We had a regular in a few weeks ago — a Pit Bull mix with a short white coat — for his usual summer trim. A few days later his owner called, a little worried: there was a pink, tender patch along his back where the sun hits him on his afternoon yard time. It wasn't a reaction to the groom. It was sunburn. It happens more than people expect, and a shorter summer cut is part of why we bring it up at pickup with certain dogs.
Yes, Dogs Really Can Get Sunburned
Dog skin works a lot like ours. Any patch of skin with little pigment, little fur, or both is exposed to the same UV damage a human's skin would take in the same spot. The American Kennel Club and the ASPCA both confirm this is a real, common issue for dogs spending time outdoors in strong sun — not just a coincidence people mistake for something else.
Which Dogs Are Most at Risk
Some dogs are simply built to burn more easily than others:
- Short-coated and light-colored breeds — think Pit Bulls, Boxers, Dalmatians, Whippets, and other breeds with thin, pale, or white coats.
- Dogs with pink or lightly pigmented skin, especially around the nose, belly, and groin.
- Hairless or near-hairless breeds like the American Hairless Terrier or Chinese Crested.
- Any dog freshly clipped short for summer — including double-coated breeds we've deshed and doodles we've trimmed down after matting. Less coat over the skin means less natural UV protection, at least until the coat grows back out a bit.
That last point is the one we see most often at the salon. We talk in our summer grooming guide and our doodle matting post about why a shorter summer clip is usually the right call for comfort — but a shorter coat does trade off some of that built-in sun coverage, and it's worth knowing that going in.
The Spots That Burn First
Sunburn on a dog tends to show up in the same handful of places: the bridge of the nose, the tips of the ears, the belly, and the tip of the tail. On light-coated or freshly clipped dogs, the back and the top of the head can be affected too. Watch for skin that looks pink or red, feels warm or tender to the touch, or where your dog seems to flinch or lick more than usual at a specific spot after time outside.
Please Don't Reach for Your Own Sunscreen
This is the one we want every owner to hear clearly: human sunscreen is not safe to put on a dog. Most contains zinc oxide, which is toxic to dogs if they lick it off — and they will lick it off. Both the AKC and ASPCA specifically warn against using regular human sunscreen on pets for this reason, along with other common human-sunscreen ingredients like salicylates that can irritate a dog's skin. If you want sun protection in a bottle, look specifically for a sunscreen formulated and labeled for dogs, and check with your vet before using it on puppies or dogs with existing skin conditions.
What Actually Helps
Sunscreen isn't the only tool, and honestly it's not usually the first one we'd reach for. A few simpler habits go a long way for a light-coated or freshly clipped dog:
- Time outdoor stretches around peak sun. Late morning through mid-afternoon is when Missouri sun is strongest — shift yard time and walks earlier or later when you can.
- Give them real shade, not just a patch of dappled tree cover, if they're going to be out for a while.
- Consider a lightweight sun shirt for dogs who are outside a lot in summer, especially thin- or light-coated breeds. It covers the back and belly without adding the heat a full coat would.
- Don't clip a coat shorter than it needs to be. There's a difference between a proper summer trim and shaving down to bare skin — we're always happy to talk through what length makes sense for your dog's coat and lifestyle.
What We Do at the Salon
When we're trimming a light-coated or thin-skinned dog down for summer, we'll mention sun exposure at pickup so it's not a surprise. It's a quick conversation, not a lecture — just enough so you know to keep an eye on it for the first week or two while the coat's shorter than usual.
If you're not sure whether your dog's coat or skin type puts them more at risk, or you want to talk through the right summer length before your next visit, book a groom with us and we'll walk through it together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can dogs actually get sunburned?
Yes. Any area of a dog's skin with little pigment, little coat, or both can burn from UV exposure just like human skin can. It's confirmed by both the AKC and the ASPCA as a real and fairly common issue, not something owners are imagining.
Which dogs are most likely to get sunburned?
Short-coated and light- or white-coated breeds, dogs with pink or lightly pigmented skin, hairless breeds, and any dog recently clipped short for summer are all at higher risk than a dog with a full, dark, dense coat.
Is it safe to put my own sunscreen on my dog?
No. Human sunscreen typically contains zinc oxide, which is toxic to dogs if licked off, along with other ingredients that can irritate their skin. Use a sunscreen made and labeled specifically for dogs, and check with your vet first.
What does dog sunburn look like?
Pink or red skin, warmth or tenderness to the touch, and extra licking or sensitivity in one spot — most often the nose, ear tips, belly, or tail tip. If it looks severe, blistered, or isn't improving, that's a vet visit rather than a wait-and-see.
Does a shorter summer haircut make sunburn more likely?
It can, temporarily. A shorter clip means less coat sitting between the sun and the skin, so freshly trimmed dogs — especially light-coated ones — are a bit more exposed until the coat grows back out some. It's still usually the right call for comfort in Missouri summer heat; it just means a little extra sun awareness for a week or two after.
What should I do if I think my dog got sunburned?
Keep them out of direct sun and reach out to your vet, especially if the skin looks blistered, broken, or isn't improving after a day or two. For mild redness, shade and time usually help, but it's always fine to have your vet take a look.