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We are typically hearing about the harmful impacts of the sun on people, as well as the risk of long-term skin disease, including skin cancer. However, excessive exposure of the sun can have equally harmful consequences on the skin health of family pets as well. Pets with lighter colored skin and those areas of the body that are thinly haired seem a lot more likely impacted by prolonged sun exposure.

In particular, it is the ultraviolet rays of the sun that cause the most damage. It is for these reasons that I strongly recommend using some sort of sun-screen products, especially on thinly-haired areas like the ears and muzzle before subjecting family pets to prolonged sunlight.   While human sunscreen products may typically be effective, I have also used topical healing agents such as vitamin E or aloe vera gel both to treat and stop the long term impacts of sun exposure. With judicious use of these products, family pets may undoubtedly take pleasure in hours of fun and frolic playing in the sun.