Facts about the animal kingdom

Is My Dog Albino? Characteristics of Albino Dogs

Josie F. Turner
By Josie F. Turner, Journalist specialized in Animal Welfare. Updated: September 2, 2024
Is My Dog Albino? Characteristics of Albino Dogs
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Albino dogs are not the same as white dogs; albinism is the result of genetics, as it is manifested when particular recessive alleles are passed down and the individual does not have the right amount of the enzyme tyrosinase, which is involved in the production of melanin. Consequently, albinism is a congenital disorder; it is very important to clarify that, because too often we talk about albinism without knowing what it is exactly.

Some people argue that albinism is not a desirable characteristic in dogs, because it is associated with many biological deficiencies. This view prevails in many dog breed standards. Others argue that albino dogs can live well if they receive the necessary care and attention and, therefore, there would be no problem in allowing them to breed.

However, while keeping in mind that albino dogs deserve to be loved and looked after properly, you need to take into account that these dogs are prone to health problems that may limit their quality of life, and even cause serious difficulties in some cases.

Therefore, if you have an albino dog or you're thinking of adopting one, it's important that you read this AnimalWised to find out more about the characteristics of albino dogs and how albinism is diagnosed. This will give you a good starting point in understanding whether your dog is albino and the care and attention that an albino dog requires.

You may also be interested in: What Causes Albino Animals?

What are the characteristics of albino dogs?

The characteristics of albino dogs might be similar to those of other albino animals, but this condition presents certain peculiarities which are specific to our canine best friends. To begin with, no studies have been made on dogs with full albinism. In other words, all forms of albinism described in technical and scientific literature on dogs refer to partial albinism.

Even in dogs that appear to have no melanin whatsoever, a little bit of pigment is present. In some cases it is so diluted that the dog seems to be a complete albino, making it easy to confuse. This is maybe why white dogs are frequently confused with albino dogs. However, the condition of albinism goes beyond the color of a dog's fur and eyes.

The main characteristics of an albino dog are:

  • Pink skin, or skin with very light pigmentation. The skin of normal dogs has noticeable pigmentation, even if the coat is white. You can see this by parting the fur on the animal's back. The skin of albino dogs is very light, usually pink. Some albino dogs may have freckles and birth marks, but in general there is almost no pigmentation at all.
  • Pink nose. Albino dogs have a pink or very pale nose due to the lack of skin pigmentation. However, not all dogs with pink noses are albinos. A dog with a pink nose, but with pigmentation in the skin, lips, eyelids and eyes, is not an albino.
  • Depigmented lips and eyelids. Lips and eyelids are other indicators of albinism. When 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. The eyes of albino dogs tend to be light blue, gray or green - all of in very pale shades. They occasionally have light brown eyes. However, not all light-eyed dogs are albinos. Pink eyes are common in other albino animals, but they are rare in dogs.

Unfortunately, the aforementioned features can be confusing and lead to misdiagnosis. Dogs can have one or more of these features without being albino, and some albino dogs can pass for normal dogs. As such, the diagnosis of albinism needs to be done by a qualified veterinarian.

Is My Dog Albino? Characteristics of Albino Dogs - What are the characteristics of albino dogs?

How is albinism in dogs diagnosed?

While there has been much research on the canine genome and the hereditary diseases that affect dogs, little is known about albinism in dogs. It is believed that the genes involved may be found in the T Y R locus - loci are the positions of genes in chromosomes - as it is with other mammals. However, there is still no conclusive information.

Unfortunately, a completely reliable diagnosis of albinism in dogs can only be done through genetic analysis. However, as scientists do not have the appropriate genetic markers yet, it can only be done based on visible characteristics.

This is why the person doing the diagnosis for albinism needs to be an experienced professional in the subject. It should ideally be done by a veterinarian with some expertise in genetics, but it could also be done by the breeder of the dog if they know enough about the subject and have a good pedigree record for their dogs.

Don't trust anyone who tells you that your dog is albino blindly, as albino dogs are not always reliably diagnosed. You can't say a dog is albino just because it is white or has a pink nose.

If you have any questions about your dog, if you're wondering whether your dog is an albino or you're thinking about adopting a dog that may be an albino, seek advice from a trusted veterinarian. Albino dogs are prone to certain diseases, especially skin and eye disorders, and need special care.

Is My Dog Albino? Characteristics of Albino Dogs - How is albinism in dogs diagnosed?

Here you can learn more about dogs and their characteristics. If you're interested in albinism in dogs, you may enjoy the following articles:

If you want to read similar articles to Is My Dog Albino? Characteristics of Albino Dogs, we recommend you visit our Facts about the animal kingdom category.

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Mellie Lynch
He was sleeping and so far he has no issues with his seeing or hearing
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Mellie Lynch
My albino chorkie
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Aleta
My Labradoodle minuture has all the characteristics of Albino. Pink nose, pink lips, pink skin and gold eyes. He is very pink on whole body with some slight darker areas but most have gone away at this point and pretty much all pink. What do you think? Just by looking at him. Thanks
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Bianca
Hi this is my baby boy Ice. He will be turning one in Feb 2020. Thanks for the article I found it very interesting...

My baby ticks all the boxes... He has the pink nose, pink eyes and his skin is also white on his back. Most mornings when he wakes up his eyes, nose and other visible skin looks grey... Its sometimes very weird...
My only question is he has ice blue eyes? Same thing, some mornings when he wakes up his eyes are pale... But at night when he is tired his eyes seem to pop a bit more?

Could my boy be a true albino? My vet did say that he was... But i am not sure how I tense the studies have been on this topic in SA
Administrador AnimalWised
Hi Bianca,

If you have had confirmation by a veterinarian, then we advise you trust their judgement. As long as you meet all of their needs, you can simply go on loving them being in your life.
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Leslie ABCUNAS
Hi! My purebreed japanese akita / silver,black brindle and her best friend fawn, black bindle had a litter of 13 puppies! #6 and #7 are albino twin boys and #10 was the white girl. the rest of them look black in color. Boy was I shocked when I saw these little guys! Im not sure if it's too soon to tell.. but I may have identical albino twin akitas here ..born on June 4-5 2018. They are sooo cute I am in heaven here!
Administrador AnimalWised
Hi Leslie,

Thank you so much for posting this picture, what a great litter. We hope mother and pups are doing well, they certainly look cosy. Unfortunately, information on albinism in Akitas is hard to come by. This is because true albino dogs need to lack the genes to produce melanin. These genes have yet to be identified in most breeds. As the article states, albinism in dogs can only really be confirmed by genetic testing. Even the eyes of true albinos aren't red as you may find in rabbits or other mammals.

To be honest, we also hope they aren't albino as there are some genetic predispositions in terms of health which might negatively affect the dogs. White Akitas don't have these issues and are really beautiful looking dogs.

Please let us know how you get on with them and feel free to provide more pictures, we'd love to see how they progress!
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Is My Dog Albino? Characteristics of Albino Dogs