Give your Dog the Sun Protection he needs

Believe it or not, dogs do get sunburned. It may seem hard for many to understand that dogs can get sunburned. This is particularly so to dogs with light colored noses and pink skin, e.g. Italian Greyhound, White Poodle, Chinese Crested, Smooth Coated Chihuahua, Bull Terrier, Maltese, West Highland Terrier and Bichon Frises to name a few.

These types of dogs are susceptible to burns and as such, we have to learn how to prevent and treat burns.

One of the most effective ways of preventing sunburn is to avoid outdoor activities when the sun is at its hottest – middle of the day.

If this is not possible, you can put an old cotton t-shirt and a hat on your dog to keep direct light off of his skin.

Fact: Dogs suffer heat stroke more easily than human do, so keep the duration as brief as possible.

And if you aren’t comfortable walking around with a shrouded dog for whatever reason, use sunscreen even your dog is only exposing to afternoon sun (3pm to 5pm).

Tips on selecting a sun protection product for your dog

• The sunscreen should have an SPF of 15 or higher.
• Find a sunscreen of a thinner consistency as it will be easier to apply to your dog’s coat.
• Get a waterproof sunscreen as this will help it stay on your dog for longer, therefore increasing its effectiveness.
• PABA (Para-AminoBenzoic Acid) is dangerous to dogs; avoid products that contain this ingredient at all cost.
• Distract your dog when you are applying the lotion. Do it right before he eats or you are going to take him out for a walk. This will make him forget he is wearing any and will help prevent him from licking it off.
• Don’t worry if your dog does consume some sunscreen; as long as it doesn’t contain PABA, he will be fine.

There will be times, however, when even the best prevention will not stop the inevitable. So if your dog does get burned, there are a couple of things you can do to ease the discomfort. These include:

• Hosing your dog down with cool water
• Getting him out of the sun
• Mixing two parts cool water with one part witch hazel and then gently applying the mixture to his coat
• Give him a cool bath with baking soda in the water
• Apply Aloe Vera gel