Does your Chow Chow have blue eyes, and you doubt whether they are a Chow Chow? As many Chow Chows tend to have dark brown eyes, it may seem odd for your Chow Chow to have blue eyes. Let us dive into why your dog has blue eyes and whether it is possible for Chow Chow to have blue eyes.
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Can Chow Chows Have Blue Eyes?
Yes, Chow Chows can have blue eyes. Most Chow Chows tend to have dark brown eyes, but some can have varying eye colors, including amber, hazel, green and blue. However, Chow Chows with more unusual eye colors generally have diluted genes.
Causes Of Blue Eyes In Dogs
Genetic
There are various genetic-related reasons why your Chow Chow has blue eyes. One of those reasons is called the ‘blue-eyes’ variant. It is a trait carried by some dog breeds and can appear in uncommon breeds when they inherit that trait from one of those breeds. Hence, it is common in mixed breeds and offsprings of the mixed breed.
Blue Eyes During Puppyhood
Many puppies have blue or similar eyes when they are first born. However, their eye color tends to change as they grow older. Hence, around about the time when your puppy is 16 weeks old, its eye color would have changed to its real eye color, which is most commonly brown for Chow Chows.
Therefore, if your puppy has blue eyes, it is not guaranteed that its eyes will remain blue. However, if your puppy retains its blue eye color, it is most likely its true eye color.
Health Condition
Numerous dog conditions result in the alteration in the composition of dogs’ eyes. Some of these health conditions include cataracts and anterior uveitis. These conditions would usually result in your dog’s eyes taking on a grey/blue and pale appearance. However, this type of blue is distinct from the deep blue one would see in healthy dogs; therefore, you could identify whether your dog’s eyes are blue or the blue results from a health condition.
Such health conditions are usually the result of old age, eye injuries, and other primary diseases. Should these conditions be left untreated, your dog’s eyesight would suffer severely, and your dog could end up completely blind. You should contact your veterinarian if your dog’s eye color starts hanging to a pale and cloudy color.
Albinism & Blue Eyes
Albinism in dogs is quite rare; however, it is not impossible. Albinism is a lack of pigmentation in the eyes, skin, hair, and blood vessels. Dogs with albinism will typically have a white and pinkish tone. Due to the lack of pigmentation, dogs with albinism usually have green or blue-colored eyes.
Which Eye Color Is Dominant In Dogs?
Although dogs have various eye colors, including hazel, black, golden, and speckled, dogs’ most dominant eye color is brown. Dogs tend to have varying shades of brown eyes, but the most common shade of brown is a dark chocolate color.
Are Blue Eyes Rare In Dogs?
Yes, blue eyes are rare in dogs. This is because blue eyes are typically only seen in certain breeds, including Huskies. However, this trait can be seen in other breeds, especially when they are mixed. However, the result of blue eyes in mixed breeds is not as simple as simply breeding a dog with blue eyes. Genetics manifests in unexpected ways, and getting a mixed breed with blue eyes is quite special.
Are Dogs With Blue Eyes More Sensitive To The Sun?
Yes, some dogs with blue eyes are more sensitive to the sun. Hence, you should always have a shady place for your dog if they need it. This is especially important for dogs with blue eyes because of albinism, and their lack of pigmentation/melanin makes them susceptible to sunburn.
Conclusion
If your Chow Chow has blue eyes, do not panic. If it is still a puppy, their blue eyes are likely simply a case of puppyhood blue eyes. Allow your puppy to grow older, and if the blue color persists, you should take them to the veterinarian to have them checked out.
They may either simply have beautiful blue eyes, or their blue eyes result from some condition. In this case, you would need to be educated on properly caring for your dog, given its condition.
