Pets can get sunburned. They can develop skin cancer. And the veterinary world is rapidly catching up to that fact with a new generation of products, prescription treatments, and protective gear that’s turning animal sun care into a serious and fast-growing industry. We can’t do what our grandparents did: just let the animals be animals, bring them indoors at night, and put them back out in the morning. We have more responsibility for them now, and we need to own up to it to protect their health.

More Than Just a Hot Day Problem

When we think about protecting our animals in summer, heat stroke usually comes to mind first. That’s important, no question. But sunburn is its own problem, and it gets a lot less attention. I know I never thought any of our dogs would be at risk of sunburn, and I am sure most of you haven’t given it much thought either.

Medically, sunburn in animals is called solar dermatitis. It’s caused by ultraviolet radiation, the same UV rays that damage human skin. UV radiation comes in two main forms. UVA causes skin aging and is linked to cancer. UVB causes the red, painful burning we associate with a bad day at the beach. Animals are exposed to both.

Fur does provide some protection. But it doesn’t cover everything, and it doesn’t help every animal equally. Pets with light-colored or white fur, thin coats, pink skin, or no hair at all are at the highest risk. That includes Dalmatians, bull terriers, white cats, and hairless breeds like the Sphynx cat. But it also includes your regular everyday golden retriever who loves to roll on his back in the sun, exposing his belly, his groin, and the underside of his tail.

The areas most likely to burn are the ones you’d expect: the nose, the ear tips, the eyelids, and the belly. Cats with white ears are especially vulnerable. Board-certified veterinary dermatologist Dr. Jill Abraham has noted that squamous cell carcinomas show up on the ear tips of cats, on their noses, and even on their eyelids. These aren’t minor skin irritations. They’re cancers.

What Sunburn Looks Like in a Pet

Early sunburn in animals shows up as reddened, warm, or sensitive skin. You might notice peeling, flaking, or your pet flinching when you touch a certain spot. A more serious burn can blister and scab. And if a pet is burned repeatedly over time, the risk of skin cancer goes up significantly.
Those cancers can include squamous cell carcinoma, hemangiosarcoma, and malignant melanoma. Early detection matters a great deal. A veterinarian can examine unusual spots, non-healing sores, or skin that looks crusty and discolored. Catching skin cancer early gives a pet a much better chance at a good outcome.

Something else worth knowing: even indoor cats aren’t completely safe. If your cat sunbathes next to a sunny window, it’s still soaking up UVA rays right through the glass.

A Growing Industry Responds

The veterinary dermatology market is booming. In 2024, the global market for veterinary dermatology drugs was valued between $10.8 billion and $17.4 billion, depending on the research firm, with projections showing it reaching as high as $29.5 billion by 2030. That kind of growth reflects how seriously the field is now taking skin health in animals.

The prescription segment leads that market. Veterinarians are prescribing more dermatological medications than ever before, including treatments for conditions worsened by sun exposure. In September 2024, the FDA approved Zenrelia, a new drug for the control of itching connected to allergic dermatitis in dogs. And in 2024, Zoetis launched a new dermatological line targeting allergic dermatitis, using bioactive ingredients backed by clinical trials.

Beyond prescription drugs, the over-the-counter segment is growing fast too, at a projected rate of about 9.7% annually through 2030. In North America alone, the pet skin care products market was valued at $2.1 billion in 2024. Protective accessories are a growing part of that picture.

UV-blocking shirts and bodysuits for dogs, with UPF 50+ ratings, are now widely available alongside hats, visors, and sun goggles specifically designed for pets. Published research in the journal Veterinary Dermatology examined UV protection for free-range pigs and found that proper shade cloth materials could meaningfully reduce harmful UV exposure in animals with light-colored skin.

The Sunscreen Problem

Here’s where things get complicated, and where it’s really important to pay attention. You cannot just grab your own sunscreen and rub it on your dog or cat. Some ingredients in human sunscreens are toxic to pets.

The two biggest concerns are zinc oxide and salicylates. The ASPCA lists both as the main ingredients to avoid in any product applied to a pet. Zinc oxide, that thick white cream you see on lifeguards’ noses, can damage a pet’s red blood cells if it’s ingested, and pets will lick it off. Salicylates, chemicals related to aspirin, can cause stomach ulcers, vomiting, and, in serious cases, liver damage if a pet eats them in quantity.

A published case report in the Open Veterinary Journal documented a small dog who developed severe anemia after repeatedly licking a zinc oxide cream that had been applied to her skin. The dog required emergency care and intensive treatment. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center fields many calls about sunscreen ingestion during warmer months.

The direction from veterinary toxicologists is clear: only use sunscreens specifically made for pets, and check with your vet before trying any new product. When choosing a pet-safe sunscreen, look for one that protects against both UVA and UVB rays and has an SPF of at least 30. Apply it 10 to 15 minutes before sun exposure, and reapply often, especially if your pet swims. Focus on the vulnerable spots: the nose, ear tips, belly, and any area with thin fur or pink skin.

Simple Steps That Make a Real Difference

The easiest protection is shade. Keep outdoor pets shaded during the hottest and sunniest part of the day, roughly between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Walk your dog early in the morning or in the evening. Provide shelter and shady spots for any animals that spend time outside.

For pets who love to bask in the sun, UV-protective clothing is a practical option. These garments have come a long way from the novelty dog shirt. They’re designed to allow comfortable movement, wick moisture, and block UV rays all at the same time.

