Can my Dog get a Sunburn?

Summer is here! It’s a time for long walks in the woods lazy days swinging in a hammock, lying on the beach with your buddies, vacationing in a sun filled paradise, or endless afternoons sitting by the pool. In these pet friendly days we live in, chances are your favorite dog will accompany you on some (if not all) of your outings and adventures. We all know the dangers of the sun, and we all likely have “go to” prevention and remedy routines on the good chance we will end up with too much sun exposure. NOBODY wants to get a sunburn. The inconvenience, pain, and time needed to overcome a sunburn is annoying, and potentially health impacting. Burns hurt, and it’s a hurt that is inflamed by contact, clothing, more time in the sun, and movement. Sunburns are NO FUN for anyone. The burning question, no pun intended, that immediately popped into the heads of our research team was, “Can dogs get a sunburn?” The answers we found might surprise you

Red is the Color of Pain

It’s a safe bet that everyone reading this blog has had a sunburn in their lives. In fact, 1 out of every 3 American adults will get a sunburn this year… and 33,000 of those sunburns require an emergency room visit. Shockingly, over 50% of of kids in grades 9-12 experienced at least one sunburn over the past year. More than 60% of your lifetime exposure to the sun occurs in the first 18 years of ones life. If jobs are good for one thing… the majority of work environments keep our exposure to the sun limited.

Childhood sunburns are an important statistic because a child who receives 5 or more sunburns that blister, especially if they are during ages 15-20, can increase ones chance of developing skin cancer by 60-80%.

A sunburn is cause by too much exposure to UV (ultraviolet) rays. As our ozone layer is depleted from fluorocarbons, and other man-made issues, UV rays are much more concentrated and stronger than they were a few decades ago. Sun exposure can be dangerous and precautions to protect ones skin and eyes should be considered whenever you expect or intend to be in the sun for a prolonged period of time. The availability of stronger and better sun exposure treatments and prevention products is at an all-time high. Our scientific understanding of how sunburns occur and the impact of them to our skin is better than it ever has been. Only through careful consideration and action can damage from the sun be minimized.

I Wish they All Could Be California Dogs

We’ve given details on how the sun can harm, and even kill, humans… but we’re really here to answer a question about how the sun can impact your favorite fur buddy? To be clear and get to the point, YES your dog can get a sunburn, even a severe sunburn, even be a potential candidate for skin damage and cancer from the sun. Just like humans, for all the same reasons, dogs can be overexposed to the sun.

The most common affected areas for sunburn on your canine pals will be on their nose, around the eyes, and on the belly… all areas of less fur coverage and more exposed skin. And that IS the key, the more skin they show and the less hair they have, the better the chance that they can develop a potentially nasty sunburn. It makes you wonder if that “summer cut” you have scheduled is really a good choice for your pet, right?! Or at least it’s something to take into consideration with the other facts you’ll learn as you read on.

Dogs with short, thin, or light-colored coats are more susceptible to burn (think fair haired, or red haired, fair skinned, pale humans… their chance of sunburn is much higher than someone with dark hair, dark complexion). Hairless or short haired breeds, like chihuahua’s or beagles, are also more likely to see sun damage… the cover from the sun provided by fur is diminished by their genetics. Dogs who spend most of their time outdoors, especially in places with little shade cover, are candidates of sun over-exposure. Also, dogs with certain medical conditions or on specific medications can be prone to more sunburns. Here’s a myth-buster to take into considerations… fur provides cover, the more the merrier. HOWEVER, no amount of fur provides 100% protection from UV rays. The sun is a dangerous and non-discriminatory foe.

Burning for You!

Now that we’ve panicked you about your dog being in danger from sun overexposure, let’s talk about how one can tell if your dog is sun burning, or already sunburned? Again, much like their human caretakers, dogs show some very plain signs of sunburn.

  • Obvious redness in areas with less fur coverage or exposed skin. For a thin coated dog, you might be able to part the fur on the back or top of he head and see a bright red or darker pink skin in a burn zone.

  • Paws too… even though the “feets are a flying” on most adventures into the sun, a dogs paws can be impacted by the suns rays, as well as pad damage from parking lots, sidewalks, hot sand, thorny or overgrown trails. You want to assure your dogs feet stay in great shape… it’s a long walk back to your car carrying a 12 – 25lb sack of dog in your arms.

  • Your dog may flinch, pull away, or negatively react, if the sunburned area is touched or grazed. We humans know from experience that a slap on the back or even a gentle stroke against sunburned skin hurts like heck! Your dog feels the same impact.

  • An after effect of the sunburn will be peeling skin… just like you would have. If the burn is under the coat, this might appear as almost a dandruff type “molting” of skin.

  • Blistering skin can be another giveaway. Any blisters would be proof of a more severe sunburn and overexposure to UV rays. DO NOT pop or burst blisters… this HURT and it will also bring an increased chance of infection.

If you see any of these symptoms during an outside adventure, end it as soon as possible and get your dog to the shade. It’s a smart idea to involve your primary care veterinarian on these types of findings, as well. They might want to see your dog and provide medication or treatment advice.

