Dear Miss Paws: Can dogs and cats get sunburned? A. Yes. Both dogs and cats can get sunburned. 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. Cats with white ears are especially prone to develop sunburn on the tips and edges of the ears. Some pets, whose hair is clipped very short 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 strongest. Hikes in the woods in the middle of the day and saving the beach for early morning or late day can help you dog enjoy the outdoors without resulting in a painful sunburn. If your dog will put up with playing “dress up” you can cover a lot of a dog’s body with a t-shirt or a hat. There are also a number of canine apparel products available. Sunscreen is the most helpful tool if you are doing to be in the sun. There are three things to remember: - The sunscreen should have a SPF of 15 or higher to be effective. Even though the higher SPF formulas offer more protection, they tend to be thicker and more difficult to work with on your dog.
- PABA is dangerous to dogs so find a sunscreen that does not contain the ingredient. If you have trouble finding a brand, there are several canine sunscreens available that are basically the same as human sunscreen minus a couple of chemicals.
- The longer the sunscreen is on your dog, the more beneficial it will be. Get a water sunscreen or something that is designed to stay on in the water, particularly if you are taking your dog swimming.
If your dog tries to lick off the sunscreen the best trick is to try to make the pet forget he has it on. Try to put the sunscreen on before the dog is given food, a treat or goes out to exercise. If they are distracted immediately after the sunscreen is applied, there is a good chance they will forget about it. If, in spite of all your efforts, your dog still gets a sunburn the treatment is the same as human treatment. For quick short-term relief, try spraying your dog down with cool water. Add some witch hazel to the spray bottle and give it a little more soothing power. A bath of cool water with baking soda will help relieve the burn and itch. For long term relief, use a lotion version of any of the popular sunburn relief products.
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