Does your dog need sunscreen? Which breeds are most susceptible to burns — and how to protect them

Hot dogs won’t beryllium nan only ones roasting this Fourth of July weekend.

While you’re flipping franks and catching rays, your furry friend mightiness beryllium getting fried — and excessively overmuch sun tin bring immoderate earnestly ruff consequences.

But don’t sweat it: The Post fetched master proposal from 2 veterinarians connected really to support your pooch cool, safe and tail-wagging each summertime agelong — including really to debar a well-meaning but perchance “toxic” mistake.

Can dogs get a sunburn? 

Yes, truthful paw-lease beryllium observant retired there. 

“Dogs tin get a sunburn connected areas of their assemblage pinch little hair, specified arsenic nan span of their nose,” said Dr. Lori Bierbrier, elder aesculapian head of organization medicine astatine nan American Society for nan Prevention of Cruelty to Animals eastbound region.

Other areas that are susceptible to nan sun see nan ears, belly, tail and eyelids.

Are definite breeds much astatine risk?

“Dogs that person minimal to nary hairsbreadth covering their bodies are much predisposed to person sunburns,” said Dr. Timnah Lee, nan aesculapian head of Seaport Animal Hospital and Tribeca Soho Animal Hospital.

Think: American hairless terriers, Chinese crested and Xoloitzcuintli.

But it’s not conscionable nan hairless unit who tin suffer from sun damage.

“Those pinch short hair, bladed coats, ray colored fur aliases ray tegument are besides astatine a greater consequence of sunburn — conscionable for illustration people,” Bierbrier said. 

That includes Dalmatians, collies, Weimaraners, bulldogs, boxers, pit bulls, whippets and greyhounds.

Even fluffy breeds for illustration huskies, German shepherds and Golden Retrievers aren’t disconnected nan hook, since seasonal shedding tin time off them much exposed to nan sun’s rays.

And earlier you scope for nan clippers, deliberation twice. While it mightiness look for illustration shaving your furry friend would thief them cool off, Bierbrier warned that it tin really do much harm than good.

“A dog’s overgarment keeps them from getting excessively acold successful nan winter, but besides keeps them from overheating successful nan summer,” she explained.

“Shaving your canine of this earthy cooling strategy tin lead to discomfort, overheating and different superior dangers for illustration sunburn aliases tegument cancer.”

How do I support my pup safe successful nan sun?

“On those much susceptible dogs, I urge a doggy sunscreen connected their bodies and face,” Lee said. “Remember to reapply for illustration you do for yourself.”

Pet-friendly sunscreens travel successful a assortment of forms. The AKC suggests choosing water-resistant, unscented formulas pinch an SPF of astatine slightest 30.

“It is highly important that you usage nan sunscreen designated for pets only, arsenic quality sunscreens tin beryllium toxic,” Bierbrier warned. 

Certain ingredients successful quality products — for illustration zinc oxide and para-aminobenzoic acerb — tin origin vomiting, diarrhea and successful terrible cases, moreover zinc toxicity aliases liver harm if ingested.

“Sun shirts are besides disposable to put connected your pet to protect their skin,” Bierbrier noted. “Also, avoiding nan sun astatine nan highest somesthesia points connected nan time is advised.”

How tin you show if your dog’s been burned?

“Sunburns tin beryllium different successful each pet depending connected their coloring and really often they were exposed to nan sun,” Bierbrier said.

“Similar to humans, dogs tin get reddish tegument that is tender to nan touch. The tegument whitethorn beryllium inflamed, flakey aliases blistered,” she added. “Your pet whitethorn besides show signs of dehydration.”

Dehydration symptoms successful dogs see dry, sticky gums, nonaccomplishment of tegument elasticity, dense panting, sunken eyes, lethargy, decreased appetite and darker aliases reduced urine output, according to nan American Kennel Club.

My canine has a sunburn — now what?

If your pooch is pink, don’t panic.

“Consult your veterinarian if you judge your pet has a sunburn,” Lee advised.

“We don’t ever want to put aloe connected them for illustration we do for ourselves, arsenic they tin lick it off, and sometimes that tin create an upset tummy,” she added.

For much superior burns, Bierbrier said vets whitethorn prescribe medicated ointments. But for milder cases, location are easy at-home treatments, for illustration oatmeal baths.

“Keeping your pet good hydrated is highly important,” she noted. “Cold compresses tin besides thief relieve nan inflamed skin.”

Can sunburn lead to tegument crab successful dogs?

“It can, but since dogs person fur, their tegument is wide amended protected than humans from nan consequence of tegument cancer,” Bierbrier said. 

Still, it’s important to enactment alert, since tegument crab successful dogs is often treatable erstwhile caught early.

“Monitor nan tegument for immoderate caller growths, particularly if they turn rapidly,” Bierbrier said. “A veterinarian tin trial nan maturation to find if nan growths are cancerous aliases benign.” 

But tegument crab isn’t nan only logic to beryllium cautious astir letting your canine soak up excessively galore rays.

Besides being painful, sunburns harm nan skin’s protective barrier, making your pup much susceptible to bacterial and fungal infections.

It tin besides worsen different conditions, specified arsenic autoimmune disorders and dermatitis, according to nan AKC.