Are Huskies Color Blind?

Know the truth about your favorite dog breed

In this article, We’ll talk about are huskies color blind? Huskies are not color blind. No matter what the popular notion says about Huskies’ power of sight, they indeed have an equal ability to see as other dogs. Although dogs cannot differentiate between some colors, they do see clearly. However, all dogs cannot see up to long distances.  

Huskies are not color blind 

Colorblind dogs are unable to differentiate between certain colors, for example, red and green. Huskies are able to differentiate colors just like all other dogs. However, all dogs can see fewer colors than human beings can. Some colors are not visible to dogs and others are indiscernible. But dogs do not see the world as black and white. 

All dogs are unable to see red and green colors

Huskies are no different from all other dogs when it comes to seeing red and green colors. They see both of them as the same color and cannot differentiate between certain objects on the basis of color alone. To Huskies, both red and green appear as a shade of yellow.

Huskies do not have as good eyesight as human beings

All dogs cannot see up to long distances

Huskies, like all other dogs, do not have as good eyesight as human beings. Furthermost, dogs cannot see up to long distances. They are much better at seeing the objects closer to them than the objects at a distance. 

So if your Husky runs far away from you, they will be guided back to you more by the sound of your voice and your smell than by your sight.

All dogs have the inability to differentiate between certain colors and distinguish between different levels of brightness. 

Huskies cannot perceive the same level of brightness as us

Huskies and all other dogs are unable to perceive the brightness correctly. What they see is far dimmer than the actual brightness. The lesser number of cones in their retina affects the ability to perceive brightness. 

Huskies have only two different types of cones in their retina

Humans have three different types of cones in their retina. These cones are responsible for the detection of color. Huskies have only two different types of cones in their retina. Cones also manage the processing of brightness. This is why the perception of color is limited in Huskies as compared to us. 

Huskies see better than us in the dark

They have larger pupils 

Huskies are able to better visualize things in the dark because of the large size of their pupils. The larger pupils allow more light to enter their eye so that the image is more clear in low-light conditions. 

They have more light-sensitive rods 

Moreover, the receptive cells in their retina are more sensitive when the light is low. Even the number of light-sensitive rods in a Husky’s eye is far more than ours. This is also possible because of a significant feature of Huskies’ eyes known as the Tapetum. 

Their eyes have a tapetum 

Tapetum is a reflective portion of the Husky eye that directs more light into its retina. Although the Tapetum diminishes the sight of Huskies in daylight. It benefits them during the night. 

Huskies have other stronger senses to compensate for the poor eyesight

Huskies, like all other dogs, have other superior senses that compensate for the inferior eyesight. The rest of their senses are more superior to ours so that they don’t fall behind when it comes to knowing the world around them. In fact, they do have a stronger power of sight than us when it is dark.

Huskies have a superior sense of smell

Huskies have a far more superior sense of smell as compared to us. It is said that their sense of smell is ten thousand times as good as ours. Although Huskies cannot see objects beyond a certain distance, they can absolutely smell things from miles away! This is why so many dogs are employed as service dogs by the police and military to detect drugs and explosives. 

The number of olfactory receptors in the nose of a Husky is fifty times more than ours. Even the area in their brain related to smell is larger than ours. The number of olfactory receptors in the nose of a Husky is as many as three hundred million!

Heterochromatic Huskies have the same ability to see as other Huskies

Heterochromia is seen in about twenty percent of all Huskies. The colors of their eyes are distinct. It hasn’t been proven whether heterochromatic Huskies are more prone to eye conditions as compared to other Huskies. However, they do have the same vision and power of sight as other Huskies.

are huskies color blind

Heterochromia depends upon melanin distribution

The occurrence of heterochromia is only dependent on the distribution of melanin pigment in the eyes of your Husky. The certain lack or excess of melanocytes in the iris of your Huskies’ eye determines the color of their eyes. 

Heterochromia is often perceived as abnormal because it is not commonly seen. Huskies with bi-colored and particolored eyes are just as capable of visualizing as other Huskies. Heterochromatic Huskies are not color blind and they have just as good an eyesight. They can see just as well in low-light conditions as other Huskies.

Blue-eyed Huskies have the same eyesight as other Huskies

People often associate blue-eyed dogs with health problems. It is true that most blue-eyed dogs of other breeds are more prone to develop health problems as compared to other members of their breed. But this is not true in the case of Huskies. 

In fact, all Huskies have blue eyes at birth. All Huskies attain different eye colors when they are young. The changes in eye color begin when they are five to eight months of age. Their permanent eye color appears at around twelve to sixteen weeks of age.

The color of Huskies’ eyes is related to the melanin distribution

The color of the eyes of your Husky is dependent on the distribution of melanin. The color changes based on the distribution and concentration of melanin within your Huskies’ eyes.

Huskies have blue eyes because of a genetic mutation

All Huskies are born with blue eyes. This is because of a genetic mutation in Huskies. This characteristic is passed as a dominant trait in Huskies. This particular mutation causes blue eyes in Huskies. 

Blue-eyed Huskies are not more prone to eye diseases

Blue eyes are a sign of proneness to eye disorders in most dog breeds. This is not the case with Huskies. In fact, blue eyes are commonly seen in Huskies. This characteristic is present as a dominant trait in Huskies. The case is similar for certain other dog breeds like Border Collies, Cardigan Welsh Corgis, Australian Shepherds, Dalmatians, Weimaraners, and Dachshunds. 

Blue eyes are not more susceptible to damage by sunlight

Unlike popular notions, the blue eyes of Huskies are not more susceptible to damage by sunlight than other eyes of other colors. In fact, the blue eyes of Huskies have an additional layer of dark skin around them that offers protection. But the mere lack of melanin pigment does not make their eyes more prone to damage.

Blue eyes are not more prone to cataract

Contrary to popular beliefs, blue-eyed Huskies are not more prone to cataracts. Cataracts generally occur because of the presence of certain recessive genes. Exposure to sunlight is not the main factor that contributes to their occurrence. 

Blue-eyed Huskies are not more prone to blindness

Blue-eyed Huskies are not more prone to blindness than other Huskies. It is a normal characteristic. However, Huskies are generally more prone to eye disorders than other dogs. 

Huskies are generally more prone to eye disorders

As compared to many other breeds of dogs, eye disorders are more common in Huskies. Many Huskies are known to suffer from hereditary eye conditions. The three commonest eye disorders in Huskies are juvenile cataracts, progressive retinal dystrophy, and corneal dystrophy. 

It is not known whether heterochromia has a certain role in aggravating the proneness to eye conditions. 

Conclusion

Huskies are not uniquely color blind. All dogs are unable to differentiate between red and green and certain other colors. The vision of all dogs is significantly impaired as compared to ours, but they can compensate for the lack of vision through other senses.

Huskies cannot differentiate between different levels of brightness but they can certainly see better than us in low light conditions. The sense of smell and hearing is significantly more established in dogs as compared to us. 

Even heterochromatic Huskies and blue-eyed Huskies have equal abilities of sight as other Huskies. Their vision is in no way compromised as compared to other dogs. However, Huskies are certainly more predisposed to suffer from eye conditions because of their genetic makeup. It is important to get your Husky’s eyes checked by a veterinarian in case you notice cloudiness or the appearance of an abnormal blue color when they are older than six months of age. 

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