Table of Contents
Why do so many Huskies have different colored eyes?
The different colored eyes are determined by the concentration and distribution of melanin (which is a natural pigment that gives us our skin, hair and eye colors). This is a hereditary condition. While it is rarer to see Huskies with this type of eye color (rather than two eyes of the same color), it is still normal.
Is heterochromia normal in Huskies?
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.
Why is heterochromia more common in dogs?
The color of a dog’s fur can determine the likelihood of the dog having heterochromia. Pups with a lot of white in their fur, especially when it’s near their heads, have a higher chance of exhibiting two different colored eyes. Dogs typically have golden or dark brown eyes, which signifies an excess of piment.
Why do Huskies have one blue and one brown?
Since the mutation in the gene ALX4 causes the pigment production to decrease, heterochromia is very common for Siberian Huskies. This could cause a Husky to have one blue and one brown eye or an eye or eyes that are mixed with both blue and brown, which is the rarest type of eye color for Huskies.
Are blue-eyed Huskies inbred?
But for these breeds the blue-eyed trait is inherited as a recessive trait, meaning that two mutated copies of the gene are required for the blue eyes to occur. According to Irizarry, the mutation of the ALX4 gene in Siberian huskies seems to result in decreased pigment production in the eye.
Is heterochromia a result of inbreeding?
It may be inherited, or caused by genetic mosaicism, chimerism, disease, or injury. Though 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.
Why do so many Huskies have heterochromia?
A Husky can have heterochromia due to any illness, but this is a very rare case. The primary reason behind this phenomenon is based on genetic grounds. Mostly, a Husky whose Husky eyes are different in color has received this trait from its parent.
Why do Huskies have different colored eyes?
The Genetics of Blue Eyes in Huskies. Siberian Huskies have a specific gene that causes a loss of pigmentation in the irises but not the coat, which is why Huskies can have dark coats and blue eyes. This gene allows their eyes to range in color from very light blue to very rich blue. This particular gene is rare.
Can the eyes really turn purple?
In medical science, Albinism is a medical condition where a person lacks melanin pigment in the iris so the color of the eyes changes to red, light blue, or violet. Another medical condition called Heterochromatin can cause the human eye to change its color. So whether by genetics or by disease, purple eyes are a fact.
Are hazel eyes heterochromia?
Hazel eyes are probably more likely to have heterochromia since there are so many colors seen. Central heterochromia is really very beautiful and usually not related to illness. If that is the only symptom, you’re fine.