Albino dogs have the same conditions as other albino animals. This makes the perspective on albinism no different when we consider dogs. And many times this perspective generates controversy, especially when there is not enough information on the subject.
Some people argue that albinism is not a desirable characteristic in dogs because it is associated with many biological deficienciesCertainly this is the prevailing view in many of the dog breed standards. Other people maintain that albino dogs can live well if they receive the necessary care and, therefore, there would be no problem in allowing their reproduction. However, and without ignoring that albino dogs deserve love and the necessary care, it must be taken into account that these dogs are more prone to he alth problems that can limit their quality of life and even cause very serious difficulties in some cases.
Therefore, if you have an albino dog or are thinking of adopting one, it is important that you learn about the characteristics of albino dogs on our site and how the diagnosis of albinism is made. This way you will have a good starting point to understand the care that an albino dog requires.
Characteristics of albino dogs
Although the characteristics of dogs with albinism can be similar to those of other albino animals, this condition presents certain peculiarities in the best friend of man. To begin with, the existence of dogs with complete albinism has not yet been described. This means that all albinisms described in the technical and scientific literature on dogs are partial albinisms.
Even dogs in which melanin appears to be completely absent have some pigment, only in some cases it is so diluted that they look like dogs with complete albinism. Partial albinism, on the other hand, means that there is some amount of pigment and, therefore, it can be confused with other conditions. Perhaps that is why white dogs are often confused with albino dogs, regardless of the cause of their coat color.
However, the main characteristics of an albino dog are the following:
- Pink or very lightly pigmented skin The skin of normal dogs is highly pigmented, even if the coat is white, which you can see by separating the fur from the back. In contrast, the skin of albino dogs is very light and is usually pink. Some albino dogs may have freckles and moles, but the overall pigmentation is almost nil.
- Pink Nose Albino dogs have pink or very pale noses due to poor skin pigmentation. However, not all pink-nosed dogs are albinos. A dog with a ruby nose but pigmentation on the skin, lips, eyelids, and eyes is not an albino.
- Depigmented lips and eyelids Lips and eyelids are other indicators of albinism. When they are pink, there is a possibility that the dog is albino. However, as with the nose, not all dogs with pink eyelids and lips are albinos.
- Very light eyes Albino dogs usually have blue, gray or green eyes, all very pale. They occasionally have light brown eyes. However, not all light-eyed dogs are albinos. Pink eyes are common in other albino animals, but rare in dogs.
Unfortunately, the above features can be confusing and lead to misdiagnosis. Many dogs have one or more of these characteristics without being albino, and some albino dogs can pass for normal dogs. Therefore, the diagnosis of albinism must be made by a qualified veterinarian.
Albino dog diagnosis
Although much research has been done on the canine genome and inherited diseases of dogs, little is known about albinism. It is believed that the genes involved may be in the C and P loci (loci are the positions that genes occupy on chromosomes), as occurs in other mammals. However, there is still no 100% conclusive information.
Unfortunately, the absolutely reliable diagnosis of albinism in dogs could only be made through genetic analysis, but since there is no the appropriate genetic markers, it is only done based on visible characteristics.
Therefore, it is necessary that the person in charge of diagnosing albinism be a professional with experience in the subject. Ideally, it should be done by a veterinarian with some specialization in genetics, but it could also be done by the dog's own breeder if he has sufficient knowledge on the subject and a good record of the pedigree of his dogs.
So don't blindly trust anyone who tells you a dog is albino, Albino dogs are not always reliably diagnosed. It is not enough for the dog to be white or have a pink nose to say that he is an albino
If you have questions about your dog or a dog you want to acquire, please seek advice from a veterinarian you trust, because albino dogs are prone to certain diseases and need special care.
Don't hesitate to visit:
- Care for an albino dog
- Dog curiosities
- Tricks to prevent my dog from smelling bad
