How to Clean Your Dog’s Ears

Keeping your dog's ears clean and dry is an important part of keeping them healthy and happy. In this article, we explain how to do an easy-does-it ear cleaning.

Have you rubbed your dog’s ears today? Sure you have. It’s one of those things we do almost mindlessly, relishing their softness and our dog’s positive response. But did you know that rubbing your dog’s ears is also a great way to make sure they are healthy? Think about it. If your dog enjoys having them rubbed, you can tell their ears are healthy. If they’re tender from an infection or injury, your dog may pull away from you, unwilling to have them touched. Gently massaging your dog’s ears is a great first step toward checking their condition. If you notice that they are sensitive about having them touched, it’s time to take a closer sniff.

Sniff & See

Yes, sniff. Healthy ears don’t have an odor. Make a habit of sniffing your dog’s ears, starting when they are just a puppy, so you know how they smell normally. If their ears smell yeasty or downright stinky, it’s likely that a bacterial or yeast infection is brewing.

Then take a look inside their ears. The skin should be nice and pink with a light coating of pale yellowish wax. A small amount of wax is part of the ear’s self-cleaning system. If the ears look red or have a dark brown or black discharge, or if your dog frequently shakes their head, paws at their ears, or rubs them against the carpet or furniture, they need a visit to the veterinarian to see what’s causing the problem.

How do you know if your dog’s ears need to be cleaned? If they look and smell good, leave them alone. In fact, cleaning a healthy ear can damage its self-cleaning abilities or irritate it.

Clean the ears yourself (see the step-by-step directions below) if they have a mild odor and you see an occasional head shake. That may be enough to stop an infection before it takes hold. You should also clean the ears if the wax looks dirty gray instead of golden or if the ears look waxier than normal. When too much wax builds up, it can block airflow in the ear and lead to an infection of the outer ear canal.

When it comes to dogs and cats, ears are much the same. Both species get the same allergies and infections. Cats, however, are more likely to get parasitic infections (preventable with monthly or quarterly topical medications), whereas dogs are more predisposed to allergic ear disease.

Avoid Ear Infections

Take your dog to the vet if the signs—or smells—continue or worsen after you clean their ears. They may need a deep cleaning and antibiotic drops or ointment to resolve the infection.

Some dogs are ear-infection magnets. If you have a floppy-eared dog or a dog with a history of ear problems, check their ears weekly. There’s no scientific evidence that dogs with droopy ears have more ear infections, but anecdotally they tend to be the ones that veterinarians see more often with ear infections. That said, allergies are probably the main cause of ear problems, and they are seen in dogs of all types.

Your best bet for preventing ear infections is to keep your dog’s ears clean and dry. Bacteria and yeast love a warm, moist environment. Keep them at bay by drying your dog’s ears thoroughly after a swim or bath.

Step-by-Step Ear Cleaning for Dogs

• Tilt your dog's head downward with one hand and squirt a gentle cleanser (ask your veterinarian for a recommendation first!) into the ear, filling the canal.

• Using the flap to hold the ear closed, give it a nice massage—which will squish the cleanser around and soften any gunk inside.

• Step back and let your dog shake. You may want to hold a towel between you and your pooch so you aren't in the splash zone.

• Wipe away any remaining cleanser with soft, dry tissue, not going any deeper than your first knuckle. That’s all you need to do. (Don’t mess around with cotton swabs that can drive debris deeper into your dog’s ear or q-tips that can drive it down further or do damage to the inner ear.)

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Why is my dog scooting their butt on the carpet?

Why is my dog scooting their butt on the carpet?

It could be an anal sac disorder.

Dogs have anal sacs on either side of the anus that fill with fluid produced by the anal glands. This fluid is a scent marker that’s useful for communicating with other dogs, such as to delineate territory.

Anal sac disorders involve impaction of anal sac fluid, inflammation of the sac(s), and abscess of the sac(s), which can lead to a dog having a ruptured anal gland. Impaction is the most common disorder of the anal glands. Small breed dogs like Toy Poodles, Shih Tzus, and Chihuahuas are more predisposed than other breeds.

