Can dogs be albinos? Dogs can be albinos, but canines with this condition are often mistaken for regular white-coated pooches, however, there are important differences to consider.
In this article, we’ll delve into the reasons why experts caution against breeding albino dogs, and the potential health concerns associated with this condition.
Defining Albinism in Dogs
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An albino dog is not a type of breed but a pooch possessing a rare genetic mutation. It is caused by the complete absence of the enzyme called tyrosinase, which is crucial for melanin production.
Melanin is a natural substance that provides pigment to dogs’ hair, eyes, and skin. Full albinism in animals is called tyrosinase-negative.
Numerous curious pet owners ask: “How rare is an albino dog?” Canines with full albinism or true albino dogs are so rare that tracking their numbers is impossible.
First Reported Case of Albino Dogs
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The Doberman Pinscher was the first breed to be discovered with the albino gene. In 1976, a Doberman named Padula’s Queen Sheba (“Sheba”) was born with albinism.
Sheba’s application for the Doberman Pinscher Club of America (DPCA) was initially rejected as her albinism was not considered a coat colour.
However, the organisation later accepted the dog, classifying her as a white Doberman after looking at her photos.
The unique coat colour of Sheba garnered the attention of many pet lovers. Her owners took this opportunity to breed the Doberman to produce more “white” pups.
The DPCA caught wind of their actions and decided to investigate for the sake of maintaining breed integrity. After 5 years of investigation, it was found out that Sheba’s coat colour was a result of albinism.
Both of her parents, Rasputin VI and Dynamo Humm, were carriers of the same homozygous recessive gene that is responsible for albinism. Sheba inherited these genes from her parents, causing her to become an albino dog.
Signs of Albinism in Dogs
It is common for many albino animals to have white fur, pink noses, and pink eyes. Whilst most of these characteristics are found in an albino pup, some are not.
For instance, pink irises do not occur in canines with albinism. There will be a noticeable pink skin around the dogs’ eyes instead. Some experts believe this lack of pigment around the eyes is a definite tell-tale sign of albinism in dogs.
Other notable traits albino dogs have are light-coloured blue eyes, pinkish lips, nose, and paws.
Albino Dog vs White Dog
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An albino dog can be easily mistaken for a white dog because of its coat colour. However, there are a few notable differences between true albino dogs and white-coated pooches.
Dogs with white coats that have dark eyes and noses are just regular canines. However, if they possess light-coloured eyes, pink noses and lips, and pink skin around their eyes, they are very likely to be albinos.
Moreover, albino dogs have no pigmentation in their fur due to their recessive albino gene. On the other hand, standard white dogs possess the genetic make-up that gives them white pigmentation on their coats.
Apart from white coats, some coat patterns, such as merle, are confused for albino colour. Certain dog breeds like the Australian Shepherd, Collie, Great Dane, and Dachshund often sport these coat patterns.
It should be noted that the merle pattern may manifest if a dog receives 1 copy of the merle gene from 1 of his parents. In comparison, albinism appears when a pooch inherits 2 copies of the recessive albino genes from both of his parents.
True Albino Dog vs Partial Albino Dog
Leucism or partial albinism may also occur in some canines, causing them to lack melanin pigmentations in their body. However, unlike true albino dogs, they will retain colourations on their nose, eyes, skin, or stomach.
Differentiating albinism from leucism in dogs can be tricky if you are not an expert. Without a proper vet examination, you cannot fully confirm if your dog is a true albino or not.
Thus, we suggest bringing him to the vet for genetic testing to acquire a better chance of an accurate diagnosis.
Genetic Testing for Albino Dogs
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Genetic analysis is the only current, reliable test for albinism in dogs. However, experts are still in the dark about the appropriate genetic markers for this condition. Thus, the analysis can only be carried out by examining visible traits.
With this in mind, find a vet with experience and thorough knowledge about genetics and albino dogs. Having a correct diagnosis is crucial to give proper care to an albino puppy since he will be susceptible to many health issues.
4 Common Health Issues Linked to Albino Dogs
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Many dog owners ask: “Do albino dogs have shorter lives?” Yes, albino dog lifespan is relatively shorter than regular canines.
Many dogs with albinism do not make it to the mating stage. Their condition makes them prone to developing some debilitating canine ailments, which cut down their lifespan.
Here are the most prevalent albino dogs’ health problems:
1. Weakened Immune System
Scientists speculate that the lack of melanin in albino dogs lowers their immunity against diseases. The substance helps in keeping canine ailments at bay.
Although this idea is merely a theory, always be on the lookout for any signs of illness in your albino pup. They can be in the form of lethargy, inappetence, diarrhoea, or recurring sickness.
2. Sensitivity to Light
Aside from providing pigmentation, melanin shields the skin and hair from the harmful UV rays of the sun. The absence of this natural substance in albino dogs leads them to be highly sensitive to light.
Excessive exposure can cause several health issues, such as sunburn and photosensitivity. Albino pups are also at a higher risk of developing tumours and skin cancer.
Make sure to regularly check your pet’s body for suspicious lumps or sores. Their presence warrants a vet check-up.
3. Deafness
Albinism has long been associated with hearing loss in many animals, including dogs. Scientists surmise that the lack of pigmentation in the ear canal causes the degeneration of its nerve endings.
However, recent studies show that albinism in canines does not correlate to deafness. That being said, many albino dogs tend to suffer from loss of hearing.
You may also like: Owning a Deaf Dog
4. Low Intelligence
The insufficiency of melanin in albino dogs can lead to a lack of brain receptors. As a result, pooches with this condition have the propensity for being slow learners.
They may easily develop aggressive behaviours as well as biting and playing too roughly.
Caring for Albino Dogs
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Albino pups require special care because of their vulnerability to many health issues. If you own one, here are some of the things that you can do to protect him from these ailments.
1. Tidy up your home.
Albino dog eyes have reduced visibility because of their sensitivity to light. Keeping each room in your home spic and span and avoiding furniture rearrangement ensure safe navigation for your albino pup. Dogs born deaf with albinism can greatly benefit from this too.
2. Let your albino pup wear UV sunglasses.
Limit the UV ray exposure of your albino dog’s eyes by giving him protective eyewear. UV sunglasses filter harmful rays and reduce the amount of light that reaches his eyes. It decreases the chances of eye strain and irritation occurring.
3. Apply sunscreen on your albino dog.
The sensitive skin of albino pups should not be left unprotected, especially when outdoors. Application of sunscreen is essential when it comes to caring for them.
Make sure to look for a sunscreen specifically made for canines. Brands that cater to humans may contain ingredients that are toxic to dogs, such as zinc oxide.
When applying sunscreen on an albino dog, be sure to evenly smear it on his nose, belly, back legs, and belly.
4. Make your albino pup wear clothes.
Clothing provides your albino dog a protective layer against the sun’s dangerous UV rays. You can turn an old sweater or sweatpants into a cosy T-shirt for him.
Bandanas can be used to protect his neck from sunlight, and ball caps provide shade to his head and face.
5. Plan your albino dog’s outdoor excursions.
Avoid taking your albino pup for a walk during the hottest part of the day, which is around 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Exposing them to extreme heat can lead to painful sunburns.
Walking your albino dog in the early morning or evening when the temperature has cooled down is safer.
Price Tag of an Albino Dog
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Final Note
Pet owners should know that many experts discourage breeding albino dogs because of their accompanying health issues. It’s important to be aware that owning an albino pup comes with additional responsibilities.
