Essay On Dog Fur

The dog’s coat is one of its most identifiable and recognizable physical characteristics, whether it is long, short, scruffy, or silky, almost every dog is covered with hair. But most of the people tend to use the terms “hair” and “fur” interchangeably when referring to their dogs. But the million dollar question is; should they?

According to Dr. Cherrie Pucheu-Haston, an associate professor of veterinary dermatology and immunology at the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, the appropriate way to consider the little difference between the dog fur and hair is based on the number strands that come from a single hair follicle.

She said that the term “hair” should be used for animals that have “simple” hair follicles - meaning only one hair exits per hair follicle opening - including human, horses, and some cattles. While on the other hand, the term “fur” often used in animals that have “compound” hair follicles - multiple hairs emerge from the same hair follicle - this includes cats

Lara Sypniewki, clinical associate professor and chair of the Henthorne Clinical Professorship of Small Animal Medicine at Oklahoma State University.

Fur can look and feel wildly different within the canine family and it is still unknown, why fur grows differently between breeds, but the three phases of fur growth that can help explain the looks and grooming requirements of a certain dogs. Anagen is the active growth phase, telogen is the resting phase and the phase between the both stages is called catagen.

Different breeds spends different amounts of time in each phase, poodles spends of their lives in anagen growth phase that’s why they tend to shed less. While long-hair breeds like Samoyeds and Chow Chows, spends most of their time in telogen phase which is defined by a lack of new growth rather than