Protect your dog or cat from the sun this summer

Please note: Media Relations is unable to answer questions about pet health problems. Contact your veterinarian.

Source: Dr. Mary Bagladi-Swanson, 785-532-5690, mbagladi@vet.k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Amber Haag, 785-532-6415

Thursday, June 23, 2005

PROTECT YOUR DOG OR CAT FROM THE SUN THIS SUMMER

MANHATTAN -- Summer is a time of fun ... and sun. Most people take precautions to protect their children from the sun's rays, but many pet owners don't realize it is also important to protect their pets from the sun.

Dr. Mary Bagladi-Swanson, assistant professor at Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, said many pet owners do not consider the sun a threat because of their pet's hair coat.

"The hair coat does serve as a barrier, so we don't see sun damage being as much of a problem as we do with people," Bagladi-Swanson said. "But animals that have certain autoimmune conditions that affect the skin; light skin; or thin hair coats are more likely to be harmed by the sun.

"Some areas of the body are lightly haired and lightly pigmented, such as the abdomen and face of dog breeds including bull terriers and Dalmatians and the ears of white cats," she said. "These areas can be prone to damage from ultraviolet light."

Bagladi-Swanson said the damage caused by the sun can vary from burning to skin cancer. She said any change in the skin should be looked at by a veterinarian.

Bagladi-Swanson said the best thing you can do to protect your pet from the summer sun is to keep your pet out of the sun during the intense hours -- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

She said another way to protect your pet when you know you'll be in the sun is to put a human-based chemical sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher on your pet.

"Using the chemical sunscreen is important, because it actually absorbs into the skin and protects even if the animal licks at it," Bagladi-Swanson said.

She said there are also sun suits available for dogs. These suits are similar to the suit a surfer wears and often are used for dogs who accompany surfers at the beach for hours at a time.