Why Do Dogs Have Whiskers?

• Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.

Dogs have whiskers for various reasons, but these fine strands primarily act as extra ‘senses’ in addition to those like sight and hearing.

The technical name for whiskers is ‘vibrissae’. While whiskers are made of keratin — the same thing as fur — reveals Dr Patrik Holmboe, head veterinarian for Cooper Pet Care, this doesn’t mean they’re the same thing. “Whiskers are much thicker, stronger, and more flexible than individual strands of hair,” he states.

Another critical difference between whiskers and fur relates to the follicle, shares Dr Amy Attas, veterinarian and founder of City Pets. “Around the base of the whisker follicle are specialized nerve cells,” she explains. “When the whisker is stimulated, these nerve cells fire and let the animal know something critical about the environment.”

Now we’ve got the basics covered, let’s dive into some more hair-raising facts about whiskers.

5 Reasons Dogs Have Whiskers

Dogs have whiskers for a variety of reasons. Attas notes that “whiskers aren’t just cute; they serve really important functions.” So, what are the functions of dogs’ whiskers?

1. Whiskers provide information about the environment

As Attas said previously, when whiskers are stimulated, nerve-based messages are sent to the brain to share important information about the dog’s surroundings.

For instance, she says, “whiskers above the eyes are very helpful in letting animals know if something is close to their eye — and then a reflex happens where they close the eye to protect it.”

2. Whiskers are a form of expression

As your dog can’t talk to you per se, whiskers are a way for your dog to communicate their emotions. For instance, “relaxed dogs hold their whiskers in almost a flattened manner,” Attas reveals. Meanwhile, “dogs who are anxious will have piloerection, where their hair kind of stands on end.”

3. Whiskers assist with swimming

If your dog likes to go for a paddle, know that more than just their eyes guide them in what to do. Whiskers aid in detecting where the water line is and “help them keep their head above water,” states Attas.

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4. Whiskers help pups feed

When a puppy is born, it can’t rely on sight to navigate its surroundings. As the American Kennel Club reveals, dogs don’t open their eyes until they are two to three weeks old — and, even then, their sight remains limited for a while.

Therefore, whiskers play a critical role in helping them figure things out. “They’re one of the first hairs puppies grow,” states Attas, “and they’re super helpful in helping the puppies navigate to where their mother’s nipples are so they can feed.”

5. Whiskers aid with hunting

Your four-legged friend likely doesn’t have to go hunting for their meals. However, many dogs in centuries gone by had to do so — and whiskers played a vital role in guiding them through their surroundings and sensing prey, especially at night.

“Whiskers don’t even need to be touched to send off that sensory information,” shares Attas. “Just proximity is enough to allow these sensory nerves to fire.”

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Where Do Dogs Have Whiskers?

Look closely, and you’ll realize that dogs have whiskers in several areas. Let’s take a look at where whiskers are and why they’re there.

• Muzzle. “Whiskers on the muzzle are mainly used to aid in navigating their surroundings,” explains Holmboe. “Especially in low-light conditions or dense vegetation, whiskers around the muzzle provide extremely useful information about the specific topography of nearby objects.”
• Eyebrows. The whiskers above a dogs’ eyes have a couple of main functions, Holmboe notes. Like in humans, they help protect the eye. “Eyebrow whiskers can be used to detect changes in air currents in their immediate surroundings, which is useful for hunting and changing direction when moving,” he adds. Furthermore, they act as a method of communication.
• Chin. Like those on the muzzle, the whiskers on a dog’s chin help provide information about nearby surroundings. “If you look at a dog, in most cases, you will see that their muzzle extends far past their eyes,” Holmboe states. “This makes it difficult for a dog to see something right under their mouth! Chin whiskers help with this and give the dog critical spatial information.”
• Cheeks. As is the case with the other whiskers, Holmboe says that “these mainly serve to provide information about the dog’s surroundings.”

Dog Whiskers vs Cat Whiskers

You’d be forgiven for looking at dogs’ and cats’ whiskers and assuming they’re the same. However, while there are some similarities, there are also differences.

