Is Your Pitbull An Albino Or A white Pitbull? (Albine Dogs)
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Not only can humans suffer from albinism, but many animals also suffer from this condition, in this case, the albino Pitbull. Albinism in dogs is a biological deficiency that discolors the skin and also affects the dog in a general way. It is important that when acquiring your white Pitbull realize if he suffers from albinism. Since having an albino Pitbull we must take certain special care.
Next, we leave you a series of characteristics to recognize whether you have a white Pitbull or an Albino Pitbull.
How Do I know If My White Pitbull Is An Albino?
Albino Pitbulls have several basic characteristics that allow them to be identified. They are:
Depigmented lips and eyelids.
Pink or poorly pigmented skin.
Pink nose or with little pigmentation.
Too light eyes that are usually light blue, green, or gray, always in too light shades.
Keep in mind that the fact that a dog has any characteristics does not allow us to know for sure that your dog is albino. Albinism is one of the most challenging conditions to detect in dogs, so you should always go to your veterinarian if you think your dog is albino before considering this.
Another way to know if your Pitbull suffers from albinism
If you can't get to a vet right now, then it's time to see a breeding professional. You don't need to go directly to a veterinarian since the test to detect albinism is usually physical due to the lack of chemical tests.
How To Take Care Of An Albino Pitbull
Caring for an albino Pitbull is not that simple and even more so when there are no treatments.
We leave you a series of tips to care for an albino dog and keep it happy and healthy.
Try to keep order in your home.
Do not move your dog's food or drink dishes.
Avoid the sun as much as possible, and when you need to go out, avoid solar radiation as much as possible.
Whenever you buy toys, try to make them with sound.
Go to the veterinarian at least two times a year.
Buy Doggles for your dog. These will block out some of the sunlight.
Use special shampoo for albino dogs or with a mild chemical combination.
Make use of light clothing for your dog when going out.
No metal collars, these can rub against your pitbull's skin and hurt it.
Among the ailments that albino Pitbulls have are:
- Skin problems: The skin of albino Pitbulls is usually too weak to withstand the sun and also rubbing.
- Vision problems: The vision of dogs with albinism is often affected by lack of coloration and can even reach a level where their vision becomes null. It is important to take care of the vision of an albino Pitbull.
- Somewhat strange behaviors: Vision failures or skin problems can make our dog a little strange and shy or, on the contrary, a little aggressive due to fear.
- Partial deafness: Not always, but there are several cases in which this happens.
- Other problems: Some additional problems are not big many times or that are not regular. In the same way, a medical check-up is essential from time to time to reduce the possibilities.
Albino Dog - Care, Health and Characteristics
Like people, dogs can suffer from albinism, a lack of skin pigmentation. Apart from the usual dog care, albino dogs require extra attention regarding their dermis to prevent the onset of health issues.
Some argue that albinism is not desirable in dogs because it comes with many associated biological impairments. This opinion indeed prevails in many dog breed standards. On the other hand, others argue that albino dogs can live well if they receive the necessary care, and therefore there is no reason to ban their breeding. However, without ignoring that albino dogs also have the right to receive the necessary love and care, you should know that they are more prone to health problems that can limit their quality of life and even lead to serious difficulties in some cases.
If the characteristics of the albino dog can be similar to those of other albino animals, this anomaly presents some peculiarities in man's best friend. To begin with, no cases of dogs with full albinism have yet been described. All albinisms described in the scientific and technical literature on dogs are partial albinism.
Even dogs that appear to be utterly devoid of melanin pigment have some. In some cases, it is so diluted that the dogs seem to have full albinism. Partial albinism, on the other hand, means that there is a small amount of pigment and can be confused with other abnormalities. This may be why many white dogs are sometimes mistaken for albino dogs beyond their hair color.
- Rosy skin or very light pigmentation. The skin of so-called normal dogs has visible pigmentation even though their coat is white, so you can see it by parting the back hair. Instead, the albino dog's skin is very fair and usually pinkish. Some albino dogs may have freckles and moles, but the overall pigmentation is almost non-existent.
- Pink truffle. The albino dog has a pink or very pale nose due to a lack of skin pigmentation. However, not all dogs with pink noses are albino. A dog with a pink nose but showing pigmentation on the skin, lips, eyelids, and eyes is not albino.
- Depigmented lips and eyelids. Lips and eyelids are two other indicators of albinism in dogs. When they are pink, the dog may be albino. However, as with the nose, not all dogs with lips and pink eyelids are albino.
- Very light eyes. The albino dog usually has blue, gray, or very pale green eyes. Sometimes they have light brown eyes. However, not all light-eyed dogs are albino. Pink eyes are rare in dogs.
Many dogs have one or more of these characteristics without being albino, and some albino dogs can pass for normal dogs. However, the diagnosis of albinism in dogs must be made by a qualified veterinarian.
