Humans Need Sunscreen, But Does Your Pup Need One Too?

The sun warms the earth and feels good on our skin. But there are dangers associated with getting too much sun. The ultraviolet rays from the sun can damage your skin and even your eyes.

Too much sun can cause wrinkles and skin cancer. To avoid these things, we normally apply some sunscreen to protect ourselves. Did you even wonder if dogs should get some sunscreen too if they spend a lot of time outdoors? Turns out, that is a good idea!

Yes, it is well-known that dogs have a lot of epidermal pigmentation and hair that covers their bodies. Mother nature was looking out for animals in that regard. But, there are areas of their bodies that have thin amounts of hair – like the bridge of their noses, belly, and flanks. Some dogs have been bred to have less hair or no hair, like the Chinese crested dog.

So, the bottom line is that your dog can be affected by the sun, just like you! They can get a sunburn (solar dermatitis) by being exposed to the damaging ultraviolet radiation. Just like in people, sunburn will cause redness and may even lead to precancerous and cancerous lesions (just like it does in people!). A dog that has lightly colored and noses with thin hair are most susceptible.

If your dog spends a lot of time outdoors and likes to lay on their back with their belly exposed to the sun, you should seriously consider sunscreen! Ask your veterinarian for products that they recommend to protect your dog from the sun!

Feature Image Source: Pixabay