Dog sunburn is real, and certain breeds are at serious risk during the summer.
Have you ever thought about whether your dog needs sunscreen?
Most pet owners think about heat stroke, hot pavement, and keeping pets hydrated. But dog sunburn is another summer danger that often gets overlooked, especially for dogs with short coats, thin fur, light-colored skin, pink noses, or exposed areas like the ears, belly, and groin.
Dog sunburn can happen faster than many pet owners expect, especially when a dog has light skin, short fur, or exposed areas that get direct sunlight.
Have you ever wondered whether your dog needs sunscreen?
FREE DOWNLOAD: Is Your Pet at Risk? Sunburn Risk Checklist
A printable guide to identifying whether your specific pet is high-risk, where they’re most vulnerable, and what’s actually safe to use. Download free here →Sunburn Risk Checklist
Why Dog Sunburn Is a Real Summer Risk
“Pet owners often don’t realize that their dog or cat can suffer sun damage just like we do,” says Dr. Anthea Schick, a veterinary dermatologist and national specialty director of dermatology at Thrive Pet Healthcare, in summer guidance from veterinary dermatology experts.
The breeds at highest risk share specific characteristics: short or sparse coats and light-colored skin. Specifically named as especially vulnerable: pit bulls, whippets, Boston terriers, bull terriers, sphynx cats, Devon rex cats, and Cornish rex cats.
Even if your dog is not one of the breeds listed above, dog sunburn is still possible if your pet has thin fur, shaved spots, a pink nose, pale ears, or a belly that is exposed while lying in the sun.
But the risk isn’t limited to these specific breeds. Any pet with thin coats, light-colored skin, or hairless areas — the nose, ear tips, belly, groin, and inside the legs — can experience sun damage with enough unprotected exposure.
Pets that spend long stretches lying directly in sunlight are at particularly elevated risk for UV-related skin damage over time, even if they don’t show obvious symptoms after a single exposure.
Recent veterinary dermatology guidance from Thrive Pet Healthcare warns that dogs can suffer sun damage just like people, especially breeds with short, sparse coats and light-colored skin.
Thrive specifically names pit bulls, whippets, Boston terriers, and bull terriers as especially vulnerable when they have short, sparse coats and light-colored skin.
Where Sunburn Happens on Pets
Unlike humans, who can get sunburned almost anywhere, pets are most vulnerable in specific, predictable areas:
The top of the nose — often the least-protected area on any dog, especially breeds with shorter snouts or pink/light-colored noses.
Ear tips — particularly in dogs and cats with light or thin fur on the ears, this is one of the most common sunburn sites veterinary dermatologists see.
The belly and groin — areas with the thinnest fur and lightest skin, often exposed when pets lie on their backs in sunny spots.
Inside the legs — similarly thin-coated, light-skinned, and frequently overlooked.
Any area with thin or no fur — including spots that have been shaved for a medical procedure, surgical sites, or areas thinned by age or skin conditions.
Signs Your Pet Has Sun Damage
Watch for:
- Red, pink, or inflamed skin in the areas listed above
- Skin that feels warm to the touch
- Flaking, peeling, or crusting in previously normal skin
- Visible discomfort when the area is touched
- In more severe or repeated cases: thickened, scaly skin or new growths in sun-exposed areas — which should always be evaluated by a vet, as chronic sun damage is linked to an elevated risk of skin cancer in pets, just as it is in people
If you notice any of these signs, especially if they don’t resolve within a few days, contact your veterinarian.
What’s Actually Safe to Use
This is the part where most well-meaning pet owners get it wrong, and it’s important to get right.
“Pet owners often think baby sunscreen is gentle enough for dogs, but that’s not the case,” Dr. Schick explains. “Zinc can be toxic when ingested, and some chemical sunscreens can cause allergic skin reactions or worse.”
This matters because of how pets groom themselves. A sunscreen formulated for human skin — even a “gentle” baby version — often contains zinc oxide, which is toxic if licked off and ingested. Dogs and cats groom constantly. Any product applied to their skin is a product they will likely lick.
The right approach:
Ask your veterinarian specifically which sun protection products are safe for your pet before using anything. There are pet-specific sunscreen products formulated without the ingredients that are dangerous if ingested — but “pet-safe” claims on packaging aren’t always reliable without your vet’s input, especially for cats, who are even more sensitive to certain ingredients than dogs.
