All dogs have whiskers, long or short. They come out of the snout and have a more rigid and firmer texture than the fur. Some people cut them for aesthetic reasons in an effort to meet certain breed "standards", but they don't know the damage they are doing to their furry friend with this.
Do you know what dog whiskers are used for? In the following article on our site we talk about what they are and the functions they perform. Keep reading!
What are dog whiskers made of?
The well-known whiskers are actually called vibrissae or tactile hairs, since they function as a “sixth sense” for dogs. These are tactile receptors whose beginning is located under the skin, hair follicles that are vascularized.
The whiskers that give the dog the appearance of having whiskers are the most common, however, are located at different points: at the labial, mandibular, supraciliary, zygomatic and chin levels.
What function do dogs' whiskers serve?
By protruding from the skin, the vibrissae act with a mechanism similar to that of a lever, that is, the stimulus received from the outside generates a movement transmitted by the “mustache” to the skin follicle, from where it goes to the brain to decode it and generate a response. Thanks to this mechanism, the dogs' whiskers (and the whiskers located in the other parts) fulfill various functions:
- They help to measure distances in the dark, since the air currents that are perceived by the vibrissae allow us to get an idea about the size of spaces and location of objects.
- The supraciliary ones (located above the eye) protect the eyes of the dog from possible objects or rubbish, since they bump into them first and prompt it to blink.
- They sense air currents, so they provide temperature information.
A curious fact is that the whiskers are proportional to the size of the dog's body, so they let him know if a space is big enough for him to pass through.
Do dogs' whiskers grow or fall off?
Have you noticed that your dog's whiskers are falling out? This is normal and after a few days others will grow, since, in the same way that they shed their hair, dogs shed their whiskers However, you should go to your veterinarian if the dropping of the whiskers is accompanied by symptoms such as loss of appetite or any change in behavior.
Although dogs shed their whiskers, this does not mean that it is advisable to remove them early. Can dogs' whiskers be trimmed? Many people have this question, as there are those who suggest extracting the whiskers to improve the appearance of certain breeds. However, this is counterproductive for the dog, since cutting before the natural moulting time means that the animal will be left defenseless without that tactile mechanism that helps it orient itself and perceive the world.
Also, the clipping process is uncomfortable for the dog and can be painful if the vibrissa is removed with forceps or some similar tool. Under no circumstances is this recommended. A dog that has suffered this type of cut will become more suspicious and skittish upon seeing his diminished senses. At the same time, we suggest being careful when touching the area where these tactile hairs are located so as not to cause discomfort to the dog.
Have you adopted a dog that has these touch receptors cut off? Do you want to know if the whiskers of dogs grow? Don't worry, the answer is yes. A cut will not prevent the whiskers of the different parts of the body from appearing again, you just have to be patient and you will notice that they grow in a short time.
Dogs with mustaches
Although all dogs have whiskers on different parts of their bodies, some have an elongated version of them in the whisker area, which gives them a very peculiar appearance. Here is a list of the main dog breeds with mustaches:
- Irish Wolfhound
- Dandie dinmont terrier
- Portuguese Water Dog
- Tibetan Terrier
- Affenpinscher dog
- Pomsky dog
- Border collie
- Havanese
- Bolognese
- Belgian Griffon
- Brussels Griffon
- West highland white terrier
- Schnauzer (dwarf and giant)
- Cairn terrier
- Catalan Shepherd
- Long-haired Collie
- Black Russian Terrier
- Long-haired Pyrenean Sheepdog
- Airedale terrier
- Norfolk terrier
- Pekingese dog
- M altese
- Bearded Collie
- Bergamasco Shepherd
- Yorkshire terrier
- Skye terrier
- Polanco Plains Sheepdog
- Irish soft coated wheaten terrier
- Australian Terrier
- Little Lion Dog
- Shih Tzu
- Scottish terrier
- Fox terrier
- Coton de Tulear
- Lhasa apso
- Bobtail
