6 Ways to Protect Your Pet from Skin Cancer

The Editors of Prevention

Warning: This column contains information that may make you feel, momentarily, like a negligent pet owner. Quick quiz: When you see your dog racing down a sun-drenched beach or your cat napping peacefully in a sunny window, what's your reaction? If it's "Aw, look, she's so happy," it's time to retrain--yourself. Some pets that frolic or nap in the sunshine are at risk of sunburn and solar-induced cancer.

You might be thinking that you've never heard of a pet being stricken by skin cancer. So just how big a deal is this? The surprising facts: About 33% of tumors in dogs start in the skin, and about one-third of those are malignant. Some 25% of all feline cancers are skin cancers, says Brenda Phillips, DVM, an oncologist at the Veterinary Specialty Hospital in San Diego. Not counting basal cell tumors, it's estimated that 75% of feline skin tumors are malignant.

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Dog breeds with pale skin and thin hair, such as white boxers, Italian greyhounds, and white pit bulls, as well as cats with pink or pale noses, are especially vulnerable to solar damage.

Here's another shocker: "Reflective sun exposure also causes solar-induced cancers," says Dr. Phillips. "Sunlight reflected off a sandy beach or hot sidewalk strikes the bald areas of your dog's belly, which is where skin cancers are often found." Here's how you can protect your pet during the summer months without cutting back on outdoor time.

Dodge the sun's strongest rays.
Take your dog for longer early-morning and evening walks. Limit outdoor activity between 10 am and 4 pm. Give pets access to shade when they're outside.

Tint your windows.
Protect pets that nap in sunny windows by installing glare-reducing insulating or privacy films with UV-filtering protection. Seek a protection level of at least 90% (available at Lowe's for $40 to $50 per window).

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Dress your dog in sun-safe clothing.
Sun-protective apparel will shield your pet's skin from ultraviolet rays. Look for an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) rating of at least 30. You'll find coats, visors, and belly bands for $12 to $29 at playapup.com.

Avoid close shaves.
Maintain at least a half inch of fur on your pet during the hot months--no buzz cuts, please! Fur protects skin from sun damage.

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Apply the right sunscreen.
Select a vet-approved sunscreen such as (for dogs) Epi-Pet Sun Protector Spray ($18; amazon.com) and rub it on his belly and legs and the tips of his nose and ears. Never use a sunscreen made for people--it may contain ingredients, such as octyl salicylate, that can be toxic to cats. If your dog or cat gets sunburned, bring him into a cool, well-ventilated space. Wrap him in a cool, wet towel to lower his body temperature, then take him to a veterinary clinic for treatment.

Perform monthly nose-to-tail checks.
Alert your veterinarian to any wounds that don't heal, lumps, raised bumps, or crusty skin lesions. These could be early signs of skin cancer.

Written by Arden Moore, Prevention

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