Can dogs get sunburn?

Comments

• Ryu

  May 2008 edited November -1

  I read this on our humane society website:
  
  "Dogs can get sunburned just like humans, so limit your dog’s exposure to the hot sun and apply a zinc-free sunblock to his ears and nose 30 minutes before going outside.
  
  
  Be careful not to let your dog spend too much time on hot sand or asphalt. Dogs can burn their feet just as easily as we can."
• scarlet

  May 2008 edited November -1

  I think their coats protect them from sunburn. Maui probably wouldn't lie in the direct sunlight if it was hurting him and he probably won't after it gets really hote.
• BradA1878

  May 2008 edited November -1

  Thanx Pam! That is exactly what I needed to know... So I think we will just plan to keep the dogs inside during peak UV hours. They seem to be doing that anyway, except Maui.
  
  Scarlet... I would not be to sure about that... I think Maui may be "special".
  
  ----
• scarlet

  May 2008 edited November -1

  lolololol. Shibas are that, no doubt.
• glacier

  May 2008 edited November -1

  The inside of their ears can get sunburned. Heat stroke could be a threat too.
  This thread reminded me of one of my dog park visits. There was a Mexican Hairless dog there, who's owner kept on having to lather him all in sunscreen.
• JessicaRabbit

  May 2008 edited November -1

  Piglet just got a sunburn on the white part on top of her head. I think nihon kens thicker coats help protect them. But their noses are especially sensitive.
• scarlet

  May 2008 edited November -1

  Dr. Foster's says "Cats and dogs can get sunburned. Cats with white ears are especially prone to develop sunburn on the tips and edges of the ears. Collies and other dog breeds such as Shetland Sheepdogs, who have no pigment on their nose can develop a condition called 'Collie Nose,' or 'nasal solar dermatitis.' This is actually caused by a hypersensitivity to the sun.
  Some pets, whose hair is clipped very short over their bodies or for some reason have sparse hair can also develop sunburn where their skin is exposed. Pets susceptible to sunburn should be kept out of direct summer sun, especially in the middle of the day when the sun is particularly strong.
  
  Sunscreens (SPF should be 15 or greater), including those developed specifically for pets and those containing titanium dioxide as the active ingredient should be used to prevent sunburn. For pets with skin exposed on their bodies, a t-shirt (children's or adult, depending on the size of the pet) can be fitted over the body.
  
  As with humans, animals with skin that has been sunburned are more likely to develop skin cancer, so protection from sunburn is extremely important."
• BradA1878

  May 2008 edited November -1

  I passed the info onto Jen. Thanx!
• shandrew

  May 2008 edited November -1

  Oh...we just got the book "Why do dogs drink out of the toilet?" and one of the topics was sunburn/skin cancer. It said that dogs with lighter skin color and are short haired are more prone to sunburn...while dogs with darker skin and thicker coats aren't so much. (sorry if that was redundant...)