Summer Care for Canines

Did you know that a common cause of sunburn for dogs is the sun reflecting up from the sidewalk to a dogs underbelly?

Protect Your Pets From Sunburn

Ah, the sunny days of summer are here--time for dogs to take long walks and play Frisbee at the park or beach and for cats to sunbathe on the windowsill. Before stepping out to enjoy the summer weather, you should protect your pet as well as yourself from the harmful effects of too much sun. 

Sunlight is healthy for pets as it is for people; sunlight helps the skin produce vitamin D, which protects the skin and helps balance the body's calcium levels and metabolism. However, too much of anything can be harmful, and too much ultraviolet (UV) radiation can cause sunburn, or solar dermatitis, in cats and dogs. 

According to Dr. Karen Campbell, veterinary dermatologist at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana, sunburn starts as redness and hair loss on the ear tips, bridge of the nose, or abdomen and can lead to skin ulceration, infection, and carcinoma. Excessive sun exposure can also exacerbate existing skin problems.  Read more >