[Tubby]

Hi everyone. My basenji/lab mix (mostly lab), Turbo is a cool, cool pup. He is happy and loving and I could not have asked for a better friend. However, recently the brown color from his iris has been spreading to the whites of his eyes. I am a bit worried and he can still see, I just want to make sure this isn't anything serious. Thank you!

 

[Lucillle]

What did your vet say?

 

[Tubby]

My vet generally ignored it, but I just want to see if this has happened to any of you.

 

[Sabina88]

My mini American shepherd has that on one eye. Its very minimal and on the side of the corner of her eye so you cant see it normally unless she looks a certain direction. I don't know what causes it, but as far as I know it wont cause vision loss since light travels to the rods and cones in our (and dogs) eyes through the pupils not the iris. If your vet is not concerned about it then I don't think you have to worry, you can always ask what it is next time you see your vet if you are concerned or you want to know more about it.

 

[Kyllobernese]

The first time a new Vet looked at my dog he mentioned a name for it but as he was looking at Remmy who is blue merle and has always had one blue eye and the other is half blue, half brown, it did not apply to him. Can't remember what he called it though.

 

[Tubby]

My mini American shepherd has that on one eye. Its very minimal and on the side of the corner of her eye so you cant see it normally unless she looks a certain direction. I don't know what causes it, but as far as I know it wont cause vision loss since light travels to the rods and cones in our (and dogs) eyes through the pupils not the iris. If your vet is not concerned about it then I don't think you have to worry, you can always ask what it is next time you see your vet if you are concerned or you want to know more about it.

Thank you very much Sabina for the help and detailed information. That makes sense, so I'm glad its not anything too dangerous. Thanks again!!!

 

[Tubby]

The first time a new Vet looked at my dog he mentioned a name for it but as he was looking at Remmy who is blue merle and has always had one blue eye and the other is half blue, half brown, it did not apply to him. Can't remember what he called it though.

Hmm, good to know that it's common enough to have a name :-D. Thank you!!!

 

[Sabina88]

Kylobernese- That's almost exactly what Maye has for eye color, one is split 1/2 brown 1/2 blue but in her case the other eye is solid brown and that's the eye the has the "iris color spreeding". I did some looking online and if I was reading about the right thing it has something to do with melanin.
You can also go to a doggy eye specialist to make sure its nothing to worry about, and to get more (and possibly more in depth knoladge depending on what your vet knows about the subject) about what it is. Did you specificly point it out to your vet and asked what they thought?

 

[Laco]

The iris is actually a muscle, so if its color is spreading, I guess that means the muscle is moving/growing or??? Be interesting to know what your Vet says about it.

 

[Sabina88]

Laco- The iris is a muscle, but the coloring/pigment of it has to do with melanin.