Don’t Use Human Sunscreen for Dogs, But Do Use Sunblock for Dogs

Whether your dog is simply sunbathing on the deck, chasing the kids around the backyard or playing in the dog park, you need to protect him from the harmful sun rays. According to research, just like people, dogs DO get skin cancer. And a third of the tumors found in dogs are linked to the sun. But don’t reach for that bottle of sunscreen you use. You need a sunscreen for dogs because your own made-for-humans sunscreen contains a chemical that is toxic to canines.

Here’s a report from a British newspaper:

An American pet-care company has developed a range of canine-friendly sunblocks which prevent sunburn, each carrying a UV-busting strength equivalent to a human suncream of factor 15.

The three-piece range, made by Petkin, comprises sunwipes, a sunstick—useful for reaching vulnerable areas like the muzzle, nose and ears, which burn most easily—and a sunmist, which can be used anywhere on a dog’s body and is most effective on light-coloured and short-haired dogs.

People may argue that fur protects a dog from sun damage, but you have to also think that humans have a full head of hair and still get skin cancer.

It affects short-haired breeds more than long-haired breeds, but both varieties are at risk.  Read the article here 

While we found several articles about the Petkin sunblock for dogs, we weren’t able to find it for sale anywhere.  However, we did find another sunscreen for dogs that has been written about in Better Homes & Gardens and Prevention magazines. This sun block for dogs is called Epi-Pet and it claims to be “the only pet sunscreen with Food and Drug Administration compliance.”

“There isn’t an SPF value for animals,” says Lisa Drake, marketing director and skin consultant for Animal Medical Center/Epi-Pet of Bradenton, Fla. “Pet skin tumors positive for melanomas are becoming more frequent due to owners’ lifestyle changes, and having an appropriate sunscreen labeling will help owners apply appropriate protection to their pets’ skin.”

Epi-Pet Sun Protector Sunscreen is a mist sprayed on fur when the animal is in the sun. The Animal Medical Center is conducting clinical trials that document the sun’s effects on pet skin.

“We are seeing sunspots and solar dermatitis on animals,” Drake says. “We use a Wood’s lamp to see and document skin damage caused by sun exposure. Animals’ ears, muzzles, chests and abdomens are most susceptible.”  Read more about the Epi-Pet sunblock for dogs in Veterinary Practice News.

Hillary Frank, DVM and owner of North Central Animal Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona, says “approximately 33% of all tumors in dogs directly relate to some form of skin cancer.” By using sunscreen and sunblock for dogs, you’re preventing a serious problem from occurring in the first place. Also, if your old dog spends a lot of time outside, you might consider this Sunblock Canopy to cover an outdoor crate or kennel.