23/06/2026
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1B4s3EpX6E/?mibextid=wwXIfr
SUNBURN IN PETS
When we think about sunburn, we usually think about human skin (and rightly so!)
But many people don’t realise that dogs, cats, horses, rabbits and other animals can suffer painful and potentially life-threatening sun damage too (and don't get us started on heat stroke!! - or do, we will talk about it for hours).
Some animals naturally have some protection against UV radiation through their melanin, fur and feathers. Melanin, fur, feathers and fluff may help absorb some harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation and protects tissues from damage but that protection is not absolute.
Pets with:
▫️ white or pale fur
▫️ pink skin
▫️ thin coats or hairless breeds
▫️ shaved areas
▫️ sparse fur around noses, ears or bellies
▫️ existing skin disease
may be especially vulnerable to sunburn and long-term UV damage. However, importantly — even dark-coated/skinned animals can suffer sun burn, and heat stroke.
Scientific reports have documented severe solar burns in dogs, pigs and sheep after prolonged sun exposure. In one paper, dark-skinned sheep developed extensive full-thickness skin necrosis after shearing during hot weather. A dachshund was also reported to have suffered severe full-thickness burns after direct sunlight exposure during extreme temperatures.
And remember, as in humans, sun exposure doesn’t just cause temporary redness, repeated UV damage can contribute to painful burns, chronic skin inflammation, eye damage, heat stroke, increased risk of skin cancers. Cats — especially white cats — are particularly vulnerable to UV-associated squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) on the ears, eyelids and nose. The cause of most cutaneous SCC is chronic exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light; specifically it is thought to be related to exposure to UVB radiation.
Hairless dogs and lightly pigmented pets are also at increased risk. Studies in hairless dogs showed that UV exposure rapidly triggered skin damage and changes in melanocyte activity, while sunscreen significantly reduced injury.
So how can owners protect their pets?
Similar to our advice on heat stroke, prevention is always better than cure...
✅ Avoid outdoor activity during the hottest and sunniest parts of the day
✅ Watch out for your pets who 'sun worship' sleeping outside all day
✅ Walk dogs early morning or later evening
✅ Provide constant access to shade and cool shelter
✅ Use pet-safe sunscreen on exposed areas such as noses, ears and thinly haired skin
✅ Don't use human sunscreen unless specifically approved for pets — some ingredients can be toxic if licked
✅ Consider UV-protective clothing or visors for vulnerable animals
✅ Be especially careful after clipping or shaving coats
As temperatures rise and heatwaves become more common, protecting pets from UV and heat-related injury is becoming increasingly important. Prevention is far kinder — and far cheaper — than treating painful burns or skin cancer later on.
If you want to hear more about heat stroke in pets - listen to our podcast on Vet Voices On Air: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5MMO1STWzFzyhYiExBp9gN?si=c8107015044d45cb
Citations:
Murphy S. Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in the cat: current understanding and treatment approaches. J Feline Med Surg. 2013 May;15(5):401-7. doi: 10.1177/1098612X13483238. PMID: 23603503; PMCID: PMC10816592.
Britton, S., & Davidowitz, G. (2023). The effect of diet on melanin pigmentation in animals. Functional Ecology, 37, 206–217. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2435.14209
KIMURA, T. and DOI, K. (1994), Protective Effects of Sunscreens on Sunburn and Suntan Reactions in Cross-bred Mexican Hairless Dogs. Veterinary Dermatology, 5: 175-188. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3164.1994.tb00029.x
García, J.A., Romero, A., Uzal, F.A., Tarigo, L., Affolter, V.K. and Dutra, F. (2019), Solar-induced dorsal skin necrosis in sheep. Vet Dermatol, 30: 442-e137. https://doi.org/10.1111/vde.12777
Tumours in European Shorthair cats: a retrospective study of 680 cases
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1098612X20905035
Tyagi N, Srivastava SK, Arora S, Omar Y, Ijaz ZM, Al-Ghadhban A, Deshmukh SK, Carter JE, Singh AP, Singh S. Comparative analysis of the relative potential of silver, Zinc-oxide and titanium-dioxide nanoparticles against UVB-induced DNA damage for the prevention of skin carcinogenesis. Cancer Lett. 2016 Dec 1;383(1):53-61. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2016.09.026. Epub 2016 Sep 28. PMID: 27693632; PMCID: PMC5086276.
Sumner JP, Pucheu-Haston CM, Fowlkes N, Merchant S. Dorsal skin necrosis secondary to a solar-induced thermal burn in a brown-coated dachshund. Can Vet J. 2016 Mar;57(3):305-8. PMID: 26933270; PMCID: PMC4751775.
