[wonceinee]

My pit bull is nearly all white (yellowish eye and red nose as well) except for a tiny spot here or there, mostly around the ears. Is this albinism? I assume albinism is all white plus pink eyes. Im only asking because I just got a off a super hardcore pit bull guy's website (he chewed out bullys and any faults a dog had. Yes I dont like bullys too much but this guy chewed them out to the maxmax), anyways he said a pure white pit is only albino and chewed all white pits out as well. I swear A/UKC said any color is acceptable unless where talking (blue) eyes. Help?

[Fluivelip]

You don't have an albino,albinos have no pigmentation...I have a white pit bull too with small brown spots around the ears and back,check out my album.Don't worry what some internet expert says and love your little fella.
White pit bulls do tend to have skin issues but so do blue pitties,mine had a skin rash when he was 3 months old but my vet took care of that and he's been fine ever since

[juidizHusw]

True Albinos are very rare in dogs...it is almost ALWAYS thought to be a mutation of the c(e) gene. C-which shows full coloration and is the building block for Tyrosinase allows for full pigmentation. TYR (the Tyrosine Gene) is the building block in Melanocytes. It converts Amino Acids from Tyrosine to Dopaquinone...and then another series of chemicals reacts with that to form Melanins which dictate the formation of Pigment. OK, that is the tuff part...so you can breath now! (Mollie's Nana)

Complete Albino means absolutely NO PIGMENTATION and PINK EYES (Tyrosinase-Negative). This means no skin spots, no leather coloration, pure white fur, pink eyes and clear mails.

There are degrees of Albino that allow for some "coloring" and are considered Tyrosinase Positive. Usually these dogs look "white" but can really be a buff, pale, luster shading of coat coloring. A White German Shepperd actually is considered a buff (slightly off-white) but has pigmented skin (not pink) with black nose and lip leather. There are other dogs that follow this same path like White Terriers, White Dobbermans ect.

Genetically most dogs are CC (Dominant Full Coloring). Most White Pit Bulls would be C-C, sw-sw (sw is the gene for Extreme White) or C-C, sw-sp (sp is the gene for piebald). A ce-ce dog would be an extreme dillution of tan and could appear buff (slight tinge of yellow). There are many more combinations like cch (chinchilla), cp (platinum), ect. that also show a phenotype of "near albino".

Other eye colors can occur in those combinations like blue, yellow, light gold. As in Double Merle dogs it is not just the eye color that you have to pay attention: instead, you would pay close attention to the physical factors present.

Spiky Projections...starburst pupil is visible

Eccentric-jagged edging/irregular edge shape which makes them "light sensitive"-pupli does not dialate properly to adjust to light conditions

Subluxated-pupil not centered...usually not a problem unless it is very close to the edge of the iris

Microphthalmia-very small eye (iris is smaller than normal)

[jPNy2BP5]

another fine lesson from Professor DD.

[Sukadrukanga]

Diesel... One valuable lesson learned... stay away from that guys website.

[juidizHusw]

You know Mollie, if only 10% of what people read here at PBC (all the forums and threads) sinks in, people are 100% better dog owners.

[Fluivelip]

Awesome post DD...

[JulietOreira]

I must say. white pitbulls are the way to go. : )

[bF8CCmmr]

Awesome information DD I always learn something new from you, thanks!

[juidizHusw]

Just to add a small note about deafness and white dogs. Having white around the ears is not an absolute criteria for deafness...just a pointer to possible issues. The cause, if not by injury or infection, ect., is the lack of pigmentation "inside" the "inner ear". You can not visually see the inner ear so white around the outside (visible) of the head and ear is just an indication of possible unilateral or bilateral deafness.

***When people say color is just color...usually said about blue or white dogs...it is true in one sense but not the whole story. Pigmentation has a lot to do with development of many system/structures***

[Sukadrukanga]

You know Mollie, if only 10% of what people read here at PBC (all the forums and threads) sinks in, people are 100% better dog owners.

I'm going to have to agree with you 100% on this one Diesel!

[cinggooft]

no offence to anyone who has a dog with different colored eyes, but i heard that having two different colored eyes is a genetic defect and comes from incestial breeding. is this true?

[brandiweb]

Heterochromia irides is a disorder of the iris characterized by difference of the iris (plural irises or irides, the most visible part of the eye) in different areas of the same iris. Eye color, specifically the color of the irises, is determined primarily by the concentration and distribution of melanin pigment within the iris tissues. In the heterochromic eye, the iris is characterized by at least two distinct and solidly colored areas or differently colored patches or spots. Heterochromia is uncommon in humans, but quite common in dogs, cats, and horses. Most cases of heterochromia are hereditary, caused by a disease or syndrome, or due to an injury. Sometimes one eye may change color following certain diseases or injuries.
Heterochromia irides is seen in a number of breeds such as Old English sheepdog, Siberian Husky, American Foxhound, Alaskan Malamute, Shih Tzu. In some cases, it may be accompanied by thinning of the iris, or holes in the iris. Combinations of brown, blue and white are common.
In many breeds, a completely blue iris of one eye is acceptable; in other breeds it is rejected for registration. In some breeds, such as Siberian Husky, both irides can be blue. Blue irides in certain breeds, such as Dalmatian, have been associated with deafness and cardiac defects.
Heterochromia irides is also associated with microphthalmia, cataracts, retinal dysplasia, optic nerve hypoplasia (underdeveloped optic nerve) and other eye anomalies. Heterochromia irides is associated with merling gene and coat color in many breeds.
Some breeds in which uveodermatologic syndrome has been reported (eg, Siberian Huskies, Old English Sheepdogs, Australian Shepherds, and Shetland Sheepdogs) often have heterochromia irides. Dogs with asymmetric uveal pigmentation may have unilateral ocular changes; therefore, uveodermatologic syndrome should not be excluded as a differential diagnosis on the basis of unilateral clinical signs.

no offence to anyone who has a dog with different colored eyes, but i heard that having two different colored eyes is a genetic defect and comes from incestial breeding. is this true?

[juidizHusw]

Make sure you credit an author if the text is not in your own words...

http://www.gopetsamerica.com/dog-hea...rochromia.aspx