Not all living beings tolerate the heat and the action of the sun in the same way. It will depend on the type of skin we have and the hair that covers us, among other things. The best thing, in any case, is to protect yourself from the effect of the sun so that it does not have negative consequences on us.
Sunburn
Despite what some may think, our dogs can have problems related to the sun such as the appearance of burns . The dogs that are most predisposed to suffer the effects of Lorenzo are those that have white hair , that have little fur density or those that have uncovered parts around the eyes or nose and those that have the inner area of the ear to the view.
The areas of the dog’s body that are most vulnerable to sunlight are those that present the least melanin, that is: the muzzle, the tip of the nose, the tips of the ears and the mouth, the inside of the legs, the abdomen and the english ones. In these areas is where we should apply a special sunscreen for dogs. Experts recommend sun protection for all dogs, not only for the most vulnerable (short-haired, white or light-colored specimens).
As with the recommendations directed at humans, we should not allow our dog to be exposed to the sun in the hours when it has the most impact , that is, between eleven in the morning and five in the afternoon. If the furry comes with us to the beach, we will find a space for him that is in the shade or, failing that, we will place it under the umbrella.
Sunscreen
Proper sun protection will not only prevent annoying burns but also premature aging of the skin, blisters, burning and, most importantly, cancer. Thus, to prevent all this, in addition to avoiding exposures in the central hours of the day and maintaining a shady area for the furry, we will apply sunscreen for dogs. And this that is “for dogs” is essential since sun creams for humans are not recommended . In the market you can find specific sun protection products for them in cream, gel or spray format and with a protection factor of 30 or 50. A dog with short hair and fair skin should necessarily use a factor of 50.
What if we forget the dog’s sunscreen or haven’t bought it yet? Is it better not to put anything to use ours? To apply our sun cream as something exceptional we will have to take into account a series of factors:
– Check if the cream contains octyl salicylate (octyl salicylate) or zinc oxide , since these ingredients can cause serious problems such as anemia, gastrointestinal disorders and animal poisoning. In this case, it is better not to wear it.
– The cream should be as natural as possible , no odors or fragrances, sun dyes or colors and be hypoallergenic. These characteristics are usually typical of children’s creams and those for sensitive skin.
– If you are warned of the danger of ingesting the product, do not apply even a drop of cream to the hairy as it could become intoxicated in the case, more than likely, that it licks.
– Do not put too much of the product so that his skin can absorb it before he can lick it.
Heat and dense, poorly groomed fur are a bad combination
If your dog has a dense coat of fur, it is not necessary to cut it in the summer, it will simply have to be well cared for. Brush him daily and remove any possible tangles. A poorly groomed mane will not ventilate the space between the hairs and will increase the body temperature of our dog.
So that your dog does not suffer the summer, you must follow a few simple steps:
• Maintain the hygiene routine : brushing, proper haircut and done by dog groomers.
• Keep him out of direct sunlight . Make sure you always have a shady corner in your space.
• Refresh it with frequent showers (it is not necessary to always lather) and with special protective creams.
• Make sure you always have fresh water to drink.
If anyway you notice that he has a red nose , that he is panting very hard or suffers from flaking in any body area, go to the vet.