Pet-specific sunscreen products, vet-recommended brands →https://www.chewy.com/emmys-best-pet-products-sun-skin/dp/302501
Alternatives to sunscreen that are always safe:
Lightweight UV-protective clothing — sun shirts and belly bands designed specifically for dogs block UV exposure without any ingestion risk at all. This is often the simplest, safest solution, especially for high-risk breeds.
UV-protective dog shirts on Amazon
Shade management — simply limiting your pet’s direct sun exposure during peak UV hours (typically 10am–4pm) significantly reduces risk without any product needed at all.
Avoiding prolonged sunbathing — if your dog or cat loves lying in a sunny window or yard spot, that’s fine for limited periods, but watch the clock during the highest-UV hours of the day.
A Note for Senior Pets and Pets With Existing Skin Conditions
Older pets and pets with any existing skin condition, autoimmune disease affecting the skin, or those on medications that increase sun sensitivity should have an extra layer of caution. If your pet falls into any of these categories, this is worth a specific conversation with your vet before summer activities ramp up — not after you notice a problem.
The easiest way to lower dog sunburn risk is to limit direct sun during peak hours, use shade, protect vulnerable skin, and ask your veterinarian before applying any sunscreen product.
The tricky thing about dog sunburn is that it usually shows up in small areas owners do not always check, like the nose, ear tips, belly, groin, and inside of the legs.
The best way to lower dog sunburn risk is to combine shade, shorter outdoor time during peak sun hours, protective clothing, and vet-approved products when needed.
Summary
- Dogs and cats genuinely can get sunburned and suffer real UV skin damage
- Highest risk: pit bulls, whippets, Boston terriers, bull terriers, sphynx, Devon rex, Cornish rex, and any pet with thin coats or light skin
- Most vulnerable areas: nose, ear tips, belly, groin, inside legs
- Never use human or baby sunscreen — zinc oxide is toxic if licked, which pets will do
- Ask your vet about pet-specific sunscreen, or use UV-protective clothing and shade management instead
- Download the FREE Sunburn Risk Checklist
Even if your dog’s breed is not listed, dog sunburn can still happen when your pet has thin fur, light skin, shaved areas, or spends long periods in direct sunlight.
Your Turn
Did you know this was a real risk before reading this post? Drop a comment — I’d genuinely like to know how many pet owners had never thought about this until today, because I suspect it’s most of us.
And if you have a high-risk breed — a pit bull, whippet, Boston terrier, sphynx, or any light-skinned, thin-coated pet — please share this post with another owner of the same breed. This is exactly the kind of thing that spreads through community knowledge, because it rarely makes it into standard “summer pet safety” content.
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FAQ
Can cats get sunburned too, or is this just a dog issue? Cats absolutely can get sunburned, and certain breeds — sphynx (hairless), Devon rex, and Cornish rex — are at particularly high risk due to minimal or absent coat coverage. The same protection principles apply: shade management, vet-approved products only, and watching ear tips and nose closely.
My dog has a dark coat — are they completely safe? Dark, dense coats provide significantly more natural UV protection than light or thin coats, but the exposed areas — nose, ear tips, belly — can still be vulnerable on any dog regardless of overall coat color, especially if those specific spots are lighter or thinner-furred. A dark coat lowers the risk, but dog sunburn can still happen on exposed or lightly pigmented areas like the nose, ear tips, belly, or shaved skin.
Is sun damage in pets actually linked to skin cancer? Yes — chronic, repeated UV exposure is a recognized risk factor for certain skin cancers in pets, similar to the relationship in humans. This is part of why veterinary dermatologists are specifically raising awareness about prevention now, rather than waiting to address it after damage has already occurred over years.
Sunburn is only one summer risk pet owners need to watch for. You should also read our guide on summer heat dangers for dogs, especially before long walks, cookouts, beach days, or backyard events.
Final Thoughts
I have six dogs of various breeds and coat types, and I’ll be honest — sun protection for pets was something I genuinely had not thought carefully about until researching this. That’s exactly why I wanted to write about it. This is information that protects pets quietly, over years, in a way that doesn’t show up as dramatically as heat stroke but matters just as much.
For more summer pet safety information, read our post on The summer heat dangers most pet owners underestimate.