As it is said, a dog’s eyes are a testament to its beauty, attractiveness, strength, and dedication. It tells a lot about a breed’s health and overall condition. Among all dog breeds, the German shepherd’s eyes are considered to be most attractive in the sense that they come with altering eyeshades and have a sharp focus that helps them counter their opponent effectively.
German shepherds are the second most popular breed, not only in the US but worldwide. Their versatile attributes make them the perfect dog for different uses. Loyal, intelligent, highly active, and strong, we all desire to have a shepherd in our home.
A closer look at the German shepherd will show that its eyes are normally brown; however, they can also have blue color but in rare cases. Having a German shepherd at your home requires you to furnish yourself with as much information as you can so that you can take care of them the best way.
Talking about the eyes, it is their foremost weapon that needs to be looked after at all stages. From their sharpness, sight, and eye color, you should be aware of the important aspects about the German shepherd’s eyes. After all, a small issue can lead to blindness if not taken care of at the right time.
Considering its importance, here we are going to go in-depth into the eyes of German shepherds.
The eye color of German shepherds
Starting from the eye color, they can opt for various shades during the early years of their life. In the first three months, the eye color keeps changing from one shade to another.
Eye color is mainly derived from genes, and it has a great impact on a shepherd’s coat and hair color. Once grown up, the shepherds usually have brown eyes, but in rare cases, you will find eyes with blue color. Other than that, you will also find shepherds with green and gray colored eyes.
Eyes with brown shades are considered the standard and dominant, whereas the shades of brown may vary greatly.
Are blue eyes normal in German shepherds?
As said earlier, a German shepherd can have blue eyes. Though it looks unique, it is not considered normal and is not accepted by the American Kennel Club; rather, it is taken as a fault. Puppies born with blue eye color change their shade as they grow up, but in some cases, it remains the same.
Due to this, blue eyes are becoming increasingly rare as breeders are deliberately not breeding shepherds having this color. Moreover, if either of the parent breeds has brown eyes, the chances are that brown color will take over even if other parents have blue color eyes.
Blue eyes are developed mostly because of recessive genes. A developed breed that has blue eyes in adulthood is more likely to have them as well if both parents’ breeds have blue eyes.
The blue eye color will also have an influence on coat color. The coat color of a blue-eyed German shepherd will have a blend of blue and sable, blue and black, or blue and tan.
Besides their color, blue eye German shepherds share many of the same characteristics and attributes as any other German shepherd. They share the same level of loyalty, intelligence, and physical needs. The only difference it makes is that blue eye shepherds are not accredited by AKC as purebred.
Eye problems in German shepherds
No matter the eye color, the German shepherd can face various eye problems, and you must address the issue before it becomes severe and causes blindness. Proper functioning of eyes plays a crucial role, and it defines the quality of life.
The two most common eye problems faced by German shepherds are cataracts and pannus. Cataracts are when lenses are affected, making them look dull and cloudy. It usually develops in senior shepherds and is treated with surgery.
The pannus creates an effect on the eyeball, and if not treated on time, it leads to total blindness. Early detection is the only way out to treat this problem, and therefore, you must keep an eye on your shepherd’s overall health.
Other than that, shepherds can also inherit problems and diseases from their genes. However, you can have a healthy and active shepherd if you take care of them properly. Provide them the right food, time for exercise, and keep on checking other requirements. Plus, take your shepherd to the veterinarian if you notice irregular behavior or when you feel like the shepherd is not doing well.
Conclusion
Wide, clear, and bright, candid brown eyes are the identification of healthy and happy German shepherds. However, there is a lot hidden in those eyes. Knowing about the German shepherd’s eyes makes you aware of the complications it involves and also lets you know what is considered normal and what is not. How will you describe the eyes of your shepherd?