Should i trim dog whiskers

Do dog whiskers grow back? Doggy facial hair is not simply called whiskers or vibrissae. Depending on the location of the hair, the whiskers have many different names. We commonly know from cats that they utilize whiskers to collect additional information about their environment.

They help them to navigate through the dark and even identify different textures of objects. Before a cat enters a narrow tunnel, she will brush her whiskers against the inside to determine the size and length of the tunnel. Wind directions or even approaching animals can be detected by these coarse hairs. For cats as well as dogs, whiskers work like a sixth sense that they can use to learn more about their surroundings.

Additionally, they act as protection for the eye just like human eyelashes. However, dogs do not depend on their whiskers as much as cats do, so should you trim them regularly?

Your dog went to visit the groomer and when picking him up you notice that his whiskers are shorter than before. But is this really necessary? Dogs that attend dog shows are commonly known to have trimmed whiskers. But when it comes to dogs, people seem to be less aware of their whiskers and the role they play.

And rightfully so, as whiskers are not really the main feature of a dog, like they are with cats. Whiskers Vibrissae being the official term, help dogs understand the world around them. They act almost like a sixth sense. A simple way to explain whiskers would be that they act as an environmental sensor. Whiskers can sense wind direction, other animals, help dogs and cats to navigate through the dark, and help with spacial awareness. Unfortunately, some owners trim or cut their whiskers for aesthetic reasons.

But this is not advised and is borderline unfair due to the fact that whiskers are helpful for your dog. Thankfully, dog whiskers DO grow back after having been cut or trimmed down. But scientifically speaking, removal of whiskers would lead to disorientation, and a weakened ability to navigate, especially in low light situations. Although not proven, a similar sensation to having whiskers trimmed would be like having nails trimmed.

And they all have their own names. They all play a role in spatial awareness, navigation, and help your dog understand his environment. Some breeds can have quite a lot of facial hair, like the Schnauzer for example. Read our reviews of the best pet insurance companies on the market, with pros, cons, pricing, and more.

Is your dog scratching incessantly? Have you been dying to know what breeds make up your one-of-a-kind pup? Are you concerned about certain hereditary diseases your dog might develop one day? The joy a dog can bring to your family is priceless, but the reality is that owning a dog comes with ongoing costs. Do dogs actually need to supplement their diets with vitamins and other nutrients?

And if so, which vitamins do dogs need? A sturdy, high-quality dog house can offer shelter from all the elements. See which ones we recommend for all kinds of situations. Yes, all dogs have whiskers. In fact, most mammals have whiskers except for humans. The technical term for whiskers is vibrissa 1 , and they are more important than the hair that humans grow on our faces.