Say bye-bye to sunburn

As summer approaches, we take extra care for our skin to protect it from sunburns – sunscreens, sunglasses, umbrellas, hats –– all find a place in our handbags. While we are so careful about our skin, we forget that our furry canines also need their share of protection. Here are a few tips to make summers safer for your pet and then you and your sweetheart can trail, softly singing, “You and I, in this beautiful world….”
Summers are the time to enjoy long walks with our pooch or play in the park. Both we and our canines need sunlight to balance the calcium levels in our bodies through metabolism, but as we say too much of everything is bad, hence too much ultraviolet radiation can harm our skin as well as our canines, which in turn can cause skin cancer.
Common sense and proper care is all that is required to keep your pets safe in summers. The key is that whatever precautions you take for your skin, holds good for your four-legged friend too. So, let’s all gear up to protect our canines from sunburns this summer:

• Dogs with pale or short hair are more prone to sunburns than the long-haired ones.
• Keep your dog inside during peak hours like noon to 3 p.m., the time when sun is brightest.
• Take her out for walks at the cooler times of the day in the morning or evening.
• Though exercise is important for her healthy being, but don’t over-exercise her.
• Give her plenty of water to drink.
• Sunburns appear as redness or hair loss at the bridge of the nose, ear tips and belly.
• In case your dog gets sunburns, take a towel dipped in cold water and put it over the affected area for a few minutes.
• You can also bathe the dog in cold water to reduce the heat but don’t apply shampoo as it can irritate the skin.
• Consult your vet immediately if your dog is suffering from sunburns.