can my dog get a sun burn?

Question

I have been taking my dogs to the lake lately and was just wondering if they could get sunburned (I live in texas and I got burned after an hour and wearing sun block)

they are in direct sunlight for about 2-3 hours, the only shade is provided by the brown water of the lake.

Answer 1

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.

Answer 2

Yes, dogs AND cats can get sunburned though some breeds are more likely than others. Your best bet is to get a sunscrean forumlated for your animals and follow the directions on the bottle. Like their human counterparts, our pets have an increased risk for skin cancer etc if they spend a lot of time unprocted in the sun.

Answer 3

Dogs need the sunlight just like humans to balance their body levels of calcium with their metabolism. Dogs also, like humans, can be affected by the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays that can irritate their skin, causing sunburn. You can tell if a dog's been sunburned by noticable redness of skin and hair loss. The breeds most vulnerable to sunburn are those with short hair and paler skin. The areas most affected are the nose, abdomen, groin, and the insides of their legs. Also, because they are close to the ground, not only can the downward sunlight burn them, so can the sunlight reflecting off of pavement. Weimeraners and Boxers are predisposed to cancer, so they need extra protection to keep from getting skin cancer. Protection: if at all possible, keep your dog inside during peak hours of sunlight, apply sunblock to the dog's nose, ears, and other sensitive areas stated above. Some veterinarians suggest using a bodysuit to block UV rays and prevent sunburn, although I believe is a bit drastic unless your dog is in continuous sunlight for more than a few hours.

Answer 4

Yes, dogs AND cats can get sunburned though some breeds are more likely than others. Your best bet is to get a sunscrean forumlated for your animals and follow the directions on the bottle

Answer 5

I don't think dogs can get sunburns unless they have very little hair or none at all. I do know they can get sun stoke. Make sure they have plenty of freash water at all times and if you can make them a lean too where they can get out of the sun or as a last resort move them

Answer 6

well if your dogs dont have any hair like A chinese Crested than thn they night beed some sun sceen on... I live on the lake and have 4 dogs and none of them have ever gotten sun burned... Mini sch-- Shih-Tzu and 2 Newfoundlands and we stay on the lake from 4-8 hrs aday...

Answer 7

Yes they can. I use the same kind of sun screen and I put it on their noses and ears. I took mine to Phoenix,Az a couple of years ago and not realizing it at the time they jumped out of the motorhome unto the hot pavement and the temp was 118 degrees. I went to a drugstore and bought spray and cream for their paws and
I bought baby sock to put on their four paws. I felt so bad. Alot of owners don`t realize that they wear sandals or shoes and animals like ours aren`t so fortunate so we must protect our pets at all times like our precious kids.

Answer 8

Any dog can get a sunburn. But light-colored dogs, hairless or shaved dogs or dogs who have no pigment on their nose are most at risk.

Answer 9

Yes they can. Use the same type of sunscreen as what you use and apply it to her nose and ears and the forehead. These are the most open to sunburn.

Answer 10

If he has hair he probably won't but they could get pretty hot depending on the thickness of the coat and the color.The darker the hair the hotest he will get, make sure he drink plenty of water.