia\/#What_causes_partial_heterochromia\" title=\"What causes partial heterochromia?\">What causes partial heterochromia?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-purebred-dogs-have-heterochromia\/#Is_heterochromia_more_common_in_dogs\" title=\"Is heterochromia more common in dogs?\">Is heterochromia more common in dogs?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-purebred-dogs-have-heterochromia\/#Is_heterochromia_in_dogs_from_inbreeding\" title=\"Is heterochromia in dogs from inbreeding?\">Is heterochromia in dogs from inbreeding?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-purebred-dogs-have-heterochromia\/#How_rare_are_dogs_with_different_colored_eyes\" title=\"How rare are dogs with different colored eyes?\">How rare are dogs with different colored eyes?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-purebred-dogs-have-heterochromia\/#What_does_it_mean_if_a_dog_has_one_blue_eye_and_one_brown_eye\" title=\"What does it mean if a dog has one blue eye and one brown eye?\">What does it mean if a dog has one blue eye and one brown eye?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-purebred-dogs-have-heterochromia\/#Is_it_rare_for_dogs_to_have_different_colored_eyes\" title=\"Is it rare for dogs to have different colored eyes?\">Is it rare for dogs to have different colored eyes?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-purebred-dogs-have-heterochromia\/#What_does_it_mean_when_a_dog_has_a_brown_eye_and_a_blue_eye\" title=\"What does it mean when a dog has a brown eye and a blue eye?\">What does it mean when a dog has a brown eye and a blue eye?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-purebred-dogs-have-heterochromia\/#What_is_the_most_rare_eye_color_for_dogs\" title=\"What is the most rare eye color for dogs?\">What is the most rare eye color for dogs?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-purebred-dogs-have-heterochromia\/#Is_heterochromia_common_in_dogs\" title=\"Is heterochromia common in dogs?\">Is heterochromia common in dogs?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-purebred-dogs-have-heterochromia\/#Can_heterochromia_cause_problems\" title=\"Can heterochromia cause problems?\">Can heterochromia cause problems?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-purebred-dogs-have-heterochromia\/#Is_heterochromia_a_bad_mutation\" title=\"Is heterochromia a bad mutation?\">Is heterochromia a bad mutation?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-purebred-dogs-have-heterochromia\/#Are_heterochromia_eyes_bad\" title=\"Are heterochromia eyes bad?\">Are heterochromia eyes bad?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-24\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-purebred-dogs-have-heterochromia\/#What_is_the_most_common_dog_eye_color\" title=\"What is the most common dog eye color?\">What is the most common dog eye color?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-25\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/can-purebred-dogs-have-heterochromia\/#Are_green_eyes_in_dogs_rare\" title=\"Are green eyes in dogs rare?\">Are green eyes in dogs rare?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_purebred_dogs_have_heterochromia\"><\/span>Can purebred dogs have heterochromia?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>It is possible that canine heterochromia may arise more frequently in dog breeds where there is already a lack of genetic diversity, such as <b>certain purebred dog breeds with known limited gene pools.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_breed_of_dog_has_heterochromia\"><\/span>What breed of dog has heterochromia?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Heterochromia in dogs is common in breeds like <b>Australian Cattle Dogs, Australian Shepherds, Border Collies, Chihuahuas, Dachshunds, Dalmatians, Great Danes (harlequin coat pattern), Shetland Sheepdogs, Siberian Huskies and Shih Tzus.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_dogs_have_partial_heterochromia\"><\/span>Can dogs have partial heterochromia?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In sectoral or partial heterochromia, the dog has a multi-colored eye, where one color is a different shade from the remainder of the eye. This is found in dogs with the Merle trait, such dogs usually include the following: <b>Catahoula cur<\/b><b>Great Dane<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_is_heterochromia_so_common_in_dogs\"><\/span>Why is heterochromia so common in dogs?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Heterochromia is caused due to <b>uneven melanin distribution and inbreeding. It occurs in many other breeds of dogs (Australian Shepherd would probably be right behind the Husky), cats, and horses. Heterochromia is caused due to uneven melanin distribution and inbreeding.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_purebred_dogs_have_different_colored_eyes\"><\/span>Can purebred dogs have different colored eyes?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Heterochromia is the scientific term for eyes that are two different colors. It not only occurs in dogs but also affects cats, horses and occasionally even people.  In dogs with heterochromia, the lack of melanin causes one of their eyes to appear blue or bluish-white.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_all_dogs_have_heterochromia\"><\/span>Can all dogs have heterochromia?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Heterochromia can happen in any dog, but there are breeds that tend to have a higher rate of it happening than others. Some of these breeds who are more likely to have two different eye colors are Australian Shepherds, Catahoula Leopard Dogs, Great Danes, Dalmatians, and Huskies.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_heterochromia_in_dogs_bad\"><\/span>Is heterochromia in dogs bad?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>It is possible that canine heterochromia may arise more frequently in dog breeds where there is already a lack of genetic diversity, such as <b>certain purebred dog breeds with known limited gene pools.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_rarest_eye_color_for_dogs\"><\/span>What is the rarest eye color for dogs?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>While two-toned eyes are certainly striking, there is no need to be alarmed. The condition is genetic and there is generally no need to worry. But <b>dogs with heterochromia might also be linked to glaucoma, so if you suspect that there might be something wrong, definitely talk to your vet about all concerns.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_heterochromia_be_slight\"><\/span>Can heterochromia be slight?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Identifying heterochromia Heterochromia of the eye is easy to identify. The person will have two different colored eyes or color differences within one or both eyes. <b>Color differences may be slight and may only become apparent under certain lighting conditions or in photographs.