We know that our dog's he alth is the most important thing, however, we don't usually worry as much about his skin and his exposure to the sun as we worry about his diet. This is a big mistake, since our best friend can get burned by the sun's ultraviolet radiation, causing serious he alth problems, including redness and scabs on the skin that cause itching and can cause infections. That is why, in this article on our site, we talk about the importance of using sunscreen for dogs
Stay with us to find out when to use sunscreen on dogs, how and where to buy it.
Do dogs need sunscreen?
Surely you have wondered on many occasions if dogs need to apply sun cream just like people. The answer is yes, because despite the protection offered by their fur against ultraviolet radiation, they have some areas of their body with less hair and more sensitive to sun exposure, as is the case of the abdomen, snout and ears In addition, those dogs that have finer, shorter hair and with Light tones are more likely to burn their skin, since the rays strike more easily. That is why it is very important to use sunscreen for dogs if we know that they are going to spend a lot of time exposed, because burns, in addition to causing physical damage to our furry, can also trigger skin cancer. Therefore, it is very important to protect them using the right products and in the best way, as we will see below.
How to choose a sunscreen for dogs?
Now that you know the importance of using sunscreen or sunscreen for dogs, you may be wondering which product is the most suitable to put on the most sensitive areas. It is true that in suitable conditions we can use a good protector for human use, since, as long as it offers a protection greater than 30 and does not contain substances harmful to the dog, such as zinc or para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), it can serve as a great help. However, today there is specific sunblock for dogs on the market, since these are designed to respect the pH of your skin and are hypoallergenic. Here are three examples of specific products for dogs that can be very useful to you because they are factor 30 and 50, water resistant, do not contain perfumes or other substances that can irritate their skin and provide hydration at the same time:
- Mugue Solar Blocker
- Dermoscent Sunfree
- Menforsan sun cream
- Pet sunscreen
- HelioVet Stangest Sunscreen
However, before opting for any product, it is necessary to listen to your veterinarian's recommendations, since he will know what the best protector that adapts to your dog's skin and its needs. It is also very important to highlight the importance of reading the ingredients of the sun cream for dogs, SINCE some substances can be harmful to the animal. Also, do not forget other indications to protect him from high exposure to ultraviolet rays, including avoiding walking your dog at very hot times or when the radiation is very intense and maintaining his fur, since one of the functions of this is to protect him of the sun. There are also thin t-shirts designed for dogs whose purpose is to prevent radiation from penetrating. Check out this other article on The best times to walk your dog.
How to use sunscreen for dogs?
If you are wondering where on your dog's body you should apply sun cream and how to do it, you can follow these simple tips:
- Apply only in areas most exposed and sensitive to radiation. We are talking about the most hairless body parts such as around the snout, the tips of the ears, the back of the legs or the abdomen.
- Do not exceed the quantity, since the product must be well absorbed by the skin of our best friend. Also, if we go overboard, they can lick and ingest the product.
- Follow the recommendations of each manufacturer, since most sunscreens for dogs must apply them periodically because they tend to lose their effectiveness when they wear off Approximately 2 hours.
- Apply sunscreen for dogs before going out to areas where there is a high incidence of radiation.
- Always observe the skin of our furry friends to check that they do not suffer from sunburn. We must be alert if we see that the most sensitive parts of the animal's body begin to redden when it spends several hours in the sun.
What to do if your dog gets sunburned?
First of all, the first thing you should do if your dog suffers any burn is go to a veterinary center, since the professional will tell you will prescribe regenerating, moisturizing and/or antibiotic creams depending on the degree of the burn. However, what you should always avoid is exposing already burned areas to the sun again of the animal because they can worsen the damage. We also have to be careful with the chemicals we use to wash them, as is the case with shampoos, because we have to check that the ingredients do not further irritate the burned skin. For this, there are products designed for this purpose on the market. Consult the following article to know how to treat burns in dogs.
Now that you know how to protect your best friend, don't hesitate to buy a good sunscreen for dogs if you are going to spend a lot of time in the sun on the beach or in nature.
