It is summer, and most of us enjoy being outdoors. Our dogs love to swim, run, and also sunbathe! Do your pups like to lie out in the sun? Stanley loves to sleep and catch some sunlight in the mornings. Every morning after breakfast time, he heads outside, checks the backyard, and then finds his favorite spot to take a morning nap. While it is essential to provide your dog the opportunity to sunbathe daily (to get their vitamin D), it is crucial to know that dogs can suffer sunburns and can also develop skin cancers like humans.
Most people take precautions to protect themselves from the sun, but what about your dog? Just like humans, dogs are prone to sunburn and can develop diseases associated with sun exposure. We may not overthink it because most pups are covered with hair, but some areas such as the nose, the ears, abdomen, or places were the skin has no hair, or little hair are sensitive to the sun.
Some of the issue with sunburns are:
🐾 can be painful.
🐾 can lead to skin cancer such as squamous cell carcinoma, malignant melanomas, and hemangiomas. See here for how to spot Melanoma on your dog
🐾 can exacerbate autoimmune disorders and dermatitis.
Although all dogs are at risk for sunburn, some pups are more sensitive. For example, hairless dog breeds, like the Xoloitzcuintli, American Hairless Terrier, and the Chinese Crested require sun protection when they are outside for extended periods. Pups with thin or white coats and dogs with light-pigmented noses and eyelids are also more at risk for sunburn. Collies, Australian Sheepdogs, Dalmatian, Whippets, Bulldogs and any pup with light or white pigment on their ears or near their nose are at risk for sunburn. So, how can you lower your dog’s risk of developing severe sun-related medical problems?
Using Sunscreen
Sunscreens can protect dogs from sunburn, but it needs to be a sunscreen intended for use on dogs. This is extremely important since human sunscreens often have zinc oxide or para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA). These ingredients are toxic to dogs. If ingested, it can damage your dog’s red blood cells, causing severe anemia that may require a blood transfusion.
Dogs often lick their skin. Therefore, you must use a sunscreen that is safe for them. Also, it would help if you used a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 that is also waterproof.
How do you apply the sunscreen?
Place the sunscreen on spots that are most exposed to the sunlight, such as the bridge of the nose, ear tips, skin around the groin and inner thighs, any location where the skin pigmentation is light. Please do not get any of the sunscreens in the eyes, since it will be irritating. Observe your dog at least for 10-15 mins after the sunscreen is applied to ensure does not like it off.
Other alternatives
Although some may recommend the use of protective clothing, I am not a fan of this recommendation. Our dogs are very active, and clothing sometimes could rub and cause sores. Also, if it is too hot, they will overheat.
The best protection is keeping your dog out of the sun between the peak sun hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. If this is not an option, providing your dog with plenty of shade (and water) while you are enjoying outdoor activities is essential.
Next time your pup decides to catch some sun rays on the lawn, or you are going to the beach, remember to protect your skin and your dog from the sun.
We wish you a happy Summer!
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