The Truth About Dog Sunburns

When you are sitting out in the sun, have you ever thought about sunburn? Sure you have however had you thought about it for your dog? It is a common myth to think that an animal's fur in sufficient sunscreen to protect against the harmful rays.

Although not all areas are prone to sunburn, the most important locations that are prone are the belly, the tips of the ears and tips of the nose. Although most of you have not thought about the possibility of sunburn on your dog, it is a serious condition that can cause certain injuries. Some of these injuries are skin ulcers (aka sores), infections and even cancer that can spread through the body.

Sunburn threat is more serious in some dog breeds than others. For instance, short haired dogs or lightly colored ones are more prone to sunburn than other dog breeds. Lighter dogs naturally have thinner hair and will allow more sunlight to reach the skin of the dog. In addition, shorter dogs get the shorter stick because they are closer to the ground. Being closer to the ground causes sun reflecting from the pavement and other lighter ground covering such as sand to cause sunburn, especially on the belly region. On the other hand, some larger breeds are just naturally prone to cancer which makes the common case of sunburn in a more serious threat status than other dog breeds. Some of these breeds are Weimaraners and Boxers.

During the warmer days that the sunlight is strong, try to take some specific care for your furry friend and provide aid against sunburn.

1. Provide proper shelter that will give enough shade to the dog.

2. Use baby sunscreen. Baby sunscreen is safer to use than regular sunscreen since it can be licked off without causing stomach irritation. Some dogs do not like to have sunscreen put on however our dog loves it. She loves the attention and loves the rub down with the lotion. Just make sure it has time to dry before leaving the dog unattended, to make sure it has dried before licking occurs. When using sunscreen, apply it to the bridge of the nose, ear tips and other more sensitive locations.

3. Ultraviolet blocking bodysuit or shirt. These can be purchased through most veterinarians or online stores. These bodysuits and shirts will provide assistance with blocking ultraviolet rays and preventing sunburn.

These are just a few suggestions however the best suggestion is to just allow the dog to stay in the house or in a shady location during those warmer months. Remember though that dogs sometimes get absent minded and might forget they are getting too hot. Therefore, if tying the dog out on a leash, only place it in the shade so the dog can not get to the sun if planning on being gone for a long period of time. Also, remember to place a bowl of water with plenty of ice cubes in it. Place the bowl in the shade and it should be proper cooling aid for the hot dog.


By Aktiv8 F8