Blue eyes in dogs are quite rare, maybe not as rare as they are in humans, but still rare. Most dogs have brown or black eyes, and blue eyes are often indicators of health problems in dogs that were not born with blue eyes.
So should you worry about your blue-eyed dog? Does it mean they can’t see well? If so, do they need some help?
Do dogs with blue eyes need sunglasses? No, they don’t need sunglasses, however, if you want to protect their eyes you can let them wear a pair of sunglasses if they are senior or middle-aged dogs and not because they have blue eyes. If their eyes turn blue or cloudy, it could indicate health problems and they should be checked by a vet.
There are so many more questions that need answering; are blue eyes just a genetic mutation, or is it a medical condition they are suffering from? Should you worry? Keep reading and I’ll answer all your questions…
Do Blue-Eyed Dogs Need Sunglasses and Why?
The answer to this questions is not a yes-or-no question that I can simply give you, but it does depend on your dog’s condition and why are their eyes blue.
So, Do blue-eyed dogs need sunglasses?
- If a dog is suffering from any eye condition such as cataracts, glaucoma, conjunctivitis they may need sunglasses when they go outside.
- It’s a protection measure for their eyes especially if they like to hang their head out of the car window because it minimizes eye irritation.
- Glaucoma makes their eyes weaker and it won’t handle the light well, because one of glaucoma’s symptoms is dilated pupils that do not constrict when light is shone into the eye so sunglasses may be a good idea.
- If they are suffering from cataracts they will need sunglasses more than anyone, because cataracts affect their eyesight and make it difficult for them to see in any bright light and they avoid it by keeping their head down, squinting, or tilting their head.
- Sunglasses will be necessary for any condition that includes cloudy eyes, watery eyes, redness in the white of the eye, or any change in the eye color.
- There are some breeds for example; Boston terriers ( blue-eyed Boston terriers) are more likely to have issues with their eyes because they are known for their prominent eyeballs, which makes them much more susceptible to injuries, ulcers, cuts, and abrasions. Plus their eyes are large and because they are closer to the ground may make it an obstacle.
- They can also wear sunglasses to protect their eyes from other things besides the sun and the ultraviolet rays such as dust, snow, and any possible injuries.
- But if the sunglasses are just for styling that’s between you and your dog, after all, they are adorable in everything they wear.
- Lastly, blind dogs are at high risk because they are exposed to harsh conditions and sunglasses will be a good solution.
Make sure to check with their vet first to see if sunglasses are the right protection or are there a specific kind they would like to recommend for them.
In a nutshell, sunglasses may not be necessarily for your dog, but it can offer a layer of protection that can be helpful.
Whenever I have to go in the sun at noon when it’s just bearing on us, I like to wear sunglasses, and I don’t see why shouldn’t one try to give them the same level of protection they would give themselves and their kids.
If you are considering sunglasses for your dog, know that it may not be necessary but it can’t do harm, either, and I recommend having one around for when you need it.
You can find plenty of good dog sunglasses on Amazon and in any pet store. Personally, I love the QUMY sunglasses which you can check on Amazon here.
Do Blue-eyed dogs have vision problems?
It depends, if they are born with blue eyes it does not indicate that they have vision problems, eventually will go blind, or any other issue that’s related to their eyes.
If you have the time, you should definitely take the time to learn what happens when dogs’ eyes turn blue here.
To understand it better let’s explain some things first to give you a better understanding of dogs’ blue eyes.
Why do some dogs have blue eyes?
Some dogs have blue eyes because of a genetic mutation. What happens is a duplication of DNA sequence near a gene on dog chromosome 18 that involves skin, hair, and eyes which causes their eyes to have a blue color.
However, in some cases, they are not born with blue eyes and their eye color changed into blue, which could be age-related such as lenticular sclerosis, cataracts, or glaucoma.
In conclusion, they might have a vision problem if their eye color changed into bluish or cloudy pupils.
If you have a golden retriever, you can learn whether goldens can really have blue eyes here.
Can the sun damage a dog’s eyes?
Just like us, the ultraviolet rays can indeed damage your dog’s eyes especially if they are spending too much time outside in the sun, the exposure to ultraviolet rays can lead to pannus, glaucoma, age-related cataracts, or any eye problems.
Also if they are exposed to the sun for a long time it can lead to autoimmune diseases such as pannus which is common in German shepherds and greyhounds, if they are left untreated it may lead to blindness.
Your vet will probably recommend sunglasses if they are recovering from surgery so the protection will be a must in this case. Because if their eyes were unprotected from the sun after the surgery it can put them at serious risks.
If they already have an eye problem like cataracts, glaucoma, or pannus their eyes will be weaker than usual and the ultraviolet rays may affect them in a more obvious way.
Related Questions
Are Blue-eyed dogs deaf?
No, the blue eye gene is the result of an absence of pigment in the iris, it is associated with deafness but it doesn’t mean that every blue-eyed dog is deaf. However, breeds with blue eyes are statistically more likely to be deaf such as English cocker spaniel, dalmatian, bull terrier, and English setter.
Do Blue eyed puppies stay blue?
Most of the time, no, they do not stay blue, the eye usually changes to the color that is gonna last with them after several weeks, because it takes some time to uncover their true eye’s color, usually, it’s brown, haze, amber, or blue.
What dogs can have blue eyes?
Many dogs can have blue eyes such as:
- Siberian husky
- Australia shepherd
- Border collie
- Weimaraner
- Cardigan Welsh corgi
- Dalmatian
- Dachshund
- Sheltie
- Alaskan malamute
- Great Dane
- Pitbull
- Klee kai
- Cane Corso
- Catahoula leopard dog
- Australian cattle dog
- Rottweiler
- Boxer
- Old English sheepdog.
