Havanese Eyes: A Comprehensive Study of Their Characteristics

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Modern building with geometric shapes and eye symbol under a clear blue sky.
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The Havanese eye is a unique feature that sets this breed apart from others. Their eyes are large and expressive, with an almond shape.

These beautiful eyes are often described as "big and round" and are a key characteristic of the Havanese breed. They come in a range of colors, including blue, amber, and even a combination of both.

The Havanese eye is also known for being relatively large in proportion to the rest of the face. This is due to the breed's flat skull and short muzzle.

Additional reading: Havanese Dogs Short Hair

Eye Characteristics

Havanese eyes are a true marvel. Their almond-shaped eyes are a key characteristic of the breed, with a distinctive "cat-like" slant.

The eye color of a Havanese can range from dark brown to blue, with or without flecks of gold. This variation is due to the breed's genetic makeup.

Havanese eyes are large and expressive, with a wide range of facial expressions possible.

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Research and Analysis

Credit: youtube.com, Havanese: What you need to know

Havanese eyes are a unique feature of the breed, with a wide range of colors to choose from.

The Havanese eye colors include blue, brown, and a combination of both.

These colors can vary in intensity and may be more noticeable in certain lighting conditions.

A different take: Havanese Colors

Effect of AAE on Observed Prevalence

The effect of AAE on observed prevalence is a crucial aspect of understanding cataracts in Havanese dogs. Between AAE ≥ 1 and AAE ≥ 8, observed prevalence was positively correlated with AAE.

Removing results from young dogs can significantly impact the observed prevalence of cataracts. The prevalence was highest in the AAE ≥ 8-group, where almost one third of the dogs were diagnosed with cataracts.

The correlation between AAE and observed prevalence is striking. The frequency of suspected cataract cases was negatively correlated with AAE, meaning that as AAE increased, the likelihood of suspected cataracts decreased.

A key finding is that the proportion of examinations resulting in a cataract diagnosis was positively correlated with minimum age at examination. This suggests that older dogs are more likely to be diagnosed with cataracts.

The dataset used for this analysis consisted of 2,581 eye certificates, which were then filtered based on minimum AAE. After filtering, the number of remaining records varied, but the impact on observed prevalence was significant.

Genotyping Analysis

Two Adorable Havanese Dog Puppies
Credit: pexels.com, Two Adorable Havanese Dog Puppies

Genotyping Analysis was performed using the Illumina CanineHD 230 K BeadChip, a powerful tool for genotyping dogs.

A total of 211,256 autosomal variants were present prior to filtering, but this number was significantly reduced after quality control and filtering.

The researchers used PLINK 1.9 beta 6 to perform quality control and filtering, removing variants that were missing in more than 5% of samples, had a minor allele frequency below 0.05, or deviated from Hardy Weinberg equilibrium.

After filtering, 140,475 variants remained for association analysis, a significant reduction from the original 211,256.

The researchers excluded dogs with more than 5% missing genotype data, ensuring that the data was reliable and accurate.

The association analysis included 57 controls and 37 cataract cases, which were divided into three subgroups: cortical cataract, anterior suture line cataract, and posterior polar cataract.

To control for population stratification, the researchers used mixed linear models, which included a genetic relationship matrix (GRM) as a random effect.

Close-Up Shot of a Cute Havanese Dog Lying on Green Grass
Credit: pexels.com, Close-Up Shot of a Cute Havanese Dog Lying on Green Grass

The GRM was calculated using the “leaving one chromosome out” (MLMA-LOCO) option in GCTA, which excluded the chromosome of the candidate SNP from calculation.

Sex chromosomes were excluded from the association analyses to avoid potential biases.

The researchers calculated a conservative Bonferroni-corrected genome-wide significance level of 3.6e-07, corrected for the number of all autosomal variants that remained after quality control.

Manhattan plots and QQ-plots were created to visually inspect the data and ensure that it was normally distributed.

These plots were created using R version 4.2.1 and the R-package qqman version 0.1.8.

Eye Problems

Eye problems can be a concern for Havanese owners, as they are prone to certain issues due to their brachycephalic skull structure.

Havanese dogs are at risk for proptosis, a condition where the eye bulges out of the socket, due to their flat face.

Their large eyes are also more susceptible to injury.

Proptosis can be caused by a blow to the face or a sudden pull on the leash.

Credit: youtube.com, Are Havanese dogs prone to eye problems?

Eye injuries can be prevented by being gentle with your Havanese and keeping an eye out for potential hazards.

Proptosis can be painful and may require surgery to repair.

Regular veterinary check-ups can help detect eye problems early on.

Havanese dogs are also at risk for conjunctivitis, an eye infection that can be caused by bacteria or allergies.

Conjunctivitis can be treated with antibiotics or antihistamines.

Eye problems can be a concern for Havanese owners, as they can be painful and affect your dog's quality of life.

Regular eye care, such as cleaning their eyes and checking for signs of problems, can help prevent eye issues.

Havanese dogs are generally healthy, but eye problems can arise due to their unique characteristics.

On a similar theme: Eye Problems in Rottweilers

Discussion and Conclusion

Havanese eyes are a unique and fascinating feature of this breed. Their large, round eyes are a key characteristic that sets them apart from other dogs.

The Havanese's eyes can be blue, brown, or a combination of both, known as parti-color. This is due to the breed's genetic makeup, which affects the production of melanin.

Credit: youtube.com, Are Havanese Dogs Prone to Eye Issues?

Havanese owners often notice that their dog's eye color can change over time, sometimes darkening or lightening as they mature. This is a normal process and doesn't necessarily indicate any health issues.

In terms of health, Havanese eyes are generally prone to issues such as cherry eye and entropion. These conditions can be painful and may require veterinary attention.

Regular eye exams and good grooming practices can help prevent or detect eye problems early on.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What color are Havanese eyes?

Havanese dogs have big, brown eyes. Their distinctive eye color is one of their endearing features.

What is the shape of a Havanese dog's eyes?

The Havanese dog's eyes are almond-shaped.

How to trim around Havanese eyes?

To trim around Havanese eyes, carefully use a 10-blade trimmer to remove excess fur, taking care to stretch the skin back across the skull and avoid the corners of the eyes. Trimming in a "down" motion on both sides of the face helps maintain a clean and even appearance.

Saroja Tandon

Lead Writer

Saroja Tandon is a skilled wordsmith with a passion for weaving engaging narratives. As a writer, she has honed her craft through years of dedicated practice and study. With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of human emotions, Saroja crafts stories that captivate and inspire readers.

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