Can animals also get sunburned?
Sometimes animals also need to be protected with sunscreen.
When the sun is strong, we apply sunscreen and seek shade.
We know that too much sun can be painful and dangerous.
But what about animals?
They have fur, feathers, and scales.
Are they completely safe in the sun, or can they also get sunburned?
"Animals have very similar skin to us"
Even though sun damage in humans is often talked about, we rarely hear about it in animals.
But they can get sunburned, just like humans.
"Animals have very similar skin to us, and unprotected skin can be damaged by the same things, like frost and sun," says Cecilie Marie Mejdell from the Norwegian Veterinary Institute.
She is a veterinarian and studies animal welfare.
According to Mejdell, sunburn can be painful for animals too. Their skin can turn red, become sore, and start to peel.
And just like in humans, long-term sun damage can lead to skin cancer.
"Animals can also get skin cancer. Cancer in general among animals is quite common," says Mejdell.
She says that researchers have used hairless or albino animals in skin cancer research.
Some body parts are more at risk
Fortunately, fur or feathers protect the animal's skin – but not always.
Certain areas of the body have little or no fur. These spots are especially exposed to the sun.
"This applies, for example, to a light-coloured muzzle on a horse, the udder or teats on a cow, or the ears of a piglet," says Mejdell.
Light-coloured skin is particularly sensitive because it lacks protective pigments.
This makes it harder for the skin to defend itself against the sun’s rays.
If an animal that’s usually kept indoors is suddenly let out in strong sunlight, it can get sunburned quickly.
This is because their skin has not had time to adapt to the sun.
"In that case, it's important to make sure the animals have access to plenty of shade," she says.
Can animals use sunscreen?
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It might sound unusual, but it’s actually possible to apply sunscreen to animals on areas that are sensitive to the sun.
"Many people do this. For example, farmers might use sunscreen on a cow's teats. But it has to be a sunscreen that won't affect the milk," says Mejdell.
Some also apply sunscreen to piglets' ears.
If outdoor pigs have access to mud, they will coat themselves in it, creating a protective layer like natural sunscreen.
Sunburn is not the biggest danger
Mejdell explains that there are more serious risks to animals than sunburn.
"The biggest danger for animals in the sun is overheating," she says.
If an animal's body temperature becomes too high, it can be fatal.
This can happen quickly if, for example, a dog is left in a parked car on a hot day.
It's important that animals have shade, enough drinking water, and a cool place to lie down so they can regulate their body temperature.
"It's great for animals to be outdoors in the summer, but it's also important that we take good care of them," she says.
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Translated by Alette Bjordal Gjellesvik
Read the Norwegian version of this article on ung.forskning.no
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