Illness/conditions related to colour

[Kimber]

Hi guys....when I was in college my favorite course was genetics and of course that how now pulled into my rat hobby.

When I worked at the vet clinic I remember there being certain traits or health issues that were related to the colour of the animal. We all know the horrible health concerns that can arise from high white breeding, odd eyes, etc. but I am wondering about skin conditions.

In dogs (especially Great Danes) the blue variety has a heightened risk of skin conditions. There was a young female that came in who ended up having mange and it was related to a genetic condition that lowered their immune system/ability to control the issue (this is for demodicosis/red mange/demodectic mange). All dogs have a certain amount of this; however, the genetic condition in certain lines of blues makes the hyper-sensitive to them. Unfortunately, the woman who had the blue female had to remove her from breeding lines as this trait it passed on.

I was wondering if there are certain issues that come with certain other colours...are blues at risk for genetic conditions as well? Any other colours?

 

[rhapsody]

From what I recall, coat patterns can also be linked with genetic wonkiness. One of the rescue folks I work with has long suspected that the blazed marking in rats is linked with neurological problems and a higher occurrence of PT. But then again, the rescue cleans up after the very irresponsible breeders in our area, and blazes are highly sought after.

In hamsters, the mottled/spotted pattern paired with ruby eyes in the dwarf varieties is linked with a lethal white gene - the pups are born eyeless, and they fail to develop teeth. Even with human intervention, they almost never survive the weaning process.

 

[Kimber]

Rhapsody:

In lethal white white hamster, do they develop the intestinal issues and die early too?

 

[rhapsody]

Rhapsody:

In lethal white white hamster, do they develop the intestinal issues and die early too?

Its nothing as extreme as megacolon, but the end result is still the same without human intervention. The teeth are completely non-existent so they are unable to eat solid food and will starve to death without a very specialized liquid diet. The condition also comes with wonky internal abnormalities, so even with dedicated and knowledgeable human care, they have a significantly shortened lifespan. The term for this condition is known as Anopthalmic Whites.

I believe that syrian hamsters also have a similar Anopthalmic White gene, but they are able to develop teeth.

Coincidentally, horses also have a "lethal white gene" that results in a very similar condition to megacolon in rats.

 

[Kimber]

Yeah, I knew about the Lethal White (high white horses) and have actually known mares that have had them...poor girls carry the baby so long and only get a couple hours with the foal before they're gone....

 

[handmeafish]

The yellow agouti gene in mice causes sever obesity. The scientists think that the gene helps mice know when to stop eating, but these guys don't get that. We watched a video about it during bio

 

[Dazzle87]

Australian blues have (had?) problems with hemophilia I believe.

 

[Moon]

Australian blues have (had?) problems with hemophilia I believe.

I read that as homophobia and thought to myself "I highly doubt that"... LOL

 

[mamarat]

Too funny, Moon.

 

[Dazzle87]

Australian blues have (had?) problems with hemophilia I believe.

I read that as homophobia and thought to myself "I highly doubt that"... LOL

:laugh4: Yes rats are very tolerant!