Melanin

What is Melanin?

Melanin is the key element that plays a significant role in determining the color of an animal's skin, hair, and eyes. In regards to Canine Science, it's what decides whether your dog's coat is black, brown, or any other color. More than just adding hue, it serves to protect the skin from harmful UV radiation.

Role of Melanin in Dogs

For our furry friends, melanin offers more than skin deep benefits. It's crucial for their overall well-being. Not merely imparting color to the fur, melanin has a contribution to immune system function too. Interestingly in Canine Science, lack of this pigment in certain dog breeds has been linked to hearing loss and other health issues.

Types of Melanin in Dogs

There are principally two types of melanin found in dogs - eumelanin (black-brown pigment) and pheomelanin (red-yellow pigment). These two types work together to form the color palette of a dog’s coat. The ultimate color of your dog’s hair depends on which type of melanin is present and in what amount.

Melanin and Dog's Vision

In addition to skin and fur, melanin plays a role in our canine's eyes too. It absorbs scattered light within the eye, creating sharper and clearer vision. Research in Canine Science has shown that dogs lacking melanin could have a degeneration of their retinal tissue, leading to impaired vision.

Genetics of Melanin in Dogs

Curious about why your pup sports the color that it does? The difference in color between each dog boils down to genetics. Melanin production is controlled by genes. Different breeds have genetic variations that direct the type and amount of melanin their bodies produce, resulting in a wide array of beautiful canine coats.