# How fast does dog fur grow? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 12, 2006, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-does-dog-fur-grow/339641 "2006-01-12T09:40:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![purple\_haze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/db5fbb/32.png) [@purple\_haze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purple_haze)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-does-dog-fur-grow/339641/1 "2006-01-12T09:40:01Z")
How fast does dog fur grow on a shorthaired dog? Our girl got shaved at the end of October and the patch is showing no signs of growing in. It’s about 2" by 4" on her back. Will it ever grow back? ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2006, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-does-dog-fur-grow/339641/2 "2006-01-12T17:52:58Z")
Yeah, it’ll grow back, unless the skin itself was injured in some way. You’ll probably see it dissapear around spring/summer, when he grows in his new coat. ---
**Author:** ![FlyingRamenMonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@FlyingRamenMonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingRamenMonster)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-does-dog-fur-grow/339641/3 "2006-01-13T17:03:49Z")
The undercoat should reappear by spring. The top coat might grow back funny or not at all if she is old. This wouldn’t really be a problem with a patch that size. More with the people who think it’s a good idea to shave their dog in the summer :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-does-dog-fur-grow/339641/4 "2006-01-13T18:04:27Z")
My dog is ten years old-- elderly for a big breed. Last summer, I cut a patch of her fur because she had burrs in it, and I didn’t want to cause her pain by pulling them out. The top coat is just starting to cover it again, and I imagine by next summer, you won’t even be able to tell I cut it. ---
**Author:** ![tygerbryght](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9a28c/32.png) [@tygerbryght](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tygerbryght)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2006, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-does-dog-fur-grow/339641/5 "2006-01-15T05:19:03Z")
If you want to speed it up, get some vitamin A caps at the drug store, and give her about three per week. You could safely give her one per day for an extended period, and you could start at that for a few weeks if you prefer. Dogs can use lots more vitamin A than people can (it’s all that fur), so there’s absolutely no danger of her getting an overdose, even if she’s a Chihuahua. A maintenance dosage of 2-3 per week will stop most dogs from shedding altogether, BTW. Some show-dog breeders use that to keep long-haired dogs in show coat. If’ you’re paranoid about the vitamin A, you will get some results from giving her fish oil instead. Most dogs don’t find that objectionable when added to their food. Researchers have recently discovered that we humans have a taste bud type that’s just for fats. I’d be astounded if dogs lacked it, as they are generally more interested in foods with higher fat content. ---
**Author:** ![purple\_haze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/db5fbb/32.png) [@purple\_haze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purple_haze)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2006, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-fast-does-dog-fur-grow/339641/6 "2006-01-22T01:05:51Z")
Thanks for the replies! I’m going to check out the supplements you mentioned, Tygerbryght. Unfortunately, she was just re-shaved yesterday. ☹ She is a dachshund and her back went out for the second time, paralyzing her once again. They put on a morphine patch to help with pain relief. Oh well.