Papillon Puppy with Ocular Heterochromia - One Blue and One Brown Iris

by Karen C.
(Indianapolis, Indiana)

I have a 5 week old, male Papillon puppy with a blue eye and a brown eye.
The blue eye is clear with a blue-ish film over it and the pupil is located in the center of it and appears dark.
The other eye is brown and seems fine.
What is the reason for the difference in color?

Answer

Hello Karen!

Congrats to your new puppy!

Eye color is genetically determined and the iris of your puppy's blue eye contains less brown pigments than the other, brown colored eye. This is also called ocular heterochromia and is quite common in dogs, regardless of breed or coat color.

Iris pigmentation is actually always brown. It is the amount of brown pigments that determines in which color an iris appears: the more pigments, the longer wavelengths of light are being absorbed from pigmented surfaces and the darker appears an iris, if you look at it.
So we can see green, grey and blue irises, depending on how much pigmentation is present in an iris.

Important is that the pupil, globe and eye background are normal and functioning as they should.
To find out, let your vet examine the eye with an ophthalmoscope to see, if the pupil reacts to light in the right way, if lens and globe are fully developed and if the retina at the back of the eye appears normal.

Best Wishes

Dr.Ellen Schmidt, MRCVS

This is only educational advice. It is based on the depth of your question and the picture you submitted. The above answer cannot replace the advice of your local veterinarian, as he / she has the ability to evaluate your pet in person.