why dont dogs get fur balls like cats do when they lick themselves?

Answer #1

Well, one thing, they don’t do as thorough of a job cleaning themselves, and therefore don’t swallow near the amount of hair. I’ve heard of dogs getting hair balls during times of stress, or when having a dermatitus flareup, and they lick themselves bald in spots. So tho it’s not common in dogs, it’s not unheard of, either.

Answer #2

A cat’s tongue has backwards-facing spines about 500 micrometres long, which are called papillae. They act like a hairbrush when the cat is grooming itself, and like the bristles on a hairbrush, they trap hair. The only way to clear that hair is to swallow the hair.

A dog’s tongue is smooth and so does not do the same.

Answer #3

No they do! My dog had hairballs. She is a pomaranian and has a lot of hair. She coughed just like a cat with hairballs and I called the vet. He told me to get some hairball medicine for cats. I gave it to her for a couple of days and haven’t heard one hack from her since!

Answer #4

cause most dogs have tougher fur. and when dogs lick themselves they lick their privets(cleaning them. they don’t lick their back or another part unlike cats do.

Answer #5

Thank you guys, I stand corrected on the dog hairballs, but the cat physiology still stands.

More Like This
Advisor

Pets and Animals

Pet Care, Animal Behavior, Veterinary Medicine

Ask an advisor one-on-one!
Advisor

Reigning Cats & Dogs

Pet Grooming, Pet Boarding, Kennel

Advisor

Simply For Dogs

Pets, Dogs, Blogs

Advisor

Dogdayz Dog Boarding

Dog Boarding, Pet Accommodation, Dog Grooming

Advisor

Dogs Forum

Pet Care, Dog Training, Dog Breeding

Advisor

Simply For Dogs

Pets, Dogs, Animals