The Sunshine “D” Factor

Absorbing some healthy vitamin D into our pores is always a good thing for strong bones and muscles, but applying sunscreen is also the best way to prevent sunburn and the damage that can develop from the powerful UVA/UVB rays.

Who doesn’t enjoy the radiant, golden glow you get after a little time in the sun, but did you ever consider how the rays might affect your dog?

Hot Diggity Tan Lines

Just because your pet naturally wears a furry coat, he or she can still develop a suntan. That’s right; dogs sun bathing is not out of the question.

You and I may have a hard time noticing our pooches’ tan lines, but like us, dogs are also born with certain skin cells (melanocytes) that produce the natural pigment of melanin.

When exposed to direct sunlight, these melanocytes will produce enhanced levels of pigment.

A dog’s fur is a protective barrier of sorts, but exposed areas like the nose tip, ear tips and belly (underside area) have thinner fur or hairlessness. So those parts of your pooch can show a burn or tan, depending on how long the animal is out in the sun.

Sunscreen Made Fido-Style

Veterinarians recommend owners of dogs sun bathing to be mindful of their pets’ sensitivity to the strong rays and apply sunscreen. This routine is especially key for dogs with light-colored or white fur and those that might be hairless or with a thinner coat.

Yes, there is actually dog sunscreen to provide excellent protection for dogs sun tanning. Do not use your human sunscreen to apply on your pet because these formulas often contain an ingredient called zinc oxide. That inorganic compound is toxic to animals.

Dogs Sun Tanning Right Way

Dogs are very much like their human friends and can develop skin cancer when exposed to excessive sun. Dogs sun tanning is healthy for these amazing four-legged creatures when it’s properly done and precautions are taken. Allowing your pet to have access to shade is also important. Don’t forget to consider your pet’s safety.

Let’s face it; you and I enjoy soaking up the rays, and having our dogs sun tanning right beside us makes it that more special.

Pet Safety In Very Hot Temperatures

Pet safety is very important during the summer months. Hot temperatures can be uncomfortable—even dangerous—for pets and people. It’s difficult enough simply to cope with rising temperatures, let alone thick humidity, but things really get tough in areas that are hit with the double blow of intense heat and storm-caused power outages, sometimes with tragic results.

Pet Safety Tips From The Humane Society:

Pet Safety Tip #1 Learn how to help a pet left inside a hot car:

Never leave your pets in a parked car, not even for a minute. Not even with the car running and air conditioner on. On a warm day, temperatures inside a vehicle can rise rapidly to dangerous levels. On an 85-degree day, for example, the temperature inside a car with the windows opened slightly can reach 102 degrees within 10 minutes. After 30 minutes, the temperature will reach 120 degrees. Your pet may suffer irreversible organ damage or die.

Pet Safety 2 Watch the humidity:

“It’s important to remember that it’s not just the ambient temperature but also the humidity that can affect your pet,” says Dr. Barry Kellogg, VMD, of the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association. “Animals pant to evaporate moisture from their lungs, which takes heat away from their body. If the humidity is too high, they are unable to cool themselves, and their temperature will skyrocket to dangerous levels—very quickly.”

Taking a dog’s temperature will quickly tell you if there is a serious problem. Dogs’ temperatures should not be allowed to get over 104 degrees. If your dog’s temperature does, follow the instructions for treating heat stroke.

Pet Safety #3 Limit exercise on hot days:

Take care when exercising your pet. Adjust intensity and duration of exercise in accordance with the temperature. On very hot days, limit exercise to early morning or evening hours, and be especially careful with pets with white-colored ears, who are more susceptible to skin cancer, and short-nosed pets, who typically have difficulty breathing. Asphalt gets very hot and can burn your pet’s paws, so walk your dog on the grass if possible. Always carry water with you to keep your dog from dehydrating.

Pet Safety Tip #4 Don’t rely on a fan:

Pets respond differently to heat than humans do. (Dogs, for instance, sweat primarily through their feet.) And fans don’t cool off pets as effectively as they do people.

Pet Safety Tip #5 Provide ample shade and water:

Any time your pet is outside, make sure he or she has protection from heat and sun and plenty of fresh, cold water. In heat waves, add ice to water when possible. Tree shade and tarps are ideal because they don’t obstruct air flow. A doghouse does not provide relief from heat—in fact, it makes it worse.

Pet Safety Tip #6 Cool your pet inside and out:

Whip up a batch of quick and easy DIY peanut butter popsicles for dogs. (You can use peanut butter or another favorite food.) And always provide water, whether your pets are inside or out with you.

Keep your pet from overheating indoors or out with a cooling body wrap, vest, or mat (such as the Keep Cool Mat). Soak these products in cool water, and they’ll stay cool (but usually dry) for up to three days. If your dog doesn’t find baths stressful, see if she enjoys a cooling soak.

Pet Safety Tip #7 Watch for signs of heatstroke:

Extreme temperatures can cause heatstroke. Some signs of heatstroke are heavy panting, glazed eyes, a rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, excessive thirst, lethargy, fever, dizziness, lack of coordination, profuse salivation, vomiting, a deep red or purple tongue, seizure, and unconsciousness.

Animals are at particular risk for heat stroke if they are very old, very young, overweight, not conditioned to prolonged exercise, or have heart or respiratory disease. Some breeds of dogs—like boxers, pugs, shih tzus, and other dogs and cats with short muzzles—will have a much harder time breathing in extreme heat.

How to treat a pet suffering from heatstroke: Move your pet into the shade or an air-conditioned area. Apply ice packs or cold towels to her head, neck, and chest or run cool (not cold) water over her. Let her drink small amounts of cool water or lick ice cubes. Take her directly to a veterinarian.

Pet Safety Tip #8 Prepare for power outages:

Before a summer storm takes out the power in your home, create a disaster plan to keep your pets safe from heat stroke and other temperature-related trouble.

Dogs sun bathing the right way.

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