The Dog Days of Summer: Should Sunscreen and Bug Spray be a Necessity For Your Dog?
Sitting on your patio during the summer can have you constantly reaching for the necessities: water, sunscreen and bug spray. Trying to keep up with the burn and bugs can be rather annoying when you venture outdoors. But what about your dog? Can you use your own supplies to keep them from getting burnt or nipped at by the bugs? Before you start going all ‘spray crazy,’ you should know that human products are [usually] never the answer for pets.
While your dog’s fur provides many benefits, it is [unfortunately] not a force field against the rays of the sun. All dogs have vulnerable areas of their body where there is little to no fur - such as the belly, ears, the tips of the tail and their nose - so all breeds of dogs can get sunburned. White-coated or light-colored dogs can be more prone to sunburn than other dog breeds since they often have light skin beneath their fur, which increases their risk for sunburn. However, all dogs, no matter the breed, who are regularly exposed to too much sun are at a risk of developing skin cancer. Pet parents should watch out for these symptoms of sunburn on your dog:
Pink or red skin: typically sunburned skin on a dog is pinker than normal or it can be red, indicating that there is inflammation in the skin.
Skin is tender or painful to touch: dogs with sunburn are usually itchy and will whimper when a tender spot is touched.
Hair loss and scaly skin
Dry or cracked edges of the ears
Severe burns can cause a fever, blisters, skin ulcers and skin infections
Although sunscreen is meant to add a layer of protection, using the wrong type of sunscreen can cause problems. When it comes to dogs, sunscreen should not contain zinc oxide or para-aminobenzoic acid, known as PABA, because these ingredients are toxic to dogs if ingested. Most dog sunscreens are made from natural ingredients to help not only protect but also keep them moisturized. The best sunscreens are non-greasy and tasteless. Check out these three safe and completely dog-friendly sunscreens to help protect your pup from the sun:
Lucky Pup Sunscreen Dog Balm: this sunscreen is waterproof, easily applicable to your dog and has a low cost of $5.25 on chewy.com. It’s made with an all-natural formula, is stain free, tasteless and offers moisture along with protection.
Warren London Dog Sunscreen Spray: this sunscreen is easy to apply and is a spray on, which is a plus with the humans. It’s also non-oily, formulated with aloe vera and has a moisturizing element to it. You can find this on chewy.com for $13.99.
Epi-Pet Sun Protector Skin Treatment Spray: this sunscreen is veterinarian developed and comes in a bottle that looks just like human sunscreen, so it’s easy to apply and is non-greasy. You can find this on chewy.com for $17.95.
If sunscreen still makes you a little hesitant when it comes to your dog, don’t worry! There are alternatives you can look into that can help to protect your pup from the rays of the sun. Several companies make sun shirts or suits for dogs that cover large areas of their bodies, which saves pet parents the trouble of making their canine friend stop licking off sunscreen. Brands like Gold Paw, Pet Life and PlayaPup have shirts, hats and neck covers to help ward off the sun's rays while still looking fashionable during playtime! You can check these brands out on Amazon or through Baxter Boo.
The sun isn’t the only obstacle outside - we must share the great outdoors with bugs, lots and lots of different kinds of bugs. While bug spray can keep bugs away from us humans, can we use it on our best furry friends? The answer to that is a resounding no due to the chemicals that make up our sunscreen can have harmful and possibly even toxic ingredients for our pets. There are three specific ingredients to avoid when it comes to bug spray for your pets:
DEET: Absolutely no DEET products should be applied to your pets. It can cause anything from vomiting and skin irritation to inflammation of the airways to seizures or death.
CITRUS OILS: These also go by their full name of ‘D-Limonene and linalool.’ These oils can be found in ‘et safe’ products but they need to be diluted in order to have a positive effect on pets. Do not use 100-percent concentrated essential oils on your pet as they can cause severe liver damage if ingested because they have insecticidal properties.
CITRONELLA: While this ingredient is very familiar and may seem like it should be harmless, it can actually cause skin irritation if applied topically or mouth irritation if ingested as well as vomiting and diarrhea. IF you are using a ‘pet safe’ product with this ingredient in it, make sure it is diluted with other ingredients and water - you should never use a full concentration of citronella on your pet.
If you’re on the search for some pet friendly bug repellent, we have three sprays that will help your pup keep the bugs away for some more enjoyable time relaxing in the outdoors:
Wondercide Cedarwood Flea, Tick and Mosquito Spray - Amazon, $24
Vet’s Best Flea and Tick Spray for Dogs - Chewy, $7
Nantucket Spider Natural Insect Repellent for Dogs - Amazon, $16
One problem you may encounter with bug spray is your dog licking you after you have applied it to your skin. Pets who lick bug spray from your skin will only ingest small quantities that won’t produce any serious symptoms. There is a possibility that they may start drooling after getting the bug spray on their tongue or possibly vomiting if the taste makes them nauseous. These symptoms should clear up quickly though. A lick or two from your pet will not give them a toxic dose - unless you apply a very large amount of bug spray to yourself. Try to discourage the behavior so you will have nothing to worry about. You can always rinse out their mouth with water to help wash away the bug spray and just monitor them for a couple hours to watch for an upset stomach as well.
The outdoors are the number one spot to be during the summer, so helping our canine friends have a more enjoyable time outside will also help us pet parents find more time to not worry. Just remember that not all human products are suitable for your pets, so take the time to look at the ingredient list and keep yourself aware of the ingredients that can harm your best furry friend.
The great outdoors are always calling your dog, which makes for the perfect time to grab yourself a daily dog walker to help your pup get the fresh air and exercise they need! The sun may be shining and the heat may be turned up, but we at Going Mutts enjoy finding the best shady spots to walk your dog while always making sure they have plenty of water and belly rubs. Contact us today to find out how we can help you and your four-legged friend with your pet care needs in the Lancaster area.
Sources:
https://www.preventivevet.com/dogs/do-dogs-need-sunscreen-use-dog-safe-sunscreen
https://www.dailypaws.com/gear-apparel/dog-supplies/dog-grooming-supplies/bug-spray-for-dogs