Symptoms and Types

• Dog is scooting

• Straining to defecate

• Itching/Scratching

• Tail chasing

• Discharge from the anal glands

• Licking and biting around the anus
  

Causes

• Conformation (body shape)

• Allergies

• Chronically soft feces

• Recent bout of diarrhea

• Constipation

• Excessive glandular secretions

• Poor anal muscle tone

• Anal gland tumor

Diagnosis

Your veterinarian will conduct a complete physical exam on your dog, taking into account the background history of symptoms and possible incidents that might have precipitated this condition.

You will need to give a thorough history of your dog's health, the onset of symptoms, and possible incidents that might have led to this condition. Your veterinarian may order a fecal test, blood count and chemical profile, and a urinalysis to rule out other causes of disease.

The anal sacs are considered enlarged if they are easily palpable during the physical exam. The normal clear or pale yellow-brown secretion will have turned to a thick, pasty brown fluid if the anal glands have been impacted. Abscessed anal sacs will have a red-brown exudate, and show signs of swelling and redness. The anal sacs may also be clearly ruptured.

Your veterinarian will try to gently empty your dog’s anal sacs. Based on the consistency and color of the material, and the difficultly involved in expressing it, your veterinarian will choose a treatment.

Treatment

If the anal sacs were full, but the material was normal and easily cleaned, your veterinarian may discuss a diet change or supplements. Some anal gland issues are responsive to added fiber or different types of dog food. If there is evidence of infection, your veterinarian will prescribe an antibiotic.

Abscessed anal sacs will be opened to the exterior near the anus in order to allow drainage. The anal sacs will then be cleaned and flushed, and prescription antibiotics will be infused into them.

If your dog is suffering from chronic anal sac infection, the anal sacs may need to be surgically removed. However, if your dog is suffering from severe fistulation (abnormal openings in the anal sacs), it may benefit from oral cyclosporine therapy.

During treatment, your veterinarian may recommend a diet or supplements to loosen the consistency of the feces. This may make it less irritating to defecate so that your dog does not develop constipation.

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Senior Dementia in Dogs: Symptoms & Treatment

Senior dementia is a common problem seen in older dogs just like it is in older humans. Similar to Alzheimer's in people, dementia in dogs often results in altered behaviors and memory loss. These changes may affect the quality of life of both the dogs as well as the dog owners but by better understanding what is really occurring, owners may be able to lessen the negative effects of this issue.

What Is Senior Dementia in Dogs?

Senior dementia is formally known as canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD) but is often also referred to as doggy dementia or doggy Alzheimer's. Dementia isn't a disease but rather a collection of symptoms that result in major changes in mood, behavior, and memory. It usually negatively affects the everyday life of a senior dog and is commonly seen to varying degrees as dogs age. The Behavior Clinic at the University of California states that 28% of dogs aged 11 to 12 years display signs of dementia and that likelihood increases to 68% of dogs when they reach ages 15 or 16.

Leticia Fanucchi, DVM, PhD, director of Veterinary Medicine Behavioral Services at Washington State University's Veterinary Teaching Hospital categorizes CCD into four main types:

• Involutive depression: This form is similar to chronic depression in people and results in anxiety.

• Dysthymia: This form results in confusion, disorientation, and sometimes a loss of conscious awareness of the body.

• Hyper-aggressiveness: This form involves the serotonin, or "happy hormone," levels in the brain and usually results in an aggressive dog.

• Confusional syndrome: This form is similar to Alzheimer's in people where a major decline in cognitive function occurs.

Signs

The signs of senior dementia in dogs revolve around the brain changes that occur as a dog ages. These changes may be gradual and worsen as the dog continues to age or they may seem more drastic in nature. Some symptoms also easily go unnoticed until the dog owner is affected by them.

