We all enjoy a bit of sunshine but we need to look after our pets’ skin as much as our own
Q Our female Dalmatian, aged seven, seems don’t encourage her. She finds a sunny spot to lie in when we aren’t looking. Is this dangerous for her skin?
A Climate change must now be very cal, with the record temperatures we are currently experiencing.
I anticipate we will be seeing a steady increase in sun-damaged skin in dogs and cats in the near future, especially in those that like to sunbathe.
Excessive sun exposure, especially between 9am and 4pm, does represent a health threat to dogs’ skin.
The first of these is solar dermatitis, very similar to sunburn. It affects lightly-pigmented, sparsely-haired areas such as the nose or ventral abdomen. The skin may become reddened and scaly and, if the exposure continues, crusts and ulceration occurs. These are signs of actinic keratosis – precancerous lesions.
