Do you ever wonder: Can dogs bat their eyelashes or perhaps raise an eyebrow like humans sometimes do? Come to think of it, do dogs have eyelashes or eyebrows to begin with? Hmmm...
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Content:
- Do Dogs Have Eyelashes
- Can You Cut a Dogs Eyelashes
- Do Dog Eyelashes Grow Back
- Do Dogs Have Eyebrows
- Why Do Dogs Have Eyebrows
- Conclusion
Do Dogs Have Eyelashes
Like us humans, yes, dogs also have eyelashes. Also designed to protect a dog’s eyes from elements such as debris and other external factors, eyelashes help dogs as they go about their daily activities. When your dog goes digging in the ground, for example, their eyelashes help prevent dirt and sediment from entering their eyes. Dog eyelashes also help shield a dog’s eyes from the rays of the sun. Not to mention, these hairs protect their eyes from their fur too, since fur can grow and touch their eyes if nothing is protecting it.
On the other hand, you may be wondering: are the physical features of dog eyelashes the same as those of humans? While there are undeniable similarities, one difference is that a dog’s eyelashes only grow in their upper eyelids (except if they have a condition named “distichiasis”), unlike human eyelashes, which can be found in both upper and lower eyelids.
Do All Dogs Have Eyelashes
All dogs have eyelashes, although they may vary in length and appearance. Being aware of your dog’s normal eyelash growth will help you determine if it needs to be groomed or not. Note, however, that some conditions cause eyelash loss. If you notice any changes in your dog’s eyelashes, it’s best to consult with their veterinarian.
Having a reliable pet camera such as the Petcube Cam 360, goes a long way toward monitoring your dog 24/7. For instance, if you want to protect your dog’s eye from outside elements, Petcube Cam 360 helps you detect problems early on and address them, especially because eyes are very delicate. With the camera’s 1080p Full HD video, 360-degree panoramic view, and 8x zoom features, you’ll surely notice when something’s amiss.
Can You Cut a Dogs Eyelashes
Like what was mentioned earlier, eyelashes help protect a dog’s eyes. This leads to the question: Can you cut dog eyelashes, or would it be okay to groom dog eyelashes?
Yes, a dog’s eyelashes can be groomed without causing harm to the dog, but remember that they should only be trimmed (not cut off) when necessary, say when the lashes are already blocking your dog’s vision or if it risks their health. This is because chopping off a dog’s eyelashes will remove their function of protecting the eyes from harm or injury.
Meanwhile, if your dog has naturally short eyelashes, it’s best to leave them be, as you don’t want to eliminate their protective function.
Without eyelashes, a dog may be more prone to eye injuries. And because eyes can be especially vulnerable, some eye injuries may lead to pet emergencies. And while there are ways to try to avoid emergencies, our pets may be susceptible to unexpected conditions or accidents. Because of this, it is best to have assurance and support in times of need.
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Do Dog Eyelashes Grow Back
Because there are dogs with naturally long eyelashes, your pet groomer may want to trim them. However, you might ask, Do dogs’ eyelashes grow back?
A dog’s eyelashes do grow back. But it may take some time for it to grow back, as compared to hair in other parts of a dog’s body. Generally, it takes about 4–7 weeks for eyelashes to grow back to their natural length.
What Breed of Dog Has Long Eyelashes
With dogs, there is a correlation between eyelashes and fur length. With this, dogs with longer fur typically have long eyelashes, while those with short fur have short (sometimes not as visible) eyelashes. Among the dog breeds with long eyelashes are:
- Yorkshire Terriers
- Cocker Spaniels
- Maltese
- Poodles
- Old English Sheepdog
- Shih Tzus
Because their eyelashes can grow long, you may decide to trim or cut their eyelashes shorter from time to time. This prevents obstruction in your dog’s vision as well as the development of related disorders.
Do Dogs Have Eyebrows
In a technical sense, dogs do not have eyebrows, even if it seems as if they do. What they do have are muscles along their eyes that may be surrounded by fur or have markings akin to human eyebrows. These, however, don’t serve the same purpose as human eyebrows.
As a result of humans having domesticated dogs for centuries, dogs have developed facial muscles above their eyes to better communicate with humans. Take, for instance, dogs that show their “puppy dog eyes” expression, which may have encouraged you to adopt a dog at a shelter or prevented you from shouting at your dog who made a mess at home.
A National Academy of Science study shows that a dog’s capacity to raise their inner “eyebrows” may have been a “result of selection based on humans’ preferences” in a way that humans are more amenable to caring for dogs with facial expressions akin to a baby or a sad face in humans.
A pet camera such as the Petcube Cam, for instance, will help you better monitor and observe how your dog communicates. Apart from its features, such as 1080p HD video, it also has 2-way audio so you can interact with them wherever you may be, and a night vision feature for nighttime monitoring as well.
Why Do Dogs Have Eyebrows
While it cannot be fully explained how some dogs have markings akin to eyebrows, it is likely due to the human-canine relationship. On the other hand, it may also be a way for dogs to communicate with other dogs or animals since they often use their eyes and the regions around them to do so.
For instance, an NCBI study showed that the markings akin to eyebrows on dog breeds such as Rottweilers and Dobermans make way for their eye signals to be better understood by dogs that they engage with.
Which Dog Breeds Have Eyebrows
All canines have muscles above their eyes that allow them to do the “puppy dog eyes” communicative eye signal, but only some have distinct markings that look like eyebrows.
Below are some of the dog breeds that possess markings above their eyes:
- Rottweiler
- German Shepherd
- Labrador Retriever
- Doberman
- Gordon Setter
- Bernese Mountain Dog
Conclusion
Like humans, dogs also have eyelashes that help protect their eyes from harmful elements or injuries. Dogs also have muscles above the eye (and sometimes markings) akin to eyebrows, which serve as a way to better communicate eye signals. Being aware of these facial features, as well as their purpose in our dogs’ lives, may help us better understand them and their needs.
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