Signs of Senior Dementia in Dogs

• Soiling in the house

• Getting lost in the house/disorientation

• Barking without reason

• Going to the wrong side of the door

• Lack of interaction with people or other pets

• Decrease or lack of appetite

• Lower threshold for aggressive behavior

• Anxiety

• Irregular sleeping patterns

• Staring at the walls

• Pacing/repetitive behaviors

One of the biggest concerns that dog owners who have dogs with dementia note is the loss of house training. As some dogs develop senior dementia they get confused and may start urinating or defecating in the house. This causes frustration for the owner who may in return get upset with their pet. This affects the human-animal bond and ultimately the quality of life of both the pet and the owner.

Other signs of confusion due to senior dementia include disorientation in the home, staring at walls, and going to the hinged side of a door when the dog has known for years which side of the door opens to go through it. Senior dementia can cause a dog who has known its home environment for years to suddenly get lost in rooms or corners of its house.

Vocalizations, including barking, whining, and crying for no apparent reason, are also often seen in dogs with senior dementia. This may be an indication of stress, fear, or anxiety due to the confusion.

Aggressive behaviors may be more common in dogs with dementia due to their lowered threshold of tolerance and patience. Normally patient and willing dogs may suddenly exhibit signs of aggression such as growling and even biting at people and other pets.

Irregular sleeping patterns, repetitive behaviors such as licking and pacing, a decrease in appetite, and even not wanting to interact with other pets or their owners can be additional signs of senior dementia in dogs. These, along with other behaviors, can all put a strain on the relationships owners have with their dogs.

The most common signs of CCD can be remembered with the commonly used acronym DISHA: disorientation, interaction changes, sleep changes, house soiling, and activity level changes.

Causes

The symptoms are a result of changes or damage in the brain but different symptoms and types of dementia may arise from different brain issues. No one entirely understands the complete causes of dementia. However, there are some things that are known due to the similarities between humans and dogs with dementia. Certain proteins that accumulate in the brain around neurons and the breakdown of neurons are two things that disrupt the normal transmission of information in the brain and therefore contribute to senior dementia in dogs.

Getting a Diagnosis

Your veterinarian will rule out other medical issues with your dog before diagnosing CCD. The Quality of Life Scale (or HHHHHMM Scale) is often used to aid owners in determining whether or not their dog has changed as it ages. This scale goes through the signs of dementia and includes a review of the dog's behaviors. Hurt, Hunger, Hydration, Hygiene, Happiness, Mobility and More good days than bad are assessed in the HHHHHMM scale. This scale also helps an owner decide whether or not a pet's quality of life is still good as dementia progresses and may also help an owner decide when euthanasia should be considered.

Treatment and Prevention

There is, unfortunately, no way to reverse the signs of dementia in dogs but there are some nutritional aids that can be administered to help potentially delay brain changes as a dog ages. Antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and medium-chain triglycerides (MCT's) are the main dietary components that are often discussed for brain health. Some experts recommend supplementing dogs before they begin to show signs of senior dementia but there is no specific treatment or preventative regimen. If you are concerned with CCD developing in your senior dog, talk with your veterinarian about possible preventative measures.

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When is a Dog Considered Senior?

Pets age much faster than we do. The life span of a dog depends on its size or breed. In general, the larger the breed or size of the dog, the shorter the life span. For example, in a study of lifespans, only 13% of giant breed dogs lived to be over 10 years old. Conversely, 38% of small breed dogs live to be over 10 years of age.

Dogs are considered senior in the last 25% of their lives. Below is a list of the most common breeds with their life expectancies and age at which they are considered “senior”.

When your dog is senior, make sure they have a senior check-up with your veterinarian.

