Coloring question

[usmom]

I don't know much about genetics, to me it's like math, and makes me crazy. I have to have my iPod on and be alone to focus and understand. So, PLEASE when you answer my question, please, make it simple!
Bandit is not white. He has a champagne colored head, and gets darker the further down his body you go. But, he has red eyes. I know it has something to do with Albino genes, and I know albinos tend to be more suseptible to things. But I don't know what things. I don't know why his eyes are red, because I've never seen another animal with red eyes that wasn't pure white. I guess my question is tell me all about it, but like you're talking to a 5 year old.
Here are a couple of pics of him, in the second pic he is under Mischief, but his back end is as dark as hers.

[aleronferrets]

Cute!

It is pretty common for champagnes to have red eyes and you are right in guessing it has to do with pigmentation. Champanges are a dilution and you can think of them, if you'd like as a "partial albino". Albinos have a mutation that causes no pigment to be shown. More than it is it's own color, it covers up the ferret's real color. Champagnes have changes in their pigment which causes their fur to appear lighter and often their eyes to be ruby instead of dark. The eye color is for the same reason albinos have red eyes - underlying retinal blood vessels showing through.

The mutation that causes the pigment change in dilute ferrets most likely causes other changes as well, such as changes to the immune system. It has been shown in dogs that dilute colors are linked with greater risk of vaccine reactions. With dilute colored ferrets I would use extra caution in medicating or vaccinating them.

[usmom]

Thank you for being simple and not giving me an entire lesson in genetics. Are they more sensitive to the sun if we go outside? Are there other things to look for?

[Heather]

I don't know about Champagnes but my Odin (albino) really doesn't like bright sunlight. Unlike the other guys, he will squint and half shut his eyes. I try very hard when I have them outside to always keep his eyes shaded or at least turn him away from the sun if he's in my arms. Maybe, I can find someone who will make him a pair of sunglasses, they make them for dogs....why not fuzzbutts Odin is also more prone to eye infections than the rest of the guys. We can't seem to find a reason but every now and then his eye will swell shut and get gummy. I will clean it out with a saline solution and then it's fine for days, maybe even weeks. I sometimes think that he might actually get it scratched when he's playing. Just my observations.
ciao

[aleronferrets]

Jun 26, 2008 8:56:58 GMT -5 @usmom said:

Thank you for being simple and not giving me an entire lesson in genetics. Are they more sensitive to the sun if we go outside? Are there other things to look for?

Yes it will make his eyes more sensitive to light. Also light pigmented animals can actually sunburn, especially on the nose, ears and around the eyes. Of course, ferrets don't really enjoy being out in the bright sun anyway so it isn't as much of an issue to just keep them in the house or in shade during sunny times of the day.