Can Beagles Have Blue Eyes?
The beagle is a breed of dog that has been around for centuries, but you may not know this one thing about them.
Can they have blue eyes? In this blog post we will tell you the answer, so keep reading!
Beagles can have blue eyes that are a rare genetic variation. It’s not in the genes of purebred beagles, but it is possible for this to happen with some mutations or phenotypic variations.
There are some reasons why it happens:
Mix breed
A mix-breed is a dog that has parents from two different pure breeds. The mix-breed may look like one parent but have the traits of the other.
The color blue can be a mutation form of brown and can also vary depending on which breed is mixed in with the beagle.
Some beagles may have blue eyes due to this reason.
For instance, mixed breeds like Husky and Border Collie can carry the blue eye gene, so it’s possible for beagles to have this as well. The chances are much lower but not impossible.
Mutation
A mutation is a change in DNA, and it changes the characteristics of an animal by creating new ways for their traits to show up. For instance, if a beagle was born with blue eyes, then there must have been a mutation in the DNA of the parent.
This case is very rare, but it’s still possible for dogs to get some mutations that change their physical appearance. This gene can also be passed down to future offspring.
A mutation may occur where the recessive allele is expressed. This doesn’t happen often and is not genetic or hereditary to the dog’s offspring but it can be caused by radiation or microorganisms.
Merle Beagles
Merle is a pattern that involves dappling or mottled patches of color on the skin. This marking can appear in any breed such as dogs, cats, horses, and even humans.
Due to genetic variations, they may produce offspring with different eye colors like brown and blue eyes.
But this is not considered to be a pure breed of dog.
For the merle gene to affect eye color, both parents need to carry the merle patterning. It’s rare, but it can happen!
Albinoism
Albinoism is a condition where there’s a mutation in the pigment gene (tyrosinase).
This causes hyperpigmentation, which means that it doesn’t produce any pheomelanin or eumelanin.
The pigment is made by melanocytes. With these missing melanocytes (melanin) and pheomelanin or eumelanin, the eye color becomes blue.
It could be a mutation in both parents that they are carriers of the gene but didn’t know. It’s possible for one parent to pass down the mutation, which causes albinism.
Or it could be a new mutation that occurred for the first time and caused this to happen.
Oculocutaneous albinism:
Another form of oculocutaneous albinism is type 2, and it’s the most common. This affects how melanin pigment develops(skin, eyes, and hair).
The genetics behind this trait is complicated; that means this gene can be passed down from parent to puppy.
It’s a rare mutation, and there aren’t many cases of it affecting eye color specifically.
Young Puppies
It’s possible for a puppy to have blue eyes when it’s born.
As they grow, the pigment will start to show up gradually and their eye color should be normal by the time they’re 6 months old from what we’ve observed.
For instance, a beagle’s eye color can stay blue due to this reason.
The enzyme that controls the production of melanin pigment isn’t fully developed yet, so it doesn’t affect their eye color at a young age.
But as they get older, the eye color should go back to normal.
White Fur around the eyes
It’s also possible for a beagle to have white fur around its eyes so this might cause confusion. The fur will not turn blue but it may look like it does when the light hits it in just the right way.
When you look at it in a well-lit room, the fur will reflect light and make it look blue.
But when you see this color in the sunlight or from a different angle, then the fur won’t appear that way but may still look like it does due to how the lighting shines on it.
Eye Disease
Blue eyes are also a symptom of some eye diseases that can get worse over time. If your beagle’s eye color appears to change, or it starts having other symptoms you should take them to the vet immediately.
Heterochomia in Dogs
It can cause a lack of melanin and is found in dogs one eyes. It can affect the pigment around the eyes and the color of their fur, which can come in different variations.
It’s might be a genetic condition also come from a various eye injury or diseases.
Final Verdict
It’s rare to have a beagle with blue eyes but this can happen. This is because their eye color changes over time or they may carry a mutation that causes albinism.
Blue eyes are a sign that your beagle is unique and special!