If your dog is burned to that degree, there is a high chance that they are also overheated. Make sure they have access to cool water sources throughout any type out outside time, take time for longer rest periods in a shady area, and monitor their water intake and output the best you can. All dogs are candidates for heatstroke, which can be life threatening.

Over the Long Haul

Continued overexposure to sun can lead to long term, serious health issues in dogs.  Here are a few from the sun’s “hit list” of skin problems the sun can create.

  • Skin Damage, which can take the form of dry, rough, scaly, visible patches called “actinic keratosis” This is itchy, uncomfortable and could be the precursor of more serious sin problems.

  • Skin Cancers like melanoma, cell carcinoma, hemangioma, and others, can form on skin repeatedly damaged by the sun. Skin cancer on dog can be aggressive, painful, and difficult to treat.

  • Compromised Skin Barrier, which is a fancy way of saying overexposed to the sun way too many times. When this happens, it’s easier for infection, bacteria, and fungi to invade the areas under and around damaged skin. While not immediately life threatening, these issues can be painful, itchy, annoying to your dog. They need to be treated with medication from your veterinarian.

That’s it… no Sun Time for My Dog!

We assume many folks will have this knee-jerk reaction but let’s be clear that all that happens in the sun is NOT bad. Dogs need exercise, they need to run, and roll, and jump, and sniff, and wander, and see the world outside of their house. Not to mention the outside is the worlds biggest bathroom for your dog. Long before they were domesticated and became companion animals to humans, dogs roamed the earth as hunters and explorers. You can’t put your dog in a plastic bubble and kill all of their fun, joy, and zest for life. There are way to lessen and mitigate the risk of UV exposure for your dog, AND still let them have their play and fun-in-the-sun times.

  • Research and Pick Fun but Safe Spots – The internet is a cool tool… you can find details, pictures, rating, and reviews for almost every spot you might want to take your dog. Find places that provide good shade, access to water, trails in the woods, dog friendly sections or features. If there is no shade, it’s either a quick trip, or it’s a NO GO for ROVER!

  • Timing is Everything – If it can be avoided, don’t take your dog out in peak sunny hours. In most areas that is between 10am – 4pm local time. The sun is most powerful in that time frame and UV rays are their most potent. If you choose to go out during those times, follow the recommendation above on research and shade.

  • Fashionable and Useful – Get your dog a summer wardrobe that doubles as UV protection. You may not believe it, but they make UV protective clothing for dogs. You can find hats, shirts, visors, and booties. Not all dogs love wear them, but you know you’re interested to see selection. Consider your dogs coat thickness and match a look and style to it. You don’t want to cause heatstroke by over accessorizing when it’s not needed.

  • Fill ‘em Up! – As we’ve mentioned throughout the list, hydration is critical. Water helps to ward off heatstroke, it keeps body temperature down, it keeps the skin moist and healthy.  Put ice cubes in your water sources before you leave your home, this keeps the water cooler and helps with the intake process. There are harnesses, shirts, and accessories that will allow your dog to haul their own water, so you don’t have to carry it all. Also make sure you bring a folding bowl or a ladle for the dog to drink from.

  • Here Comes the Sun King – Did you know that they make pet specific sunscreens? Yep, sun screen devised and designed for your dog is available. Short hair and hairless dogs will benefit the most from these products, but all dogs can use it on ears, noses, and exposed skin area. You can find them on the internet, or ask that incredible wall of information known as your veterinarian for advice. (DO NOT USE human sunscreens on your dog. There are so many chemicals and bad things for a dog to ingest in an over the counter human product that it mitigates the good things the sunscreen could do.

Lastly, if you see any of the warning signs of a severe sunburn (infection, bright redness, swelling, pain to the touch, not eating or drinking, blistering), call your trusted veterinarian professional and let them guide you. Chances are good they will want to see your dog to check out the damage. Your vet has access to treatments and medications that your fur friends just can’t get at home.

We don’t want you to think that we are “anti-outside” or against outdoors adventures. Some of the best times of your life can be had with a fur kid at your side as you explore the summer fun. Beaches, trails, parks, and even your back yard, can provide great moments and awesome memories with your dog… don’t cheat yourself of that.  As with anything new, just be prepared and understand the risk/rewards that you’ll encounter. With planning and well thought out execution of your ideas, summer can be the best time of the year for your and your pets.

That’s all for this week from Freddie Central. As we change from May to June, we approach the half-way point in 2024 (can you believe it?).  The summer season will bring warmer temperatures, unpredictable weather, and vacations. Use the internet to help you plan a fantastic & pet loving route that the entire family can enjoy.

Until we meet again next week, as always, we wish you best of health, better luck, the wisdom of the ages, the eye to see the best in people, and to always be Pet Friendly in all your adventures… #FreddieSez!

Research for this Blog was Captured from;

www.suniskillingme.com

www.manypets.com

www.wagwalking.com

www.akc.org