First Aid Treatments For The Sunburned Dog
What - my dog was sunburned? It's not possible! Although quite unbelievable, dogs really do can get sunburned. Just as with humans, spending hours under the blazing sun would be dangerous to dogs too. Dogs, of course have the fur as protection but just as with the clothing of humans, the fur too would be an inadequate shield against the dangerous ultraviolet rays of the sun. Sunlight does have healthful benefits and of course dogs would love to be out in the sun. Summertime is a happy time for these animals that love to be in the sun. Playing under the heat of the sun would result to sunburn, a condition that will make the dog very uncomfortable.
What are the signs that would tell you that the pet has sunburn? When the pink nose of the pet has become the mock-up nose of Rudolf the red nosed reindeer. Ears are more prone to drying up, cracking and curling because they are less covered with hair. After the burn, the affected skin will appear white and kind of leathery. Superficial partial thickness burns will have these symptoms. Deep partial thickness and full thickness sunburns are serious types of sunburn. Blisters and sores can form on the severely affected skin. Hospitalization is necessary for these two types of serious sunburns. Skin grafts may be necessary if a large percentage of the dog's body was burned.
Superficial partial thickness is a minor type of sunburn that can be treated at home. For ease of application of medication and for easy monitoring of the healing of the burned skin, it would be best to shave the hair on the affected area. Use iodine to clean the burned area and to ward off infection. Apply topical burn ointments to the affected skin.
Aloe vera is an effective first aid treatment for sunburn. OTC aloe vera ointment works well but the juice of fresh plant will deliver soothing coolness to the burned skin. Gel squeezed from a fresh aloe vera leaf is applied to the affected skin.
The oil from a vitamin E capsule is another first aid treatment that promotes healing. Aside from promoting the healing process, vitamin E also prevents scarring. A sunburned dog would suffer from itch and pain. Adding oatmeal and baking soda to the bath water of the dog would lessen the pain and the itch of the sunburned skin.
More about dog first aid and dog sunburn at Sarah's Dogs.
