Can Dogs Get Sunburn? Signs, Treatment and Prevention
Written by Corinne Homer, Copywriter. Reviewed by Dr. Linda Simon MVB MRCVS, Team Vet.
Yes, dogs can get sunburn. Thinly furred, hairless and lightly pigmented skin is most vulnerable, but any dog can burn on the nose, ear tips, eyelids, belly, groin or a recently clipped area. Repeated ultraviolet exposure can also contribute to chronic solar skin damage and skin cancer.
Sunburn and heat illness are different problems that can happen together. Move a dog indoors when skin looks red or painful, but treat heavy panting, weakness, vomiting, confusion, collapse or seizures as a possible heat emergency and seek immediate veterinary care.
Can dogs get sunburned through fur?
Dense, dark fur offers some protection, not complete protection. Sun reaches exposed skin and areas where hair is sparse, wet, clipped or separated. A thick-coated dog may still burn around the nose, eyes and belly. A white or light patch can be vulnerable even when the rest of the coat is dark.
Signs of sunburn in dogs
- Pink or red skin in exposed or thinly furred areas
- Warm, dry, tender or itchy skin
- Flaking, peeling or crusting after exposure
- Swelling, sores or blisters in a more severe burn
- Whimpering, pulling away or licking when the area is touched
- Repeated seasonal redness on the nose, ear tips or belly
Redness on the nose is not always sunburn. Merck Veterinary Manual notes that solar dermatitis can resemble autoimmune, infectious and other nasal diseases. A lesion that persists, crusts, ulcerates, bleeds or returns needs a veterinary diagnosis and may require a biopsy.
Dogs more prone to sunburn
Hairless breeds, dogs with white or light skin, short coats and sparse belly hair have less natural shielding. Examples include Chinese Crested dogs, Xoloitzcuintli, Dalmatians, Bull Terriers, Boxers, Greyhounds and light-colored pit bull-type dogs. Recent grooming, surgery, hair loss, scars and some medicines can increase vulnerability. Every individual still needs protection based on skin and exposure, not breed alone.
Dog sunburn treatment
- Move the dog out of direct sun and into a cool indoor space.
- Check breathing, alertness, gum color and ability to walk. Heat illness requires urgent care.
- Use a cool damp cloth for a few minutes on mildly red skin. Do not apply ice directly.
- Prevent licking and scratching without covering the area tightly.
- Call the veterinarian before applying aloe, ointment, pain medicine or human skin products.
- Arrange an examination for pain, swelling, blisters, open skin, discharge or persistent redness.
Do not give ibuprofen, naproxen, acetaminophen or aspirin unless a veterinarian specifically prescribes it for that dog. Human pain relievers can be dangerous to pets. Aloe products can contain alcohol, fragrances or other ingredients and may cause trouble when licked. A veterinary team can choose a safe topical treatment and check for infection or deeper injury.
When to contact your veterinarian
Call the same day for a painful burn, swelling, blistering, peeling, open sores, discharge or a dog that is not acting normally. Book an examination for any lesion that fails to improve, recurs in the same spot or becomes crusted or ulcerated. Chronic ultraviolet injury on lightly pigmented skin can progress to solar keratosis and squamous cell carcinoma.
When heat makes it an emergency
Sunburn develops on the skin, while heatstroke affects the whole body. Seek emergency care for frantic or unusually heavy panting, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, bright red or pale gums, confusion, unsteadiness, collapse or seizures. Begin active transport and follow the emergency clinic's cooling instructions. Read when it is too hot to walk a dog and hot-weather hydration and feeding guidance.
How to prevent sunburn in dogs
Choose shade and timing first
Avoid long exposure around the strongest midday sun. Use early morning or evening for walks, select shaded routes and let the dog return indoors freely. UV can still reach skin on a cool or breezy day, and reflective sand, concrete, water and snow can add exposure.
Use protective clothing when appropriate
A light, breathable UV shirt can cover the back and trunk. It should allow normal movement and breathing, stay clear of urine and stool, and not trap heat. A visor or sun hat only helps when it fits safely and the dog accepts it. Never restrain a distressed dog in clothing.
Protect vulnerable skin after clipping or surgery
Ask the veterinarian or groomer how long a clipped area needs extra protection. Keep healing incisions dry and covered according to surgical instructions rather than adding sunscreen directly. Dogs with hair loss need the cause investigated as well as sun protection.
Do dogs need sunscreen?
Some dogs benefit from sunscreen on exposed, lightly pigmented or thinly furred areas when shade and clothing cannot provide enough coverage. Ask the veterinarian to recommend a dog-safe product and demonstrate where to use it. Test a small area first when directed and prevent licking until the product has set.