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_partial_heterochromia_rare\"><\/span>Is partial heterochromia rare?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Though common in some breeds of cats, dogs, cattle and horses, due to inbreeding, heterochromia is <b>uncommon in humans, affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the United States, and is not associated with lack of genetic diversity.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_does_my_dog_have_a_half_blue_eye\"><\/span>Why does my dog have a half blue eye?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Causes of Heterochromia in Dogs <b>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.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_causes_partial_heterochromia\"><\/span>What causes partial heterochromia?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>What causes partial heterochromia? Partial heterochromia can happen <b>genetically, because of an underlying condition or due to the use of certain medication. Genetically, partial heterochromia can happen at birth or as the melanin in the iris develops throughout childhood.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_heterochromia_more_common_in_dogs\"><\/span>Is heterochromia more common in dogs?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>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.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_heterochromia_in_dogs_from_inbreeding\"><\/span>Is heterochromia in dogs from inbreeding?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Though <b>common in some breeds of cats, dogs, cattle and horses, due to inbreeding, heterochromia is uncommon in humans, affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the United States, and is not associated with lack of genetic diversity.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_rare_are_dogs_with_different_colored_eyes\"><\/span>How rare are dogs with different colored eyes?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>However, acquired heterochromia can occur due to many different conditions, meaning it is impossible to tell if they will develop the condition. Acquired heterochromia is unlikely to affect the eye completely, so having a dog with eyes of two different colors is <b>very unlikely unless they were born like that<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_does_it_mean_if_a_dog_has_one_blue_eye_and_one_brown_eye\"><\/span>What does it mean if a dog has one blue eye and one brown eye?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>heterochromia<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_it_rare_for_dogs_to_have_different_colored_eyes\"><\/span>Is it rare for dogs to have different colored eyes?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>However, acquired heterochromia can occur due to many different conditions, meaning it is impossible to tell if they will develop the condition. Acquired heterochromia is unlikely to affect the eye completely, so having a dog with eyes of two different colors is <b>very unlikely unless they were born like that<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_does_it_mean_when_a_dog_has_a_brown_eye_and_a_blue_eye\"><\/span>What does it mean when a dog has a brown eye and a blue eye?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>It is possible that canine heterochromia may arise more frequently in dog breeds where there is already a lack of genetic diversity, such as <b>certain purebred dog breeds with known limited gene pools.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_most_rare_eye_color_for_dogs\"><\/span>What is the most rare eye color for dogs?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>heterochromia<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_heterochromia_common_in_dogs\"><\/span>Is heterochromia common in dogs?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Generally, <b>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.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_heterochromia_cause_problems\"><\/span>Can heterochromia cause problems?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Most of the time, it doesn&#8217;t cause any problems. It&#8217;s often just a quirk caused by genes passed down from your parents or by something that happened when your eyes were forming. In rare cases, it can be a symptom of a medical condition. Heterochromia is common in some animals but rare in humans.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_heterochromia_a_bad_mutation\"><\/span>Is heterochromia a bad mutation?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>The mutation is benign, meaning that it doesn&#8217;t relate to an underlying disease or illness and won&#8217;t cause any harm. This random genetic surprise affects the melanin levels on different parts of the iris(es). Of the common eye colors, brown eyes have the most melanin and blue eyes have the least.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Are_heterochromia_eyes_bad\"><\/span>Are heterochromia eyes bad?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Research suggests that <b>most cases of heterochromia in humans are benign and occur without any underlying abnormality. According to the Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, most cases of heterochromia of the eye occur sporadically in people with no family history of the condition.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_most_common_dog_eye_color\"><\/span>What is the most common dog eye color?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>brown eyes<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Are_green_eyes_in_dogs_rare\"><\/span>Are green eyes in dogs rare?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Is it rare for a dog to have green eyes? <b>It is! Although there are no official statistics about the number of dogs with green eyes, only two breeds tend to have them: the American pit bull terrier and the pomeranian husky. Green eyes are somewhat more common in puppies.<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Table of Contents Can purebred dogs have heterochromia?What breed of dog has heterochromia?Can dogs have partial heterochromia?Why is heterochromia so common in dogs?Can purebred dogs have different colored eyes?Can all dogs have heterochromia?Is heterochromia in dogs bad?What is the rarest eye color for dogs?Can heterochromia be slight?Is partial heterochromia rare?Why does my dog have a&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"spay_email":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9413"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9413"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9413\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9413"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9413"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9413"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}