Breed	Lifespan	Senior Years
Affenpinscher	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Afghan Hound	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Airdale Terrier	10 – 13 years	7.5 – 10 years
Akita	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Alaskan Malamute	8 – 10 years	6 – 7.5 years
American Eskimo	13 years	9.5 – 10 years
American Foxhound	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
American Staffordshire Terrier	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
American Water Spaniel	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Anatolian Sheepdog	12 – 13 years	9 – 10 years
Australian Cattle Dog	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Australian Shepherd	12 – 13 years	9 – 10 years
Australian Terrier	15 years	11 years
Basenji	13 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Basset Hound	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Beagle	14 – 15 years	10.5 – 11 years
Bearded Collie	10 – 13 years	7.5 – 10 years
Beauceron	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Bedlington Terrier	13 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Belgian Malinois	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Belgian Sheepdog	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Belgian Tervuren	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Bernese Mountain Dog	8 – 10 years	6 – 7.5 years
Bichon Frise	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Black and Tan Coonhound	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Black Russian Terrier	10 – 11 years	7.5 – 8 years
Bloodhound	9 – 11 years	6.5 – 8 years
Border collie	11 – 14 years	8 – 10.5 years
Border Terrier	13 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Borzoi	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Boston Terrier	14 – 16 years	10.5 – 12 years
Bouvier Des Flandres	8 – 10 years	6.5 – 7.5 years
Boxer	9 – 11 years	6.5 – 8 years
Briard	10 – 13 years	7.5 – 10 years
Brittany	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Brussels Griffon	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Bull Dog	8 – 10 years	6 – 7.5 years
Bull Terrier	14 – 15 years	10.5 – 11 years
Bullmastiff	8 – 10 years	6 – 7.5 years
Cairn Terrier	14 – 16 years	10.5 – 12 years
Canaan Dog	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Cardigan Welsh Corgi	14 – 16 years	10.5 – 12 years
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel	12 years	9 years
Chesapeake Bay Retriever	12 – 13 years	9 – 10 years
Chihuahua	15 – 18 years	11 – 13 years
Chinese Crested	12 – 16 years	9 – 12 years
Chinese Shar Pei	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Chow Chow	9 – 11 years	6.5 – 8 years
Clumber Spaniel	12 – 13 years	9 – 10 years
Cocker Spaniel-American	14 – 16 years	10.5 – 12 years
Cocker Spaniel-English	14 – 16 years	10.5 – 12 years
Collie	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Curly Coated Retriever	8 – 12 years	6 – 9 years

Breed	Lifespan	Senior Years
Dachshund	15 – 18 years	11 – 13 years
Dalmatian	10 – 13 years	7.5 – 10 years
Dandie Dinmont Terrier	13 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Doberman Pinscher	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
English Foxhound	10 years	7.5 – 10.5 years
English Setter	10 – 14 years	7.5 – 10.5 years
English Springer Spaniel	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
English Toy Spaniel	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Field Spaniel	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Finnish Spitz	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Flat Coated Retriever	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Fox Terrier – Smooth	13 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Fox Terrier – Wirehair	13 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
French Bulldog	9 – 11 years	6.5 – 8 years
German Pinscher	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
German Shepherd Dog	10 – 13 years	7.5 – 10 years
German Shorthaired Pointer	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
German Wirehaired Pointer	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Giant Schnauzer	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Glen Imaal Terrier	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Golden Retriever	10 – 13 years	7.5 – 10 years
Gordon Setter	12 – 13 years	9 – 10 years
Great Dane	9 – 10 years	6.5 – 7.5 years
Great Pyrenees	8 – 10 years	6 – 7.5 years
Great Swiss Mountain Dog	10 – 13 years	7.5 – 10 years
Greyhound	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Harrier	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Havanese	13 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Ibizan Hound	12 years	9 years
Irish Setter	14 – 16 years	10.5 – 12 years
Irish Terrier	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Irish Water spaniel	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Irish Wolfhound	6 – 8 years	4.5 – 6 years
Italian Greyhound	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Japanese Chin	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Keeshond	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Kerry Blue Terrier	14 – 16 years	10.5 – 12 years
Komondor	12 years	9 – 11 years
Kuvasz	11 – 14 years	8 – 10.5 years
Labrador Retriever	10 – 13 years	7.5 – 10 years
Lakeland Terrier	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Lhasa Apso	15 years	11 years
Lowchen	10 – 15 years	7.5 – 11 years
Maltese	14 – 16 years	10.5 – 12 years
Manchester Terrier – Standard & Toy	13 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Mastiff	8 – 10 years	6 – 7.5 years
Miniature Bull Terrier	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Miniature Pinscher	15 years	11 years
Miniature Schnauzer	14 – 16 years	10.5 – 12 years
Mix Breed – 1-15 pounds	15 – 18 years	11 – 13 years
Mix Breed – 16-40 pounds	11 – 14 years	8 – 10.5 years
Mix Breed – 41-75 pounds	8 – 13 years	6 – 9 years
Mix Breed – 75 pounds	7 – 11 years	5 – 8 years

