Do Dog Whiskers Grow Back? Vet-Verified Facts & Anatomy
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If something happened to your dog that pulled their whiskers out or burned them, or if you accidentally trimmed them while grooming, it’s common to worry if they will grow back. The short answer is yes, dogs can grow their whiskers back. However, it would be best if you didn’t cut your dog’s whiskers.
Keep reading while we look at the different types of whiskers that your dog has and how they use them. We’ll also look at how long it will take your pet to regrow the whiskers if you accidentally trim them, so you can know what to expect if it happens to your dog.
Types of Whiskers
While your dog isn’t as dependent on their whiskers as much as a cat is dependent on theirs, dogs get quite a bit of information from them that helps them navigate the environment. Many people may not realize that a dog has four different types of whiskers, so let’s learn about them.
Mystacial Whiskers
Mystacial whiskers are similar to the whiskers of a cat and are probably what most people think of first when thinking about whiskers. These are long hairs extending from the left and right sides of the snout. These whiskers provide sensory information about objects and surfaces close to the mouth and are probably most helpful when sticking their head into a narrow space or a hole, as many dogs like to do. Mystacial whiskers can also help dogs receive sensory information, such as the direction of the wind, the vibration of vermin moving under a surface, or something similar.
Mystacial whiskers likely help your dog navigate the food bowl more accurately and tell the dog when something is in close range of their jaws, which can be especially helpful during confrontations. If you cut these whiskers, you might notice a messier dinner area, and the dog will lose confidence and will be more susceptible to injury.
Genal Whiskers
Genal whiskers are on the cheeks, which are the widest part of the dog’s face. Your dog also uses these whiskers to receive information about their surroundings, the wind direction, and the objects moving near them. The genal whiskers also likely prevent your dog from bumping into walls or other surfaces, and they are likely to be especially helpful when walking through doorways.
Just like cutting mystacial whiskers can cause your dog to be more susceptible, cutting the genal whiskers could lead to injury.
Supraorbital Whiskers
Supraorbital whiskers are right above the eyes and can almost resemble eyelashes. These work to protect the eyes from incoming objects and are useful when your dog sticks its head in a hole or tries to navigate narrow passages. These whiskers will also help protect the eyes from danger approaching from behind, as they can sense subtle changes and vibrations. Cutting these whiskers is especially dangerous because the eyes are extremely sensitive and vulnerable.
Interramal Tufts
You can find the interramal tufts under the dog’s chin. The length of these whiskers varies by breed, but they are always present and help your dog sense objects below their head. Interramal tufts are especially useful to water retrievers because they help your dog determine where the water level is so they don’t drown. They will also help brush-hunting dogs that keep their head close to the ground while they track prey or run into thick brush.
They will also help your dog receive sensory information from a blind spot under their chin. Cutting these whiskers can make your dog uncomfortable and disoriented. It could even be dangerous to allow your pet in the water without interramal tufts.
Does Cutting Whiskers Hurt Dogs?
There are no nerve endings in the tip of the whisker, so cutting them will make them uncomfortable and stressed but won’t hurt the dog but pulling them out will. Plucking these hairs can be extremely painful, and like cat whiskers, they seem to attract small children, so you’ll need to watch them until they can understand not to touch them. Dogs can become aggressive if you pull their whiskers.
Please note that cutting or plucking whiskers is considered an amputation of an important sensory organ. There is no reason why you should trim or pluck a dog’s whiskers, and this practice is prohibited in the German, Austrian, and Swiss Animal Welfare Act.
Does a Dog Without Whiskers Lose Balance?
It’s an urban legend that dogs lose their balance if you cut their whiskers because many people notice strange behavior from their pets that can resemble a loss of balance. However, the strange behavior is more likely to be disorientated over losing one of their senses. They will likely be disoriented and susceptible to injury. They may be more likely to bump into the wall or miss the food bowl, depending on what whiskers are missing.
Do Dog Whiskers Grow Back?
Yes. As we mentioned earlier, dogs can normally grow their whiskers back, so there is no reason to be overly concerned if you accidentally cut them. Your dog will begin to adjust to life without the whiskers in a few days, and you may notice the whiskers are starting to grow back in a couple of weeks. However, plucked whiskers can take much longer to grow, and if the whiskers fall off due to an infection or disease, they may never come back unless the primary problem is resolved.
Final Thoughts
So do whiskers grow back on dogs? Although they grow back eventually and it’s not extremely harmful to your dog, you shouldn’t be trimming or plucking your dog’s whiskers. Your dog relies on these sensory organs to navigate their close-range environment and can become more susceptible to suffering injuries without them. Your dog may also withdraw and refuse to be pet without these whiskers to provide feedback. Even trimming them a little can reduce their effectiveness, so we recommend leaving them be and instructing your dog groomers to do the same.
We hope you have enjoyed reading over this guide to your dog’s whiskers and found the answers you need.
See Also:
- Standard vs. Miniature Schnauzer: What Are the Differences?
- Dog Nose Bleeds: Types, Causes & What to Do (Vet Answer)
Featured Image Credit: Doucefleur, Shutterstock
