The Facts About Dog Sunburn

Posted by Clare Bristow

dog-sunbathing Like us, dogs can suffer from sunburn - long term exposure can result in skin damage and skin cancers.

Which dogs are susceptible to sunburn?

Any dog that consistently spends time in the sun during the hottest parts of the day;
Dogs that have white or light colored hair;
Dogs that have very short hair, or no hair at all; and
Dogs that have suffered a loss of fur through allergies, hot spots or medical treatment.

What are the signs of sunburn?

Red skin; and/or
Hair loss; and/or
Sores;

What areas of the body are prone to sunburn?

Those parts where there is little hair covering and/or where the skin pigmentation is low; specifically:

Nose;
Ends of the ears;
Around the mouth;
Eyelids
Your dog's underside - belly, groin and inside the legs; these areas are particularly at risk where your dog is on a reflective surface, such as walking on a concrete path.

What's the best way to prevent dog sunburn?

Keep your dog inside in a cool room, or if he's outside, in adequate shelter during the hottest parts of the day;
Use a sunscreen on those parts of his body susceptible to sunburn. Use a pet sunscreen because those produced for human use contain ingredients that are toxic to your dog. Remember to regularly reapply the sunscreen as it will wear, or be licked, off relatively quickly;
You can buy bodysuits for your dog that protect them from UV rays - if your dog is continually out in the sun, this may be the best option, and your vet should be able to provide you with more information on these products; and
If you regularly have your dog clipped in the summer, think about leaving his coat a bit longer so the hair offers some protection. Talk to your dog's groomer about clipping your dog - some dog breed's hair is designed to insulate the dog from the sun's heat and if you clip it off, you may be doing more harm than good to your dog.

In New Zealand we are always reminded to Slip, Slop, Slap in the summer (slip on a t-shirt, slop on some suncream and slap on a hat) - you can do the same for your dog, though I'm not so sure about the hat!

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