Did You Know Your Cats and Dogs Can Get Sunburned?

When your beloved kitty cat curls up in your living room window to bask in the sun, are you worried about his little ears and nose getting sunburned? When you take your dog out for a play date in the park do you worry about him getting sunburned? Animals do get sunburned just like people do, and it is just as painful for them as it is for us when we get burned. Cats and dogs are especially vulnerable to sunburn if they have white, or light colored ears, have a light colored nose, and if their fur is thin enough that sun can get through to the skin. Dogs often have a small amount of covering on their snouts, and sometimes their noses are light colored, rather than pigmented.

Our pets that are groomed to have short clipped coats may get sunburned because their skin is exposed. We might not notice it so much, but they will notice it when they start itching and burning from too much sun exposure. I use sunscreen on my Chihuahua. I put it on his nose and his underside that is not covered with thick hair. Basically, anywhere I see skin, I put sunscreen on him. I also dress him when he goes out to play in the park. I don't necessarily dress him to be cute, but I am forming a barrier between his back and the sun, because his hair is not all that thick. I don't see skin when I look down at his back, but I'm not taking any chances that sunlight can get through and burn him.

If your dog or cat loves to lie out in the sun, it is a good practice to either remove the animal from direct sunlight during the hottest part of the day-between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.-or rub them down good with sunscreen. Preventing burns will also prevent skin cancer. Dogs are just as prone to develop skin cancer as we are. They need sun, just like we do. They depend on the sunlight to produce vitamin D, which is necessary for metabolism and calcium balance in your pet's body chemistry. They get this light from their exposed areas, but moderation is key, just as with us humans.