Albinism and very white coats are differences in skin and coat color. Some of them come with a higher risk of skin problems.
In albinism, the pigment cells are there but make no melanin, the pigment that colors skin, hair and eyes [1]. A pet with a very white coat is usually not albino: its white comes from other genes [1][3].
Pale and white skin is at higher risk of sun damage. Have your vet check any change on your pet’s pale skin.
Albinism
Albinism affects the eyes as well as the coat. In a study of white Doberman pinschers, a form of albinism in dogs, every dog squinted in bright sunlight, and the dogs had blue irises with a tan edge and pale eyelid rims [2]. The iris is the colored part of the eye. In cats, breeders and geneticists describe a fully albino form and a rare blue-eyed albino form [3].
Albinism and white spotting are different
A pet can have a very white coat without being albino. In dogs, white patches come from the spotting genes, which range from small white markings to piebald and extreme white piebald patterns. Breeds with extreme white piebald include the Dalmatian, bull terrier and Samoyed [1]. Piebald means spotted or blotched with white. In cats, white spotting and dominant white, a coat that is white all over, both trace back to one gene, while true albino cats carry different gene changes [3].
These white coats can come with hearing problems. In dogs, the piebald genes are linked to deafness that is present from birth in several breeds, including the Dalmatian, and dogs with blue eyes or no pigment in the iris are at higher risk [1]. In cats, dominant white is the best documented color-linked cause of deafness from birth, and the risk is greatest in white cats whose eyes are both blue [3]. Albinism itself is not linked to deafness [1].
Sun damage and skin cancer risk
Pets whose skin has little pigment and only a thin covering of hair are more likely to be harmed by the sun, including skin cancers caused by ultraviolet light [4]. In dogs and cats, one of these is squamous cell carcinoma, and sun-related cancers tend to start where hair is thin or missing, such as the nose, the belly and the ear flaps [4].
In the white Doberman study, skin growths were far more common than in dogs of standard color: 12 of 20 white dogs had them, including all 8 dogs older than five, against 1 of 20 standard dogs [2].
For more on sun damage in cats, see solar dermatitis in cats. For the skin cancer most linked to sun damage, see squamous cell carcinoma of the skin in dogs and cats.
Other color changes
Some pets lose color or gain spots later in life. These are different conditions from albinism:
- vitiligo in dogs and cats, where patches of skin turn white;
- lentigo in orange cats, where dark spots appear;
- color dilution alopecia in dogs, where hair loss is linked to a diluted coat color.
How vets check pale skin
Your vet can look at your pet’s skin, coat and eyes and tell you whether its pale skin needs extra care. If a spot on pale skin looks wrong, your vet may take a sample to find out what it is.
Care
Your vet will advise on care for your pet’s skin. At home, as directed by a vet:
- look over pale skin, especially the ears, nose and other places with short or thin hair, so you can show your vet any change;
- ask your vet how to limit sun damage for your pet;
- go back for every check your vet asks for.
When to see your vet
See your vet if your dog or cat has:
- any new change on white or pale skin, above all on the ears, nose or other thinly haired spots.
The bottom line
Albinism is different from a very white coat. Both pale skin and thin hair raise the risk of sun damage and skin cancer. Only a vet can tell what a change on pale skin is, and your vet will advise on care.
This article is for general information only and does not replace advice from your veterinarian. If your pet has a change on pale or white skin, see your vet.
Sources
- Strain GM. The Genetics of Deafness in Domestic Animals. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 2015. CC BY. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4672198/
- Winkler PA, Gornik KR, Ramsey DT, et al. A Partial Gene Deletion of SLC45A2 Causes Oculocutaneous Albinism in Doberman Pinscher Dogs. PLoS ONE, 2014. CC BY. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3960214/
- Górska A, Zieniuk B, Wojciechowska M. Colour Variants in Siberian Cats: A Comprehensive Review of Phenotype, Genetics, and Breed Registry Standards. Genes, Feb 2026. CC BY. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12941195/
- Granados-Soler JL, Story MM, Allavena R. Ultraviolet Light-Induced Skin Cancer and the Safety of Sunscreen Use in Pets: An Important but Under Researched Aspect of Companion Animal Health. Veterinary Sciences, Jun 2026. CC BY. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13416697/