Your dog can suffer from sunburn indoors: how to protect it

You might think that you only need to protect your pet from the harmful rays of the sun outside, but your dog can get sunburnt inside too.

We have already talked a lot about the fact that direct sunlight as you is as dangerous for you as it is for your pet. Sunburn also increases the risk of skin cancer in your dog, so you need to protect your pet from it. You can do this by using sunscreen and by taking your four-legged friend for a walk in the early morning or evening. What few people think about, however, is that you also need to pay attention to where your dog likes to spend time in the house.

As on the Index the UV rays can easily penetrate window panes, so you don’t have to move to give your dog a sunburn. So if your dog likes to spend time in the window, for example to keep an eye on the garden or street frontage, try to get him to stop doing this in the summer. Also, close the curtains or lower the blinds. darken the apartment is also recommended to slow down the warming of the home.

White and hairless dogs are at higher risk

As white or light-haired and hairless dogs are more exposed to UV radiation, they need special care. And black dogs overheat more quickly, so extra attention is important. Use sunscreen on your pet indoors if you think it’s appropriate. There are already a number of products for dogs on the market.

Symptoms of sunburn in dogs

If you are experiencing the following symptoms in your dog, you have unfortunately failed to prevent the problem. In this case, contact your vet who will start treatment depending on the extent of the damage.

Symptoms:

• dry, cracked skin;
• peeling;
• hair loss in the affected area;
• reddened skin;
• pain on touch;
• itching (often at the end of the ears), more severe cases of blisters or ulcers;
• growths, discolorations;
• lethargy;
• fever.

Protecting the paws

In addition to sunburn of the dog, heated concrete is a big danger to your dog’s paws. It only takes a short walk on the burning asphalt to cause serious burns.

As well as not going out during the critical 10-16 hours period, which is now recommended, check asphalt temperatures at other times of the day. Asphalt cools slowly, so it can even catch fire in the evening.

It’s best to go to a grassy area, but if you can’t, you can protect your dog’s feet with thin summer shoes. You can also use a paw balm on the paws, but only if they are healthy.
Burnt paws should be shown to the doctor, who will prescribe the right product.

Heat stroke and dehydration

Let’s also talk about the other two typical summer problems, dehydration and heat stroke.
In the heat, adequate hydration is of paramount importance, so it is recommended to provide extra drinkers for your dog and offer fresh water more often than usual during walks and at home.

To avoid heatstroke, it is important to optimise the temperature in the home, as well as the timing of your walks. You can do this with an air conditioner or fan, taking care to ensure safety.
Never leave any of these appliances on unattended, as this can be a fire and accident hazard.

Even with the curtains drawn, you should make sure that the air is still circulating, so leave at least one, but preferably two, windows open ‘hood’ or ajar.

Never leave your pet alone in a closed, airless home, and we hope it goes without saying that it’s strictly forbidden in the car. It takes minutes for the car to boil over and minutes for the pet to become life-threatening.