As much of the UK is experiencing sunny weather, pet owners have been warned they need to use sunscreen on their cats and dogs – just like humans.
It comes after a veterinary surgeon in Hampshire said a sunburnt cat had to have her ears amputated.
So, which animals are most at risk and how do you get some slippery cream on to possibly uncooperative pets? Here, the experts give their do’s and don’ts:
If an animal’s skin gets too much exposure to sunshine it can lead to sunburn, and in the long term, raises the risk of skin cancer.
As with humans, dark skin can naturally withstand more radiation than pale skin, so we generally need to think about this with dogs or cats that are white or pale and have pink skin, said Dr Katharine Nelson, director of General Practice at the Royal Veterinary College.
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Hair is a good protection, but not all of our pets’ skin is covered in fur. “If you can see the pink skin yourself with your eye, the sun can get to it,” said Dr Katharine Nelson, director of general practice at the Royal Veterinary College.
What are the main risk areas?
The tips of the ears and the skin next to the nose are the places that are most vulnerable. All pet owners need to check their animals for vulnerable skin, but vets most often see problems with the ear tips of white cats. “Their ears stick up and have really short hair on them, said Dr Nelson.
Often, owners don’t notice sunburn happening, but when the cat is older, they may notice bleeding or scabs on the ears, which is a possible sign of skin cancer.
Dogs may have vulnerable skin next to their nose (Photo: Dansin/Getty Images/iStockphoto)
The skin of a dog or cat’s nose itself tends to be thicker and so is more protected, but ordinary skin next to the nose, where the fur is thin, may need a dab of cream, if it is pink. Hairless cats and any pet where the skin has been shaved for an operation may also be vulnerable.
Which sun creams are best?
Sun creams designed for humans should not be used because they may be licked off and can have ingredients that are harmful for pets, like zinc oxide.
But special non-toxic pet sun creams are available. Using factor 30 is recommended, so it will last all day, said Dr Rebecca Ashman, head vet of the RSPCA.
That’s the tricky part. Dr Ashman advised taking things slowly, perhaps applying the cream while your pet is eating a treat. It may also be necessary to distract them for some time afterwards so they don’t immediately lick off the cream. “It needs to soak in,” she said.
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square SCIENCE ExplainedRead MoreAnything else we can do?
When the weather is very hot, it’s better to keep your dog out of direct sunshine and walk them when in cooler parts of the day, said Shauna Walsh, veterinary nurse for the veterinary charity PDSA.
“Ensure pets do not sunbathe for too long and have access to plenty of fresh water and shade,” she said. “Mild cases of sunburn often heal within a few days, but owners can relieve symptoms by placing a cold compress onto the affected areas and ensuring their pet is kept out of any further sunshine.”
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