It's not just the hairless pups getting sunburned! All dogs and outdoor cats are at risk with those with light skin, light-colored or recently shaved fur, or pink noses having a slightly higher chance of this problem. Sunburn can cause ulcerations, which makes pets more susceptible to yucky infections, and as sun damage occurs, skin cells die and can release proteins that inappropriately trigger the immune system. Because the repeated, excessive exposure to UV radiation can lead to issues like squamous cell carcinoma, breeds that are predisposed to cancer (such as boxers and Weimaraners) need extra protection no matter what!
Next time you lather on the sunblock and head out for some summertime fun, don't forget to protect your pets, too! To learn which areas are at risk, read more.
Common problem spots in pets include tips of ears, bridges of noses, and any area with shorter hair or exposed skin – apply sunscreen here first. However, I was surprised when my vet also told me that stomaches, groins, and insides of legs are at risk, too! The sunlight reflects up on these areas from the hot sidewalk or sand and the sunblock put there can be the first to be rubbed off in the grass or licked off by inquiring tongues. Make sure to protect your pets and follow all our tips for the Dog Days of Summer!
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Galeries Lafayette
Hopefully not a dumb question, but are there sunblocks out there that are made for animals? I'm wondering about the ph levels of their skin vs. products made for us, or any side effects of ingesting a sunblock made for humans.
1There totally are! Check out a widget at the end of this (old) post: http://www.petsugar.com/1732767
2oh that dog on the beach is too cute!
3maxie lays on the sand like that..
he furrows into the sand first, tho.
too cute.
i haven't put sunscreen on him but i probably should.
we go to the beach alot, he loves to swim!
i wonder if there are waterproof ones?
My dog's never gotten sunburnt...she's got a double coat of black fur and has a dark nose. We try to avoid overexposing her to the sun anyway though to prevent her from getting overheated.
4My parents dog (a white whippet) gets burned easily. Doesn't help that she LOVES to sun herself! But they buy baby sunscreen and that works really well for her. B-Bop is black and doesn't like to lay in the sun too much so it's not a problem with him
5When I was a kid, one of our neighbors had a cat with white ears. It got skin cancer and had to have both ear flaps surgically removed. Even after that, they still let him be outside all the time!
6The horrible woman I adopted my pink nosed dog from had her outside all day everyday with no shade for about 2 months in the Texas sun.
In that 2 months the sunburns on her nose are so bad that she doesnt grow fur there and she has a lot of brown 'freckles' on her nose also knows as chronic dermatitus. That could eventually lead to skin cancer, but for now we avoid the sun and if we are outside she HAS to have on her doggy sunblock!
7That happens with a lot of all white cats, ladyr. Same with all white dogs. The white fur doesn't do much to shelter the pink skin. Sad but true
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