Every summer it’s always so exciting to make plans out in the sun for your family. While you might be fully prepared for potential burns, have you considered if your beagle is protected from the sun?
Like most canine companions, beagles are prone to burning in the summer sun. Since their double coat does not breathe well, the sun tends to reach the sensitive skin easily and can result in a painful sunburn.
While it’s not something owners often think about since fur is so different from skin, sunburn is a serious condition that should be taken seriously for your beagle, especially in the warm summer months.
Fortunately, there are things you can do to both prevent and care for sunburns, which you’ll definitely want to keep note of if you live in a warmer part of the world.
In this article, I’ll go through how sunburns often occur in beagles, what can be done to prevent them, and what steps you can take to treat a beagle that is struggling with sunburn.
How Do Beagles Get Sunburned?
Sunburn on dogs is similar to sunburn on humans. Harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun penetrate the skin and damage the makeup of the skin cells.
Because beagles have a double coat of fur, originally meant to keep them warm in the cold winter months, their skin underneath their coat is more susceptible to burning than other breeds.
Additionally, because of these double coats, beagles are more susceptible to falling victim to heat stroke, as their internal body temperatures can skyrocket if they’ve had direct exposure to sunlight for an extended period of time.
Some of the most common ways that beagles get sunburned include:
- Dehydration
Since their fur keeps them cool in the heat and their fur absorbs sweat to keep cool in the cold, it’s not uncommon for beagles to suffer from dehydration in summer heat.
Since sweat and dehydration itself can both make the skin more susceptible to burns, it’s important to watch and keep your dog hydrated throughout the day.
Signs of dehydration often include changes in the elasticity of their coats, excessive panting, loss of appetite, and dry nose.
- Long Walks in the Sun
As mentioned earlier, prolonged exposure to the sun can seriously harm your beagle’s health. Walking your dog in the early morning or evening can keep the chances of sunburn or heat stroke at bay, so make sure to take advantage of those hours to walk your beagle.
- Walking On Hot Pavement
It’s quite common for beagles to experience sunburn on the pads of their paws. Beagles, like all dogs, walk around with their bare paws touching the ground.
Because they’re so frequently walked on pavement, the hot summer months can be particularly dangerous for beagle paws.
A good rule of thumb is that if the ground is too hot for you to walk barefoot, it’s definitely too hot to walk your dog on it barefoot.
How to Prevent Sunburns For Beagles
- Use Dog Sunscreen
If it’s safe to do so during the summer heat in your region, applying sunscreen to your beagle’s skin can reduce the risk of sunburn as well as possible skin cancer.
Always check the ingredients and look for a sunscreen that is free of fragrances, PABA, and zinc oxide.
Most of the best types of sunscreen for beagles will be marked as animal or pet-friendly, but it always helps to consult with your veterinarian to be safe when shopping for dog sunscreen.
I’ve been using EBPP’s spray moisturizer for the last few summers, and it’s protected both of my beagles.
- Use UV-Blocking Sun Shirts
Many dog clothing manufacturers now make sun shirts for dogs, and they can be a fantastic option for helping prevent sunburn on your beagle.
These shirts come with a special fabric that acts as a built-in sunscreen and can lower the risk of sunburn by up to fifty percent.
Since these shirts can be bulky and make it difficult for your dog to move freely and explore, some beagle owners prefer to crop them to fit their dogs more accurately.
The best types of shirts are lightweight, that have plenty of coverage across your beagles’ coat. My dog maple currently enjoys her Fitwarm UV protective shirts from Amazon, with a slight crop to fit her frame.
- Protect Your Beagles’ Eyes
Another health risk that isn’t always associated with heat or sunburn is eye damage.
Just as we humans need to protect our eyes from harsh light by wearing sunglasses, your dog’s eyes can also benefit greatly from the preventative care of doggy goggles.
It’s important when selecting goggles for your dog that they block UV rays, and that they are shatterproof.
This will keep your dog’s eyes safe from both the sun, and any potential accidents while wearing the goggles.
- Walk Your Beagle Early In The Morning Or Late At Night
If you can set aside your beagle’s walks for a cooler time of day, such as early in the morning or late at night when the sun isn’t as intense, you will help both prevent sunburn and heatstroke.
These early morning or late night walks are also great for your beagle’s outdoor training, as you’ll be able to enjoy exploring a new area before it’s packed with other dog owners and their dogs.
If you have the ability to choose between the two, it’s often better to opt for morning walks, because even at night, the pavement can still be quite hot after absorbing sunlight over the course of the entire day.
