Does my pet need sunscreen?

Summer is in full swing and it’s time to think about sun protection for your pets but does your pet actually need to need to slip, slop, slap? The answer to this question is not so simple and it depends on many factors.

You should think about applying sunscreen to your pet if:

+ they have a thin coat or a light coloured coat,

+ they like to lie in the sun for extended periods of time, or;

+ if they have exposed or pink skin around areas such as the nose and/or tips of the ears and the belly,

The most important take-home message is to make sure you only ever apply a pet approved sunscreen to your canine or feline friend. Any sunscreen that contains zinc oxide can be potentially harmful to dogs if ingested. Products containing salicylates can also cause problems in cats so it’s always important to read the ingredient list.

There are UV rash vests available for dogs who spend extended periods outside or at the beach but these products aren’t perfect as they don’t cover areas of exposed skin under the belly which is no good if your dog is partial to a bit of sunbaking on their back.

The best bit of advice is to always provide ample shade for your pet and remember that the best protection is avoidance so try to keep your pet out of the direct sun especially between the period of peak UV rays (between 10am – 2pm.)

We can recommend a suitable sunscreen for your pet, ask us for more information.