Perhaps your dear dog met with an accident and lost a few whiskers or you come back home to find a fallen whisker on your couch. You might be anxious to know: Do Dog Whiskers Grow Back?
Your dog’s whiskers will no doubt grow back, typically in a couple of months. Sometimes, they may even grow back longer than they were!
Do Dog Whiskers Grow Back?
Whiskers are hairs, although not the same as the hairs on your dog’s body. However, much like the hair coat, whiskers are routinely shed as the hair coat is and will gradually grow back.
Usually, whiskers grow at the same rate as the rest of your dog’s hair. However, it will take a few months for his whiskers to grow back to their original length. Most dogs take 4 months or more.
What Are A Dog’s Whiskers For?
So why do dogs have whiskers? The whiskers’ primary function is to aid vision by providing supplementary sensory information to ultimately increase spatial awareness in the dogs.
The whiskers on your dog’s face are typically twice as thick as the regular hair on the dog’s coat. Whiskers reach deep under your dog’s skin and are rich in nerves and blood vessels.
Whiskers or ‘vibrissae’ are long, coarse hairs typically emerging from these areas on an animal’s face:
- Above the eyes: supraorbital whiskers
- The dog’s muzzle and on or under the snout: mandibular whiskers
- The dog’s chin and cheeks: genal whiskers or interramal tufts
- In place of a mustache or upper lip: mystacial whiskers
- Macro vibrissae: long whiskers for sensing the space around the head
- Micro vibrissae: smaller downward-pointing whiskers to identify objects
Whiskers differ from your dog’s fur and facial hair in terms of length, thickness, and texture. All dogs have whiskers: some dog breeds like the Irish Wolfhound have long, thick and dense ones while others like the Basset Hound may have shorter, fewer whiskers.
Is It Normal For Dog Whiskers To Fall Out?
It is completely normal for your pet dog to lose a whisker now and then.
Reasons include:
- Daily wear
- Accidental injury
- Temporary allergies in your dog, among other things.
Dogs and cats losing their whiskers are, in fact, quite a common occurrence and of no concern should it happen naturally. The whiskers will most definitely grow back.
However, if the rate of loss of whiskers is severe or happens all at once, you must immediately consult with your veterinarian as it might be indicative of illness or disease in your dog.
Also Read: The Best Pet Hair Removal Brushes For A Clean Home
How Long Does It Take For Dog Whiskers To Grow Back?
How long it takes for dogs’ whiskers to grow back varies from breed to breed, but it should not take over 4-5 months. The overall health of your dog can also affect the rate at which his whiskers grow back to their original length.
What Happens When You Cut Off A Dog’s Whiskers?
Removing your dog’s whiskers can leave him confused, slightly disoriented due to inhibited sensory input. This leads to decreased spatial awareness which can make your dog less confident in his abilities.
Cutting off your dog’s hair can also noticeably affect their mood. Your furry friend might become moody, aggressive, and aloof when a large part of their sensory nervous system is suddenly and negatively refashioned.
Do Dog Whiskers Grow Back If Plucked?
Even when you pluck dog whiskers, they will slowly grow back out in time.
Nevertheless, pet owners must never pluck the whiskers of their furry friends. The nerve endings in the follicle are very sensitive and plucking would cause both cats and dogs discomfort and disorientation, even pain.
There is a chance of permanently damaging the hair follicle and root if you pluck your dog’s whiskers out. Infection is another possible consequence.
Do Groomers Cut Dog Whiskers?
Dog groomers commonly cut off show dogs’ whiskers for the sake of appearance. Scientists heavily debate this practice because of the widespread indifference towards the consequences of artificially meddling with dogs’ sensory systems.
You should avoid cutting your dog’s whiskers as they serve a very important function for their sensory awareness. In short, your puppy’s whiskers are best left untouched.
It is abundantly common with poodle grooming to shave the face clean. If your dog is a poodle and you opt to shave his face clean, the whiskers will eventually grow back.
Can Dogs Feel When You Cut Their Whiskers?
Trimming or cutting a dog’s whisker is not painful when done gently. The whisker itself does not have pain receptors. So, no, your dog won’t feel anything when you cut his whiskers.
