Why do dogs have whiskers?

We love our pet's whiskers. But they're not just decorative. As well as sight and hearing, dogs rely on their whiskers for information about the world around them. We’re going to explore dogs and whiskers in more detail so that you can understand exactly what whiskers do and why they're so important. What are dog whiskers? Whiskers are thick hairs. They're very different from the other hairs found on your dog’s body due to their thickness and sensitivity. But if we want to get more scientific, the technical term for whiskers is "vibrissae". They're rooted in deep follicles within your dog’s skin. These are full of tactile mechanoreceptor cells, known as Merkel cells, which detect touch. That's a lot of technical terms, so let's get to what this means: the sensations your dog gets through their whiskers sends signals to their brain. This helps them form a "picture" of their environment: what's going on, where they are, how they fit into the space. Why do dogs have whiskers? Whiskers aren't just cute: they're an important adaptation that dogs share with most other mammals. They have a few important things to do, like: Sensing the environment Dog whiskers are about as sensitive as our fingertips, sending signals to the brain about touch and sensation. Anything that causes the hair to vibrate will trigger nerve impulses to fire. This includes being touched by an object and circulating air movements. Whiskers, for example, help dogs move around in darkness and low lighting, allowing them to sense what's "right under their nose" without fully seeing it. Protecting their eyes Objects contacting the whiskers can trigger reactions, like blinking. This could save the nearby eye from things like debris, protruding objects, or flying insects, which may otherwise end up causing damage. Showing emotions Dogs use whiskers to show how they're feeling. For example: Dogs rely on subtle body language clues when communicating with each other, and whisker movement and positioning play a role in this. Where can you find whiskers? Is it just on their muzzle? Whiskers are found in all around your dog's face: Basically, whiskers are found in so many places as they help your dog map out what's happening and when. Can I cut my dog’s whiskers? No, it’s definitely not recommended. While your pet may look neater with trimmed whiskers, this abnormal shortening could throw your dog’s senses off. Without whiskers, their sensory perception will be impaired, which could cause them unnecessary stress. Let's return to why whiskers are important, with a quick look at some of the jobs they do: For these reasons, cutting or plucking these tactile hairs for aesthetic reasons is actually prohibited in some countries; it's not worth the risk. Do dog whiskers grow back? If you accidentally cut your pet’s whiskers, don’t panic: they'll grow back. It may take a few weeks until they reach their normal length, though. Is dog whisker shedding normal? Just like the other hairs around your pet’s body, whiskers do shed intermittently. But if you spot problems like brittle or broken whiskers, it could indicate an underlying health or dietary issue. What health problems can happen with a dog’s whiskers? As they're a type of hair, conditions that affect whiskers may affect other, nearby hairs. These include: If you notice that your dog’s whiskers are shedding more often, or they seem brittle and prone to breaking, then make an appointment with your vet. You should also get your dog checked out if you are seeing other symptoms like more generalised hair loss, increased itchiness, or skin inflammation. As we've found out, whiskers are important, so let's keep them healthy and smiling. FAQs Are dog whiskers connected to nerves? Yes. If we want to get science-y, this is how: Do whiskers hurt when touched? Dogs will flinch or react when their whiskers are touched. This doesn’t mean that your dog is hurt, but it does indicate that the whiskers are very sensitive and shouldn’t be bent the wrong way or roughly handled. Plucking whiskers would cause your pet a lot of pain, for example, so this must never be done.

Why do dogs have whiskers?

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