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SUN SCREEN PROTECTION FOR PETS

First broadcast on www.provet.co.uk  


This information is provided by Provet for educational purposes only.

You should seek the advice of your veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly advise on the diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for your pet.

Exposure to too much sunlight is harmful to pets as well as humans, and now there is even a sun screen protection for pets

In humans it has been known for many years that exposure to too much sunlight can cause problems , including sun burn, heat stroke  and a skin cancer called melanoma. As a result people relaxing or working outdoors usually apply creams and lotions which selectively block out the ultraviolet rays in sunlight.

Our pets (and other animals) can also suffer from the effects of too much exposure to direct sunlight. Fortunately, many animals have a thick, pigmented hair coat which reduces the amount of sunlight that reaches the skin . However, some do not have such good protection and the most susceptible animals include :

  • Hairless breeds eg the Mexican Hairless dog (and pigs kept outdoors)
  • White breeds with a thin hair coat - eg cats, especially on the pinnae of the ears
  • Areas of white, sparse hair covering on otherwise pigmented breeds eg the bridge of the nose in collies

Too much sunlight in these breeds can cause :

  • Sunburn - which may cause  local burning and blistering of the skin
  • Photosensitivity - an allergic reaction to sunlight, causing skin disease
  • Squamous cell carcinoma - a form of cancer - this often affects the pinnae of the ear of white cats.

Interestingly, dogs do get skin melanoma as well as humans, but it may not always be associated with exposure to sunlight.

Susceptible animals should be kept out of direct sunlight on hot summer days when the ultraviolet (UV) light is strong. In the past susceptible areas of pets were sometimes tattooed to protect against the UV light, but  now there is a protective sun blocker available just for pets, which can be applied if an animal has to spend long periods of time in the direct sunlight.

 

Updated October 2013