While commonly talked about in cats, whisker fatigue in our pet dogs is a topic touched on significantly less often. But did you know that whisker fatigue and whisker sensitivity can also happen to dogs?
Put simply, whisker fatigue is the repeated over-stimulation of the whiskers. Whiskers, sometimes called vibrissae or sinus hairs, are very specialized hairs used by various animals to sense and interact with their environment. When the nerves around these hairs are stimulated, the sensory feedback helps the animal move through their environment and sense danger based on nearby objects or stimulus.
If whiskers become over-stimulated through repeated touching or uncomfortable movement, this can result in a shift in behavior in your pet that may include a refusal to participate in certain activities or use certain toys or bowls.
While it can happen, whisker fatigue is far less common in dogs than it is in cats, and most dogs will not develop any serious discomfort from whisker sensitivity in their lifetime, unless other issues are also present.
Are whiskers on dogs sensitive?
A dog’s whiskers, by design, are powerful touch receptors. They are made to be sensory tools and therefore are very sensitive. While they are technically hairs, whiskers are significantly more sensitive than your dog’s normal hairs because the follicles of whiskers are rich in nerve endings and surrounded by blood vessels.
It’s even said that a dog’s whiskers have a similar sensitivity to human fingertips.
Whiskers are sensitive because of their importance in an animal’s ability to sense their environment in tight places and low light. Whiskers can even trigger reflex responses to stimuli much faster than the animal might normally respond. Whiskers above the eye exist to create that reflex and protect the dog’s precious sense of sight from hazards and danger.
Whiskers tell a dog when something is close to their face, even if their other senses are dampened.
Do dog muzzles cause whisker fatigue?
Just like cat owners may become concerned with their cats’ bowls and dishes causing whisker fatigue, some dog owners are concerned that their dog wearing a head halti or a muzzle is doing to cause whisker fatigue in their pet.
Rest assured that if you are a fan of head haltis (also called head harnesses or by the brandnomer “gentle leaders”), whisker fatigue is not one of the potential risks or issues with them as a leash tool. We talk more about the pros and cons of various leash tools in the article, A Complete Guide to Leash Tools. In short, head haltis simply sit too far back on the dog’s snout to cause issues with the whiskers for most dogs.
Muzzles, on the other hand, may pose an issue in certain situations. Whisker fatigue and whisker sensitivity is ultimately caused by repeated rubbing and over-stimulation. Therefore, in theory, an ill-suited muzzle can in fact overstimulate those hairs and cause whisker fatigue in dogs.
This is assuming that the muzzle is being worn frequently for a long period of time without equal periods of rest. A poorly-fitted muzzle is going to cause the most discomfort, while a muzzle that is fitted properly is going no pose little to no stress on the whiskers at all.
At Lugaru K9 Training, our recommendation for dog owners concerned about whisker fatigue in dogs that wear a muzzle is to make sure the muzzle is sized appropriately to avoid rubbing or unnecessary pushing on the whiskers. It’s also a good idea to consider a basket muzzle, like the Baskerville Ultra shown in the image above, as most basket muzzles will have holes on the sides to allow a dog’s whiskers to stand in their normal position, reducing friction and stress on the nerve endings around the hair follicles.
How to Avoid Whisker Fatigue in Dogs
Whisker fatigue is rarely an issue in dogs, as most dogs are generally desensitized to some level of stimulation from the playing, digging, eating, and sniffing behaviors they’re so well-known for.
The main concern with whisker fatigue is repeated and unnatural pressure or excessive rubbing.
To avoid whisker fatigue in dogs, the main preventative measures you can take is to avoid touching or messing with your dog’s whiskers with your hands or while petting them; this may seem like a no-brainer, but I find that children will play with dog whiskers unless it is specifically addressed.
If you’re using a muzzle with your dog, as we advise many dog owners do, make sure your muzzle is comfortable and well-fitted to your dog. As mentioned, bulky muzzles can cause an uncomfortable amount of friction.
Lastly, make sure your dog has time to rest. Whiskers are sensory tools and are meant to be used. But just like humans can become overstimulated, dogs can too, and will need to get some rest in to give those nerve endings a break.
Luckily, dogs sleep up to fourteen hours most days, which is plenty of time to rest their whiskers. As long as you’re not going out of your way to touch your dog’s whiskers repeatedly, most dogs are going to be just fine when it comes to whisker sensitivity.
If you feel that your dog is experiencing unusual sensory issues, it’s a good idea to consult with your veterinarian to make sure that there is not something abnormal going on physiologically.
