Is It Okay to Leave Eyelashes Uncut?
Now, you may wonder if the eyelashes are growing, should I just let them be? What are the risks, anyway?
Well, certain risks are also involved in leaving your dog’s eyebrows uncut, like:
Long Eyelashes Can Result In Gunk
When you do not cut your dog’s eyebrows, it can most definitely cause gunk. Now, what exactly is gunk? Dog’s eye gunk also means a type of discharge.
Gunk usually means a type of watery or a pus-like discharge accumulating on the sides of your dog’s eyes.
This type of gunk is unhygienic and can harbor other microorganisms and infections.
Long Eyelashes Can Obstruct the Vision of Your Dog
One of the main reasons why you may have to cut your dog’s eyelashes is because they can obstruct vision.
Dogs have good day time eyesight and EXCELLENT night vision – but all stops working if the eyelashes act as a blindfold!
Often, eyelash hair can fall into your dog’s eyes and thus cause an obstruction in vision. This can cause your dog to feel more anxious and annoyed.
Suppose you’re able to safely cut your dog’s eyelashes without causing any damage to its eyes. In that case, it will not be of any problem!
Is it possible to injure the Goldendoodle while cutting their eyelashes?
Yes, as with any grooming session where scissors are used on a squirming and fussy Goldendoodle or another dog breed, injury is always possible. Patience and a slow but steady hand, combined with some words of praise and an assistant, whether friend or leash, can make the job a bit safer and decrease injury.
With time and patience both home groomer and dog will learn to get through the process more smoothly and efficiently so they can get back to the fun!
Should I Cut My Dog’s Eyelashes?
Unless you are experienced, if you choose to trim your dog’s eyelashes, ask your dog’s groomer or vet tech to do so. An inexperienced hand can slip or cause major problems if you poke or even slightly irritate the delicate Cocker eye.
Dog mom Margo Lieb learned to groom her Cocker’s eyelashes at home. Though her husband prefers the lashes longer, she likes to trim them occasionally. “The hair between her eyes grows up from her snout towards the corners of her eyes. I do NOT use scissors. Way too easy to do damage this way! I use bikini razor, believe it or not,” she says.
The way I trim my dog’s eyelashes is with grooming clippers. I run the clippers ever so slightly backward near the “eyebrow” or “points” areas and the lashes easily come off. You can also use blunt tip scissors and slowly trim the eyelashes from the outside corner of one eye. If your dog is not fond of having his face touched or you feel uncomfortable doing this, allow a trained dog groomer to perform the task instead.
You can learn more about grooming a Cocker Spaniel at home by reading my post on the topic.
Can a Dogs Eyelashes Be Trimmed?
Yes, if your dog’s eyelashes have been cut by the groomer, they will grow back. On average it takes around 5 to 6 weeks for them to grow back to the length they were. Generally, it is best not to cut a dog’s eyelashes as they serve an important function. However, a groomer may trim them if they are excessively long or they have started to curl back towards the eye which may cause problems. Sometimes a groomer may cut a dog’s eyelashes by accident while they are trimming the fringe.
A dog’s eyelashes are designed to protect the eyes from dust and debris and to also help filter the sun.
Yes, dogs do have eyelashes on their upper eyelids. They usually don’t have lower lashes. However occasional eyelash can sometimes appear on the lower lid also.
Sometimes you may see a dog who has white eyelashes. This is the result of when a dog stops forming melanin. Melanin is the pigment that affects the color pigment in a dogs fur and even their nose. A reduction in melanin production is generally a cause for concern and occurs with age. However, there are other potential causes involving medical conditions. check with your vet if you have any concerns regarding your dog’s health. Read “What dogs have pink noses” to learn more about the function of melanin.
Some dogs may actually have a double set of eyelashes. This is a form of eyelash abnormality wherein the lashes grow from an abnormal location on the lid. This is known as Distichiasis. Refer to this article to learn more if your dog has double eyelashes and consult your vet if you are concerned.
On most dogs, they are generally quite short. However, some breeds have do have quite long eyelashes. Often people will ask the groomer to ensure they don’t cut the eyelashes as they like the cute look, particularly on girl dogs. This is often easier said than done when grooming a dogs face.
A dog’s eyelash length is determined by the length of their fur. Dogs with long coats tend to have longer eyelashes to help protect against dirt and debris from the long fur around their eyes. A number of long-haired breeds are genetically predisposed to long lashes including the Old English Sheepdog, Cocker Spaniels, and the Maltese.
The world record holder for the longest eyelashes on a dog is Prince Albert, a Lhasa apso from Canada. An eyelash on Prince Albert’s left side measured 5.35 inches.