Travel and weather
Can dogs get sunburned?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
Yes, dogs can get sunburned, particularly on the nose, ear tips, belly, and any area with thin or white fur or exposed pink skin. Short-coated, light-colored, and hairless breeds are most at risk, and repeated sunburn over the years raises the chance of skin damage later in life. Limiting midday sun exposure and using dog-safe sun protection on vulnerable spots both help.
Which dogs and which spots are most exposed
Breeds with thin, pale, or single-layer coats, such as Boxers, Whippets, Pit Bull types, and white-coated dogs, burn more easily than double-coated breeds with dense undercoats. The nose, the tips of the ears, the belly on a dog that sunbathes on its back, and any patch of skin exposed by a recent shave or clip are the most common burn sites, since fur normally provides most of the protection elsewhere.
What sunburn looks like on a dog
Sunburned skin can look pink or red, feel warm to the touch, and become flaky or slightly swollen over the following day or two, similar to a mild human sunburn. Dogs with recurring sunburn on the same area, especially thin-coated white dogs, face a higher long-term risk of skin changes on that patch of skin over the years.
Reducing the risk
Limit time in direct midday sun for at-risk dogs, offer shaded rest spots during outdoor time, and consider a dog-formulated sunscreen (never a human one, since zinc oxide and some other ingredients are unsafe for dogs) on the nose and belly for long beach or garden days. A light, breathable sun shirt also protects thin-coated dogs without adding significant heat.
Reapply sunscreen after swimming or heavy panting, since both wash or wear the product away faster than on dry skin. A wide-brimmed sun shade over an outdoor kennel or a simple pop-up canopy at the beach gives a light-coated dog somewhere reliable to retreat to between spells in the sun.
Key takeaways
- Thin-coated, light-colored, and hairless breeds are most prone to sunburn.
- The nose, ear tips, and belly are the most common burn spots.
- Repeated sunburn on the same area raises long-term skin risk.
- Shade, shirts, and dog-specific sunscreen all reduce exposure; human sunscreen is not safe for dogs.