So, what makes them alike? For starters, both dogs’ and cats’ whiskers are made of keratin — the same as dogs’. Cats’ whiskers also serve the same purpose, providing vital sensory information about their immediate surroundings. For this reason, cats’ whiskers are in similar locations (such as the cheeks and eyebrows).

In terms of differences between cat and dog whiskers, “it is thought that cats’ whiskers are more sensitive,” Holmboe shares. “But this is fairly anecdotal, and we don’t know for sure.” The other factors center around appearance. “Dogs’ whiskers tend to be a bit more stiff and large,” he notes, while cats’ whiskers are typically longer. Plus — and this might be somewhat unexpected — “I would say that in most cases, dogs have a few more whiskers than cats do!”

How Many Whiskers Do Dogs Have?

There’s no set amount of whiskers that a dog should have, so don’t worry if your pooch has less or more . For instance, when it comes to their muzzles, “dogs could have anywhere from 10-20 on each side, but this depends more on the breed,” says Holmboe. However, if your dog has significantly fewer whiskers than other dogs, there might be a medical condition at play, and you should discuss this possibility with your vet (more on this later).

All dogs have whiskers — even the hairless breeds! However, whiskers vary between dogs.

For starters, not all dogs’ whiskers are the same length. “They’re somewhat ‘designed’ to be the appropriate length for the size of the animal,” Attas shares. It makes sense: you wouldn’t expect to see the same fur length on a tiny Chihuahua as you would a large Afghan!

The shape of a dog’s whiskers can also vary between breeds, Attas notes. “Some breeds we’ve created that have curly fur may also have a slightly curly whisker.” Last but not least, because whiskers are a type of hair — like fur — they can come in different shades and colors.

Do Dogs’ Whiskers Fall Out?

Notice a dog whisker or two on your floor? Don’t panic! “Whiskers are hair, and they do fall out and shed normally,” asserts Attas. “It’s a normal part of their cycle.”

However, she continues, there are medical reasons that can lead to whiskers falling out in larger quantities — such as “skin infections, different types of parasitic infections like sarcoptic mange, and alopecia, which is an autoimmune disorder that leads to hair loss.”

Somewhat surprisingly, dental concerns can also trigger whisker loss. “If an animal has serious dental disease, this will affect the skin from the ‘inside out’,” reveals Holmboe. “Any type of damage or trauma to the skin can cause whiskers to fall out, as the roots get damaged.” Notice whisker loss together with bad breath? It’s time to visit your vet, he says.

Finally, Attas explains that certain medications can also cause fur and whisker loss. If you notice this happening, alert your vet and ask about alternative treatment options.

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Can You Cut Dogs’ Whiskers?

You might think that your dog’s whiskers look a bit long and that you’ll be helping them out if you give them a little trim. But you should never cut, pluck, or shave your dog’s whiskers as part of their grooming routine.

Why? Plucking a whisker is very painful for dogs, says Attas, and can even lead to bleeding. While cutting isn’t necessarily as painful, it can still be uncomfortable. It’s also about looking at the bigger picture. Getting rid of whiskers, states Holmboe, “deprives the dog of the sensory information the whiskers provide.” And, Attas adds: “we want them to be ‘complete dogs’, and we shouldn’t take that away from them.”

That said, in some instances (such as surgery), your vet may have to trim or shave off some of your dog’s whiskers — and that’s OK.

Do Dog Whiskers Grow Back?

If your canine pal has lost some whiskers for whatever reason, they won’t be whisker-less forever: dogs’ whiskers do grow back. That said, don’t expect them to reappear overnight — and if the loss has occurred due to an underlying medical condition (such as alopecia), regrowth patterns might look a bit different.

“The specific time depends on a number of factors, but, generally, within a few weeks, you will notice some regrowth,” shares Holmboe. “Likely within 6-8 weeks you will see usable length again, but to achieve full length, you’re looking at 12-16 weeks.”