Since whiskers are just hair, but thicker, cutting them won’t hurt your furry animal. Like cutting your pet’s nails, it is a task that requires patience and a gentle touch.
Does It Hurt When A Dog Loses A Whisker?
Dogs losing their whiskers is a lot like humans shedding their skin. It’s natural, it’s habitual, and happens without you even noticing. Losing whiskers naturally does not hurt your pet.
However, if you purposely pluck or pull out the whisker, it can cause severe pain and even result in bleeding in your dog.
Do Dogs Like Their Whiskers Being Touched?
If your dog is not yet comfortable being vulnerable in your presence, you should avoid touching his delicate whiskers— he may start or flinch away in response. More often than not, dogs do not like their whiskers being touched.
Both dog whiskers and cat whiskers are so sensitive that they can sense if a screen is nearby from the air currents in the surroundings!
Dogs use their whiskers to inspect the objects around them and their surroundings. Any unfamiliar or foreign stimulant that they cannot control can unpleasantly surprise them.
This explains why they blink or flinch away when your fingers accidentally brush up against them or their whiskers.
Do Whiskers Help Dogs Balance?
Whiskers are important biological structures in dogs: the nerve endings present at the base of the follicles send signals to a dog’s brain. That said, it is a common myth that whiskers help dogs balance.
Even though your dog wouldn’t exactly lose his sense of balance, losing his whiskers could prove damaging to his ability to sense and inspect his surroundings. You will notice a change in behavior if his whiskers are trimmed.
Can Dogs Feel With Their Whiskers?
Each whisker on a dog is rooted in a hair follicle. This follicle is connected to blood vessels and nerves. Because whiskers are like thick hair, and hair is made up of dead cells, the dog whiskers on their own cannot feel anything.
When objects or any other matter brushes up against dog whiskers, the sensitive nerves in the hair follicle get stimulated. This allows dogs to be aware of their surroundings.
What Are The Bumps With Whiskers On My Dog’s Face?
On close examination of the area around your dog’s whiskers, you’ll find a smattering of bumps. These little lumps are clusters of nerves and other sensory structures that allow your dog’s whiskers to function as tactile hair.
More than one whisker can sprout from one bump in your dog.
If you notice previously unseen bumps with hair on your dog’s face, it may be a case of canine acne. They will appear slightly inflamed and red, especially in the initial stages.
Consult with a medical professional for an official diagnosis and the most effective form of treatment for your dog.
Also Read: Is It Safe To Use Baby Wipes On Your Dog’s Skin?
Can I Cut My Dog’s Eyebrow Whiskers?
Although you can safely trim your pup’s eyebrow whiskers— it will grow back— it will suppress their otherwise powerful sensory nervous system.
Much like your eyelashes protect you from dust as well as other irritants, supraorbital whiskers or whiskers above the eyes help protect dogs’ eyes. When you touch their eyebrow whiskers, your dog may shy away, blink or flinch from the strong, unusual contact.
Use a pair of trimming scissors and other grooming instruments to keep long whiskers from getting in your dog’s eyes to keep him tidy and comfortable.
Do Dogs Eyelashes Grow Back If Cut?
If you trim your dog’s eyelashes, they will slowly grow back out. However, be sure to keep in mind that your dog’s eyelashes protect the highly sensitive eyes from dirt, dust, and other debris, much like your own.
Cutting them too short can lead to irritation and discomfort.
Some dog breeds have lashes that grow so long that they hinder clear vision. Trimming may then become necessary.
Schnauzers, for example, have dense facial hair and require proper grooming supplies to trim their eyelashes safely and keep fur out of their eyes.
Conclusion: Do Dog Whiskers Grow Back?
If your dog loses its whiskers naturally, it will no doubt grow back within the span of a few months. The time varies from breed to breed.
Another factor is your puppy’s overall health. All in all, it doesn’t ordinarily take more than five months for dog whiskers to grow back.
However, if whiskers are forcefully plucked out, there is a chance of damaging the nerves or blood vessels. You should consult with a veterinary professional if your dog’s whisker has been plucked and shows signs of infection.
If you wish to cut its whiskers, you should use a grooming kit like BOSHEL Dog Grooming Scissors Set