Breed	Lifespan	Senior Years
Neopolitan Mastiff	9 – 11 years	6.5 – 8 years
Newfoundland	7 – 10 years	5 – 7.5 years
Norfolk Terrier	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Norwegian Elkhound	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Norwich Terrier	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Old English Sheepdog	10 – 12 years	4.5 – 9 years
Otter Hound	12 years	9 years
Papillon	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Parson Russell Terrier	14 – 16 years	10.5 – 12 years
Pekingese	13 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Pembroke welsh Corgi	14 – 16 years	10.5 – 12 years
Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen	10 – 14 years	7.5 – 10.5 years
Pharaoh Hound	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Plott Hound	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Pointer	13 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Polish Lowland Sheepdog	13 – 14 years	9 -10.5 years
Pomeranian	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Poodle Miniature	15 – 18 years	11 – 13 years
Poodle Standard	14 – 16 years	10.5 – 12 years
Poodle Toy	15 – 18 years	11 – 13 years
Portuguese Water Dog	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Pug	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Puli	12 – 16 years	9 – 12years
Redbone Coonhound	11 – 12 years	8 – 9 years
Rhodesian Ridgeback	8 – 12 years	6 – 9 years
Rottweiler	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Saint Bernard	8 – 10 years	6 – 7.5 years
Saluki	13 – 16 years	9 – 12 years
Samoyed	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Schipperke	15 years	11 years
Scottish Deerhound	11 – 12 years	8 – 9 years
Scottish Terrier	10 – 13 years	7.5 – 10 years
Sealyham Terrier	14 years	10.5 years
Shetland Sheepdog	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Shiba Inu	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Shih Tzu	14 – 16 years	10.5 – 12 years
Siberian husky	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Silky Terrier	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Skye Terrier	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Soft – Coated Wheaten Terrier	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
cSpinone Italiano	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Staffordshire Bull Terrier	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Standard Schnauzer	14 – 16 years	10.5 – 12 years
Sussex Spaniel	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Tibetan Mastiff	9 – 11 years	6.5 – 8 years
Tibetan Spaniel	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Tibetan Terrier	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Toy Fox Terrier	15 years	11 years
Vizsla	14 – 15 years	10.5 – 11 years
Weimaraner	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
Welsh Springer Spaniel	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Welsh Terrier	10 – 12 years	7.5 – 9 years
West Highland white Terrier	14 – 16 years	10.5 – 12 years
Whippet	12 – 15 years	9 – 11 years
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon	12 – 14 years	9 – 10.5 years
Yorkshire Terrier	14 – 16 years	10.5 – 12 years

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Can Dogs Get Sunburn? Know The Risks of Sun on Your Dog’s Skin and Nose

Humans often take precautions to protect themselves from the sun, but should we be doing the same for our dogs?

Can dogs get sunburned?

The answer is yes. Just like people, dogs are just as prone to sunburn and to other complications and diseases associated with sun exposure. Taking certain safety measures can lower your dog’s risk of developing serious sun-related medical issues. This includes choosing a sunscreen that’s formulated for your pet.