Apply protection before the planned exposure, not after the skin turns pink. Reapplication can be needed after swimming, towel drying, rolling on the ground or according to the label's time interval. A dog that repeatedly licks the product may need clothing or stricter shade instead. Sun through a bright window can also aggravate some medically photosensitive dogs, so follow the veterinarian's indoor protection plan when one has been prescribed.
Can you use human sunscreen on a dog?
Do not assume a human product is safe to lick. Avoid products containing zinc oxide or para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), and avoid fragrances, essential oils or other ingredients your veterinarian has not approved. Choose a pet-specific product when possible and follow its label for amount, reapplication and water exposure. Keep every bottle out of reach.
Where should dog sunscreen be applied?
Common target areas are the bridge of the nose, ear tips, belly, groin and other exposed light skin. Do not put sunscreen in the eyes, nostrils, mouth, ear canal, on an open wound or directly over a healing incision. Eye and eyelid protection requires veterinary guidance because ordinary topical products can irritate the eye.
What SPF should a dog sunscreen have?
Product labeling and veterinary approval matter more than choosing by SPF number alone. Some veterinary sources suggest a high SPF, but pet products and testing standards vary. Select a product made or approved for pets, use enough to cover the vulnerable skin and reapply according to the label. Sunscreen does not make prolonged midday exposure safe.
Sunburn, solar dermatitis and skin cancer
A one-time mild burn may settle with protection and veterinary guidance. Repeated ultraviolet injury can create chronic redness, thickening, scaling and crusts called solar or actinic keratosis. Merck notes that prolonged sun exposure on sparsely haired, minimally pigmented skin is a major risk factor for some squamous cell carcinomas in dogs. Prevention and early assessment of changing lesions matter.
Check light skin monthly and photograph a recurring area with a ruler for scale. Contact the veterinarian for a lesion that grows, bleeds, ulcerates, changes color, stays sore or does not heal. Do not cover it with makeup or repeated over-the-counter cream before the examination.
Some dogs develop photosensitization, a different condition in which chemicals or disease make skin unusually sensitive to light. It can resemble sunburn and may occur with liver disease or exposure to certain plants and medications. Redness and swelling can progress quickly on exposed light skin. Repeated or unexpectedly severe reactions deserve veterinary testing rather than stronger sunscreen alone.
Dogs with autoimmune skin disease can also worsen in sunlight. A veterinarian may recommend stricter avoidance, protective film on sunny windows or prescription treatment. Follow that individualized plan and do not stop medication because the skin temporarily looks better after a cloudy week.
Your hot-weather checklist
- Check the forecast, UV index and surface temperature before leaving.
- Use shaded walks outside peak sun and bring clean water.
- Protect light or exposed skin with veterinarian-approved sunscreen or breathable UV clothing.
- Reapply sunscreen according to the product label, especially after water.
- Provide indoor cooling and never leave a dog in a parked vehicle.
- Inspect nose, ears, belly, groin and clipped areas after extended outdoor time.
- Call early for pain, blisters, recurring lesions or heat-illness signs.
For related skin checks, read our guides to dog skin allergies, skin color changes and hot spots.
Frequently asked questions
Can a dog's nose get sunburned?
Yes. A lightly pigmented or exposed nose can burn, but persistent redness, crusting or ulceration may have another cause and needs veterinary assessment.
Can dogs get sunburn on cloudy days?
Yes. Ultraviolet radiation can still reach skin through cloud cover. Use shade, timing, clothing and veterinarian-approved sunscreen according to the dog's risk.
Can I put aloe vera on dog sunburn?
Ask the veterinarian first. Human aloe products may contain alcohol, fragrance or other ingredients and can cause problems when licked. Do not apply a home remedy to blistered or open skin.
Can black dogs get sunburn?
Yes. Dark pigment and dense fur can reduce exposure, but the nose, eyelids, belly, groin, scars and clipped or thinly furred areas may still burn.
Does sunscreen prevent heatstroke?
No. Sunscreen protects selected skin from ultraviolet exposure. Heatstroke prevention requires cooler timing, shade, water, limited exertion and rapid response to overheating signs.
Trusted sources
- Texas A&M Veterinary Medicine: keeping pets safe from sunburn
- Merck Veterinary Manual: nasal solar dermatitis
- Merck Veterinary Manual: solar injury and skin tumors
This article is educational. A veterinarian should diagnose painful, recurring, blistered, open or changing skin lesions. Heat-illness signs require emergency care.