- Give Your Dog A Sunhat
It might seem silly, but sunhats are just as useful for beagles as they are for humans!
Beagles are known for their adorably big floppy ears. And while they’re very cute, they also get a lot more sun exposure than other breeds because of the surface area they cover.
By getting your beagle a brimmed sunhat, you’ll be protecting the sensitive layer of skin on their ears from any harmful rays that could cause some serious burns over long periods of exposure.
How to Treat Beagle Sunburns
- Use A Cold Compress
If your beagle starts to get sunburned or hot to the touch, place a cold compress over the affected area. This will help reduce the inflammation that sunburn causes in your dog’s skin.
Cold compresses can come in the form of frozen toys or slices of frozen vegetables wrapped in cloth and placed over the affected area.
If you’d prefer something a little more natural, soak a cloth in ice water and apply it directly to the sunburned areas.
If your beagle’s body temperature still doesn’t come down after a couple hour sessions of a cold compress, you may need to consult with your vet to have them evaluated.
- Try Skin-Soothing Balms
If your dog experiences some severe sunburns, it may cause some noticeable irritation to your beagle’s skin.
In this case, we recommend using cooling and soothing balms to help soothe the discomfort of the burns. There are a variety of products to choose from.
I recommend the Healing Balm from the Natural Dog Company, because they’re made with natural and organic ingredients.
My two beagles are prone to skin allergies, so I try to be really careful when it comes to balms and ointments.
- Rub Aloe Vera Gel On The Burned Area
If your beagle’s burns are so severe that they’re blistering or peeling, you can treat them by using natural healing Aloe Vera gel.
You can buy Aloe Vera gel in many pet stores and online.
Apply the gel directly on the burned area for relief from itchiness and inflammation. You can also massage the gel into the area of the burn for a little more relief.
Aloe vera gel works by penetrating the burned skin and repairing the damaged skin cells that are causing inflammation to the burn area.
If you can’t find a kind of aloe vera gel that’s been deemed safe for dogs, you could use just the natural sap mixed with water, if you or anyone you know has an aloe vera plant available.
- Consider Antibiotics With Your Vet If The Burn Is Severe
If your dog experiences severe sunburns and/or blistering and skin that peels off as well, you may need to see your vet for antibiotics.
Antibiotics are often prescribed for severe burns. Use an ointment as a topical antibiotic or antibiotic powder that can be dusted directly over burned areas.
This would be used for a particularly bad burn.
These antibiotics will be essential for preventing infection and aiding in the healing process for more severe sunburns, and can be used for sunburns on the larger parts of their coat, as well as their ears, noses, tails, and paw pads.
When it comes to any types of antibiotic medications or treatments, your vet will know best.
Caring for Heatstroke/Sunstroke in Beagles
If your beagle experiences serious heatstroke or sunstroke, their symptoms can include:
– Heavy panting or difficulty breathing
– Vomiting or diarrhea
– Elevated body temperature
– A rapid heart rate
– Weakness or loss of coordination
– An increase in thirst or appetite
These are major signs that your beagle is in need of immediate medical attention. Before rushing your beagle to a veterinarian’s office, you’ll want to start cooling them off using the methods listed below:
- Cool Off Your Beagle Using Icepacks Or Cold Water
If your beagle is experiencing severe heatstroke or sunstroke symptoms, you’ll want to immediately start cooling them off using icepacks. Icepacks can be placed on their chest and stomach to start bringing their body temperature down.
A wet towel can also be draped over their body to add a bit of extra cooling power.
- Allow Your Beagle To Drink Small Amounts Of Water
If your beagle is experiencing heavy nausea or vomiting, you’ll want to avoid giving them any type of liquids until they’re feeling better.
However, if they aren’t vomiting any fluids but rather just saliva, a small amount of water can be used to help them cool down by partially replacing their lost fluids.
Your vet can provide you with specific instructions on how much water to offer your beagle for heatstroke or sunstroke.
Final Thoughts
It’s easy to see why your beagle can become overheated and even sunburned during hot summer months. They won’t be able to cool down as easily as us humans because they have less sweat glands than we do.
As a result, it’s important that you provide them with shade or a cool environment when spending time outside during hot weather.
If your beagle does suffer from sunburn, it’s important to help cool their body down and tend to the irritated fur or skin, depending on the severity.
Always go by your vet’s recommendation when deciding how to treat the burn. Good luck this summer!