Fur goes only so far
Don't
forget to grab special dog sunscreen the next time you're heading
out for a day of fun-in-the-sun with your dog. That's right; dogs
need protection from the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays, just as
people do. As in people, overexposure to UV rays can give your dog a
nasty case of sunburn, peeling of skin, and painful inflammation, and
also increase the risk of skin cancer.
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| Doubles as pest protection AND Sun Screen!! |
Because
dogs have fur, people often assume that they are not in any danger of
getting sunburned. But this is not so. While fur does provide some
degree of protection to much of a dogs body, the bridge of the nose, ear
tips, skin surrounding the lips, and areas lacking pigmentation are
more vulnerable. In addition, if he has suffered hair loss due to
illness or medical treatment, the exposed skin is at risk of sun damage.
But
even where the skin is covered with fur, there is a need for
protection. Sunlight can easily penetrate dog fur, especially if it is
light colored, of short length, or naturally fine in texture. Certain
breeds are at increased risk of developing skin cancer.
Not all dogs are born swimmers
While
swimming is great exercise and can also provide relief from summer
heat. Despite popular belief, not all dogs were born to swim. When
encouraging your dog to swim it's important to know its physical
ability, stamina, body shape, condition and breathing ability. Fit your
dog with a PFD (personal flotation device) if you are not sure about
his swimming ability or if you plan on taking him boating. Life jackets
made for dogs keep their head above water and have a handle on the back
to make it easier to grab them out of the water.
Road Trip?
Don't think for a second that safety belts are merely for people. As
canine companions go along for the ride, dogs need to be strapped in,
too -- to protect everyone.
A
car traveling at 30 mph can result in a 60-pound dog (such as a
medium-sized Boxer or a smaller Labrador Retriever) crashing into the
windshield, seat, or another passenger with an impact of 2,700 pounds,
according to Bark-Buckle UP, a pet safety advocacy group based in San Diego, Calif. The risks, of course, increase at higher travel speeds.
Additional
dangers posed by unrestrained animals include distracting the driver,
or escaping the vehicle and causing a collision on the road. In
addition, keep in mind that if the driver is perceived to be in danger
after an accident, a protective dog might fend off would be rescuers.