Sun Risks

Sunburn isn’t just painful for dogs; it can lead to more serious problems like certain types of skin cancer, such as squamous cell carcinoma, malignant melanomas, and hemangiomas. Sunburn also exacerbates certain conditions, such as autoimmune disorders and dermatitis, and can cause discomfort at surgery sites. Luckily, a little careful planning can prevent your dog from catching too many ultraviolet (UV) rays.

Predisposed Dogs

Some dogs are more at risk for sunburn than others. Hairless dog breeds, such as the Xoloitzcuintli, Chinese Crested, and American Hairless Terrier, need sun protection when they are outside for long periods of time. Dogs with white or thin coats and dogs with light-pigmented noses and eyelids are also more at risk for sunburn (such as Collies, Australian Sheepdogs, Dalmatians, Bulldogs, Whippets, and any dog with light or white pigment on their ears or near their nose). Even some dogs with thick coats of hair may experience hair loss from seasonal shedding or a health condition that may cause their coats to become very thin and may then be at greater risk for sunburn.

Does your dog just love to lie out on your patio and feel the sun’s warmth? Did you know: Dogs that lie outside on concrete or on light surfaces, especially those that lie on their backs, can suffer sunburn.

Sunscreen for Dogs

Sunscreen protects dogs from sunburn, but using the wrong type of sunscreen can also cause problems. It’s highly important that you only use formulas that are specifically intended for pets. They should not contain zinc oxide or para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), as these ingredients are toxic to dogs if ingested, and dogs will often lick their skin and accidentally ingest the sunscreen. The symptoms of zinc oxide poisoning include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, a yellowing of the eyes, mouth and throat irritation, and potentially life-threatening anemia. Should your dog exhibit any of these symptoms, consult your veterinarian. It’s also a good idea to look for a waterproof harness or covering, with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30.

How to Apply Sunscreen to Dogs

So how do you get your dog-safe sunscreen on your wiggly pup? Carefully. First, test a small amount on one spot to be sure it doesn’t cause an allergic reaction. Next, be sure to put it on the spots most exposed to sunshine, such as the bridge of the nose, ear tips, skin around their lips, groin, and inner thighs – and anywhere else where pigmentation is light. When applying it to you dog’s head, be sure not to get any in their eyes. And once you apply the sunscreen, watch that your dog doesn’t lick it off for about 10 or 15 minutes – until it’s been absorbed.

You should apply sunscreen about 20 minutes before your dog goes out. And while they are out in the sun, reapply the sunscreen every four-to-six hours or after your dog goes swimming.

Sunscreen Alternatives

Rather than lathering sunscreen over your dog’s entire body, consider investing in protective clothing. Several companies make sun shirts or suits for dogs that cover large areas of their bodies, saving you the worry that your pup will lick any sunscreen off. Protective clothing will often have UPF protection of 40 and also protect against mosquitoes and other insect pests.

Hats and even goggles are also available to protect your pup when they are out in the sun. Alternatively, try to keep your dog out of direct sun during the hottest parts of the day, and provide plenty of shade while you are enjoying outdoor activities like swimming. All dogs, especially puppies and older dogs, are at risk of heat stroke, so it is very important to make sure they have access to lots of fresh drinking water at all times. Remember, you can always ask your veterinarian for advice on how best to protect your dog from harmful UV exposure. Finally, consider keeping your dogs in shade with free access to water. It sounds simple, but it usually works!

Treating Sunburn in Dogs

Any time sunburn is visible as reddened, warm, or flaking skin, you should move your dog inside or at least into the shade as quickly as possible. Cool compresses and ointments may soothe the skin to help relieve the initial symptoms. Aloe may help a minor burn. However, if the burn is severe, you should call your veterinarian because treatment with a cortisone product may be needed to prevent inflammation. There may also be a secondary infection requiring antibiotics. If these complications do occur, the dog will need to be well protected from the sun in the future to prevent permanent damage.

Although sunscreen is important, it can’t be counted on to be 100 percent effective. The best way to protect your dog from the sun is to keep them indoors or in the shade, except for quick elimination periods, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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