And check your pet’s skin regularly. Run your hands over their body every few weeks. Look for new lumps, sores that won’t heal, or skin that looks unusual. The earlier you catch something, the better.

Your pet trusts you completely. They don’t know what UV radiation is. They don’t know that the warm patch of sunlight on the floor could be doing them harm. That part is yours to handle. And now, thankfully, the veterinary industry is giving you more tools than ever to do it.

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The skin lesion appears irregular in shape and color. Brown, black, and purple. The abnormality seems slightly raised above the surrounding normal-appearing skin.

Does he know about the skin lesion? Nadia Popovici, a young premedical student, types a message on her phone and knocks on the glass window to get his attention. He looks at the message, nods, smiles, and continues to work.

Only later does he get the news. Cancer. More specifically, skin melanoma.

Melanoma Basics

The American Cancer Society (ACS) explains that “melanoma is a skin cancer type that develops when melanocytes (the cells that give the skin its tan or brown color) begin to grow out of control.”

Melanoma is much less common than some other types of skin cancers. But melanoma is more dangerous because it’s much more likely to spread to other parts of the body if not caught and treated early.

A risk factor raises your risk of getting a disease such as cancer. The ACS explains that several risk factors can make a person more likely to develop melanoma.

Ultraviolet light

Sunlight is the primary source of UV rays. Others included tanning beds and sun lamps. The pattern and timing of the exposure may play roles; for example, frequent sunburns (especially in childhood) can lead to melanoma on the chest and back.

Moles

Most moles never cause cancer, but those with many moles are more likely to develop melanoma.

Family history

Got a first-degree relative (parent, sister, brother, or child) with melanoma? Your risk is high of getting this skin cancer. Approximately ten percent of those with melanoma have a family history of the disease. Your risk of melanoma is also higher if you have a personal history of skin cancer (of any type). You should have regular skin exams by a dermatologist, examine your skin monthly, and be diligent about sun protection and avoiding tanning beds.

Other

Other risk factors for melanoma include race — Whites have a significantly higher risk than African Americans. Those with blond or red, blue or green eyes, or fair skin that freckles or burns quickly have a higher risk. Males have a higher risk of melanoma, as do older people (please note that it happens in young people, too).

Finally, the inherited condition Xeroderma Pigmentosum (XP) is a rare, inherited condition that affects skin cells’ ability to repair DNA damage. Individuals with XP have a high risk of getting melanoma and other skin cancers when they are young, especially in skin areas exposed to the sun.

Fast forward to this: Popovici and Hamilton in an emotional meeting. Our premedical student hero asks Hamilton, as both wear face masks if he is okay with shaking hands or hugging. An embrace soon follows, as does $10,000 (for medical school expenses) from the two hockey teams. Yes, this suicide crisis line worker just received several offers of admission to schools of medicine.

I want to end with some melanoma warning signs. Look for any new skin lesions, changing or unusual. Melanomas can arise anywhere, even where the sun does not shine. Fortunately, most moles, growths, and brown spots are harmless, but not always.

Melanoma symptoms and cancer detection

Use the ABCDEs and the Ugly Duckling sign to help yourself detect melanoma. The Skin Care Foundation reminds us of the warning signs of melanoma:

A is for Asymmetry. Most melanomas are asymmetrical. If you draw a line through the middle of the lesion, the two halves don’t match, so it looks different from a round to oval and symmetrical common mole.

B is for Border. Melanoma borders tend to be uneven and may have scalloped or notched edges, while common moles tend to have smoother, more even borders.

C is for Color. Multiple colors are a warning sign. While benign moles are usually a single shade of brown, a melanoma may have different shades of brown, tan, or black. As it grows, red, white, or blue may also appear.

D is for Diameter or Dark. While it’s ideal to detect a melanoma when it is small, it’s a warning sign if a lesion is the size of a pencil eraser (about 6 mm, or ¼ inch in diameter) or larger. Some experts say it is also essential to look for any lesion, no matter what size, that is darker than others. Rare, amelanotic melanomas are colorless.

E is for Evolving. Any change in size, shape, color, or elevation of a spot on your skin, or any new symptom in it, such as bleeding, itching, or crusting, may be a warning sign of melanoma.

Other warning signs include

• A non-healing sore
• Pigment spread from the border of a spot into the surrounding skin
• Redness or a new swelling beyond a mole’s border
• Change in sensation (for example, itchiness or tenderness)
• Change in a mole’s surface of a mole — scaliness, oozing, bleeding, or the appearance of a lump or bump

If you notice these warning signs or anything changing, new, or unusual on your skin, please promptly see a skin doctor (dermatologist).

The five-year survival rate for patients in the United States whose melanoma is detected early.

The survival rate drops to 66 percent if the disease reaches the lymph nodes and 27 percent if it spreads to distant organs. Immunotherapy is markedly improving the last number, but more on that later.

Melanoma pictures

My message today is: Look. And have someone check your back. If you have concerns, see a skin doctor soon. I am pleased that early-stage melanoma is associated with such an excellent prognosis. Recent immunotherapy advances have dramatically improved long-term survival odds on the other end of the spectrum.

Thank you for joining me today. Oh, Vancouver won 5 to 2 over my Seattle Kraken, but you and I both know the real winner.

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