Should pets use sunscreen?

Just like humans, animals also need adequate protection from the sun. Three veterinary doctors look at the importance of sun care and the dangers it entails.

During the summer, which gets hotter from year to year, animals require a little more specific care than the rest of the season. High temperatures and exposure to sunlight affect them as much, or sometimes more, than humans.

We have already talked, for example, about the caution you should take with your paws, which can suffer burns from contact with a hot sidewalk, or the constant hydration that dogs and cats should have at this time -there. But a lesser known topic is caring for your skin, which often also requires care to avoid injury from solar radiation.

Is it necessary to apply sunscreen to our dogs and cats?

“Of course,” replies Nicolás Orellana, veterinarian and academic at the University of the Americas. “Just like humans, pets should also use sunscreen.”

Vanesa Silva, member of the team Veterinary Veterinary Clinic, comments that it is recommended that cats and dogs, like humans, not expose themselves to the sun between noon and 4 p.m., which are the hours of greatest ultraviolet radiation of the day.

“As this is often not possible, or not very feasible, especially for those who have a garden, a very good option is the use of sunscreen for pets,” comments- he. Most cat and dog breeds have fur covering almost their entire body, but “this does not protect them 100% from UV rays, let alone at the levels that currently exist, and they can be exposed to skin irritations , sunburn and even cancer. »

Better to have your pet with a fan than outside.

“Sunscreen is a recommended alternative for our pets, especially on sunny days, where the UV index is very high or extreme, as normally happens in the city or at the beach”, explains Giovanna Repetti, veterinarian of the chain . SuperZoo .

This doesn’t mean you should let your guard down on cloudy days, as clouds aren’t able to completely filter out UV rays. “Application of this product can be particularly essential for dogs and cats with white or light fur, especially if they have short fur, as this means their skin is more exposed to the sun,” he explains. .

What areas should be protected?

“The ideal is to protect areas where there is less hair on our animals,” explains Silva. In the case of cats, this is the nose, the base of the ears (which have less hair) and their tips, the lower abdomen and the groin.

In the case of dogs, the nose is also more vulnerable – including the nose and bridge –, the tips of the ears, the skin around the lips, the lower abdomen and the inner thighs.

“In white, light brown or orange animals, the risks are greater because, like us, the lack of melanin makes them more sensitive to UV rays,” he emphasizes.

Which breeds are most sensitive to solar radiation?

Silva says you should be especially careful with the following dog and cat breeds:

Cats

  • Sphinx
  • baby
  • Donskoy

Dogs

  • Peruvian hairless dog,
  • chinese crested
  • Xoloitzcuintle
  • American Hairless Terrier

“In these animals it is also recommended to cover them with a shirt or clothing when they go out during sunny hours,” explains the veterinarian’s veterinarian.

How often should you apply sunscreen? According to Orellana, the duration is approximately 2 or 3 hours, if possible 15 minutes before exposure to the sun. Repetti adds that if the animal gets wet, it should be reapplied.

How to apply sunscreen?

The most comfortable way, according to the SuperZoo veterinarian, is to first apply the sunscreen to your own hands, then spread it gently, avoiding direct contact with the eyes. “In the latter case, you should gently apply plenty of water until the eye is clean,” he suggests.

“If it is the first time you apply a specific blocker, it is advisable to do a test on a small area of ​​the body and assess that the skin does not become red or irritated,” recalls Silva, since animals have also allergic reactions.

Solar filter alone for dogs and cats

A few weeks ago, a friend told me that her cat had a red rash on her ear. She thought it was because there was a lot of sunlight in her window, because one of her favorite things to do is sit out during midday and part of the afternoon enjoying the sun.

A few days later he wrote to me that the vet had detected an allergic reaction, which could have been caused by the fact that they were using the same sunscreen. “Human sunscreens contain substances such as zinc oxide, salicylates or para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) which can be very toxic to them,” says Silva.

For that, The sunscreen that we use on our animals’ skin must be indicated for cats or dogs. “You have to think that it is very likely that they will lick the producer, which leads to the risk of vomiting, diarrhea and even liver damage,” he says.

“As it is a dermatological product, it must have a pH balanced with the animal’s skin, different from that of humans. That’s why we can’t use the same skin products,” adds Repetti.

Orellana adds that these chemical elements “could irritate the skin of our pets, and go from a simple itching to a generalized allergy”, so it is not recommended, for any reason, to use sunscreen on our pets.

How to choose sunscreen for animals

When looking for sunscreen for dogs and cats, several options appear. But the question, as always, is: which one to choose?

According to professionals, the first thing is to check that the labeling indicates that it is a product formulated for dogs and/or cats. “Especially with cats, it is important to ALWAYS read the label to make sure the product we are going to put on their skin is safe to use on them. This also applies to sunscreens, creams, shampoos and pipettes,” the veterinarian adds.

“Once the product has been chosen, you should apply only a small amount and on a visible area, to see how the animal’s body reacts to said product,” recommends Orellana. This way we can check which solar factor is compatible with our pet’s skin. Silva stresses that whatever option you choose, it should have SPF 30 or higher protection, and hopefully fragrance-free, “so it doesn’t make them uncomfortable.”

Another relevant point, comments Repetti, is that it is free of sulfates and parabens and suitable for sensitive skin. SuperZoo recommends Cool Pet Sunscreen, which has SPF 30, UVB/UVA protection, pH balanced with animal skin, free of zinc oxide and benzophenones, and can be applied to cats, dogs and pets. exotic animals.

Cool Pet Sunscreen SPF 30 60 ml


Can pets get skin cancer?

“In cats we see it in a greater proportion than in dogs,” explains Nicolás Orellana. It mainly appears in the ears and nose. “In dogs and cats, we speak of squamous cell carcinoma. This is why it is essential to consider sunscreen in our routine with pets,” he emphasizes.

“Skin cancer is real in our pets and it is our duty to take preventative measures to minimize its occurrence,” says Silva. In addition to squamous cell carcinoma, it refers to malignant melanoma and cutaneous hemangiosarcoma. “In animals that are more exposed and have higher risk factors, the use of sunscreen is important,” he emphasizes.

“If your pet has sores or ulcers that do not heal completely, bumps, masses, protrusions or overgrowths, constant itching in a particular area and/or changes in skin color and texture, You should consult your veterinarian immediately,” says Repetti.

If there is a diagnosis, it is not the end of the world: in dogs as in cats, there are treatments for skin cancer, whether surgical and/or chemotherapeutic. However, as in humans, prevention and early detection are essential to improve the prognosis of our pets.

recommendations:

  • A tip for applying it: One of the big problems is that when applying the product, the dog or cat begins to lick itself. To avoid this, Silva suggests always putting the protector on before giving him an edible treat. If you also stay with your pet, pet it or play with it for at least 5 minutes, you will ensure that the product penetrates the skin. “It will mean a moment of happiness for them and they will not associate it with negative emotions or stress,” he says.
  • Don’t have the resources to buy sunscreen? When the pocket is thin, Orellana advises restricting access to the outdoors or windows where the sun reaches most directly, “especially when UV levels are higher.”

*Product prices in this article are current as of January 16, 2024. Values ​​and availability are subject to change.

Source: Latercera

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