Dogs with a "blue coat" have the levels of black within their coats diluted to varying degrees, giving them a charcoal gray or silver look. This is a genetic trait that is linked to the melanophilin gene and may affect one pup within a litter or all pups in the litter. Several breeds are most affected by this trait. Though a blue coat can be a beautiful color for your dog, you should be concerned about specific health issues.
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Identification
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A blue coat color is one of the most rare dog coat colors, according to Canine Breeds. While this genetic link causes a dog to be "born blue," the blue coat may not manifest itself until the dog is an adult. Blue coats come in one of four color patterns: diluted blue, progressive silvering, blue-tick and blue merle. Blue dilute is where a brown or black coat is metallic blue-gray. Progressive silvering happens when a puppy is born black and grows into a blue-gray coat as an adult. Blue-tick is black on white, giving the dog a navy blue color. Blue merle is a color pattern that looks like marbled gray on the dog. Blue merle dogs may also have blue eyes and a black nose.
Significance
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The significance of the blue coat goes back to the genetic base of the coloring. Coat color is determined by the amount of melanin in the dog's body. Eumelanin is responsible for black or dark brown colors in dog's coats. For some dogs the significance of the color mutation is nothing more than a unique coat. For registered breeds, a blue coat may result in a disqualification of the animal in registries. And for others, the blue coat may lead to certain health concerns.
Health Concerns
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Two major health issues may arise with blue coat dogs. The first is a condition referred to as color dilution alopecia (CDA) which results in hair loss and chronic skin inflammation. This condition is also referred to as black hair follicular dysplasia because the follicles clump together and become weak and brittle. A second more serious condition affects collie puppies. It is called acyclic neutropenia and is an immune system disorder. Puppies are unable to fight infection and may die within the first few weeks of life.
Diagnosis
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Your veterinarian will diagnose health issues based on a physical exam as well as a microscopic exam of hair follicles. Based on your dog's unusual coat color and odd hair loss, your veterinarian will either pluck hair samples or do a skin biopsy to diagnose color dilution alopecia.
With acyclic neutropenia in blue coat collies, puppies are generally smaller than the rest of the litter. Within 12 weeks, puppies will show signs of immune problems such as diarrhea, fever, arthritic signs, respiratory or skin infections. Your veterinarian can do a genetic test to diagnose this condition.
Treatment
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Dogs with these health issues will have to be on a lifelong regimen of care. Those suffering from color dilution alopecia will need to have special skin treatments to moisturize and strengthen coats. Antibiotic treatments will also help prevent skin irritations from developing into more serious infections. Collie puppies with acyclic neutropenia must be kept on a lifelong regimen of antibiotics in order to support the immune system deficiencies from the condition.
Prevention
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Since this is a genetically passed trait, the best prevention of health issues resulting from blue coat genes is selective breeding. Certain breeds are accepted for blue coats being a recognized coat color. These breeds include Australian cattle dogs, bearded collies, Italian greyhounds and Thai ridgebacks. Other breeds are disqualified for registry for having a blue coat, seen as a defect in the animal, including dobermans and weimaraners.
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