How To Help Your Dog If They Get A Sunburn
The skin on your dog’s paws is sensitive, as is the skin on their body. Your dog can get burned just like you can. Here’s what you should do if your dog gets a sunburn.
Pay Attention To The Amount Of Time Your Dog Spends Outside
All dogs can get sunburned if they spend too much time in the direct sunlight. However, dogs that are lighter tend to burn more easily than dogs with darker coats. The amount of time in the direct sunlight it takes for a dog to burn varies from dog to dog which is why it is important to make sure that your dog has a shady area where they can rest and get away from the sun when they are outside.
The Signs Of A Sunburn On Your Dog Are Easy To Spot
You can tell if your dog has a sunburn if their skin is red, swollen and they seem like they are in pain. They may try to rub or lick the burned area in an attempt to stop the pain that they are feeling. You’ll need to look at your dog’s skin under their coat in order to determine if they are exhibiting the symptoms of a sunburn.
Once You See The Burn, You Need To Cool It Off
As soon as you see the burn, you need to cool it off. You can cool it off by applying an ice pack to the burn or by applying something else that is frozen, like a bag of veggies. You are going to want to attempt to cool off your dog’s skin for twenty to thirty minutes.
Applying something extremely cold to the burn will help stop the burn from spreading. If you don’t do anything to cool off your dog’s skin, even once your dog is out of the sun, the burn will continue to deepen to other layers of their skin.
The Burn Also Needs To Be Cleaned And Treated
Once you have cooled off your dog’s skin, you need to clean off the area. The burn will open your dog’s skin and make it easier for an infection to develop. Wash your dog’s skin off with cool water and soap. Once your dog’s skin has dried, apply an antibiotic cream to it to help with the healing process. You may need to wash your dog’s skin and reapply the cream a few times a day until their burn has healed if your dog licks the cream off or rubs that area frequently.
You dog should be able to make a full recovery from their sunburn as long as you cool their skin down and keep the burned area clean while it heals.
To learn more, contact a veterinary clinic like Animal Care Center of Forest Park.