Albino Dog Diseases
The lack of pigmentation reduces the albino dog's vision, partly because the pigmented area of the retina is less developed and partly because the depigmented iris allows more light through than it should. In addition to these problems, the albino dog often suffers from strabismus (lack of parallelism of the eyes) and nystagmus (rapid and involuntary eye movements).
In addition to poor vision, the albino dog suffers from photophobia. In other words, he avoids bright places, repelled by the excessive stimulation he receives. This is largely due to depigmentation of the iris. Vision problems often aid in diagnosing albinism in humans, so they should also be considered in dogs, although they are more challenging to identify.
On the other hand, the skin of the albino dog is much more sensitive to solar radiation. Thus, burns, tumors, and skin cancer are more common in these animals.
Also, there is a relationship between albinism and deafness. This is why many albino dogs are also deaf. Although this doesn't always happen, if you have an albino dog, it's a good idea to have him tested for hearing.
Other albino mammals have additional problems, such as immune-compromised systems, kidney failure, liver failure, anemia, and neurological disorders. Although these diseases are not associated with albinism in dogs, it is better to be attentive and provide extra care for an albino dog.
Behavioral Problems In Albino Dogs
Due to his particular health condition, the behavior of the albino dog is also modified. Vision and hearing problems can cause overreactions to common situations that dogs may perceive as threats. So, it's no wonder many albino dogs are overly shy or aggressive (in this case, it's more fear aggression).
Photophobia can also cause strange behaviors. Albino dogs who suffer from it can adopt antisocial habits and spend a lot of time isolated without having contact with their families.
Also, most albino dogs have difficulty socializing. The socialization of the albino dog does not bring reliable results, so these animals tend to be shy in the face of unfamiliar people and situations. However, they are generally comfortable within their family or with people they know.
Sensitive skin is also a potential factor for aggressive behaviors and unexpected reactions. For example, because they are more fragile than other dogs, they may react by growling or running away when petted in an injured area.
Because of these behavioral issues and others directly related to overstimulation and cognitive difficulties, dog training an albino dog can be a severe challenge. Moreover, there are no known cases of albino dogs showing good abilities in working obedience trials or real-life situations.
Best Products Fot The White Pitbull
There is no treatment for albinism. However, you must take some precautions if you own an albino dog. Here are some valuable tips and advice:
Albino dogs with vision problemsTry to maintain order in your home so that your visually impaired albino dog doesn't bump into each other and has difficulty finding their way around.
Choose noisy toys that are easy to find.
Do not expose your albino dog to intense sunlight.
Use curtains to make it comfortable.
Buy him a closed bed, of the tent type, so that he feels safe and protected there when he needs shelter.
Make him wear special glasses to reduce the intensity of the light he receives. They are known as Doggles and filter solar radiation. Be careful, and don't forget that your albino dog still needs light to see, so don't put the Doggles on him at night. Also, avoid using them constantly; consult a veterinarian to know their duration and frequency of use.
Albino dogs with skin problemsTake your albino dog to a veterinarian every 6 months for a health check and ask him to be particularly attentive to his dermis.
Don't spend too much time outdoors with your dog.
Protect your dog with sunscreen when on the street. You can also make him wear light clothing to protect him from the sun's rays.
Get a special shampoo for dogs with albino or sensitive skin.
Avoid metallic collars, some albino dogs are sensitive to metal.
Do not forget to go to a veterinarian in case of a problem or change in your animal's dermis. Early detection of any skin disease in dogs will help make treatment more effective.
If you are considering adopting an albino dog, there are some considerations to consider. These dogs can be great pets, and they deserve as much love and care as any other dog, but they also need special care.
Remember that it will be very important to sterilize him. Indeed, although this dog could be your best friend and deserves all your love and respect, it would be unfair to give birth to other dogs with this condition which, without being fatal, can make their life very difficult.
Diagnosis of the albino dog
Despite the extensive research on the canine genome and hereditary diseases of dogs, little is still known about albinism in dogs. It could be that the genes involved are on the C and P loci (the loci are the positions of the genes on the chromosomes), as in other mammals. However, no information has been 100% conclusive.
Unfortunately, the diagnosis of albinism in dogs would only be reliable through genetic analysis, but since they lack normal genetic markers, it is made based on visible characteristics.
Therefore, the person in charge of establishing the diagnosis of albinism must be a professional experienced in the subject. The ideal would be to have it diagnosed by a veterinarian specializing in genetics. Still, the breeder of the dog / the shelter can also do it themselves if they have sufficient knowledge of the subject and a good file on the pedigree of their dogs.
So don't blindly trust anyone who tells you the dog has albinism; these dogs are not always reliably diagnosed. The fact that the dog is white or has a pink nose is not a sufficient trait to say that he has albinism.
If you have any questions about your dog or a dog you want to adopt, ask your trusted veterinarian for advice, as albino dogs are prone to certain diseases and need specific care.
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