How can I protect my pet from Skin Cancer?

Almost daily, news reports tell us not to overdo our time in the sun. The same warning applies to our pets. Dogs and cats with very light hair and fair skin can develop squamous (skway-muss) cell carcinoma, more commonly known as skin cancer, when they spend a lot of time in the sun. A white cat, for example, could develop cancer on the tip of its nose. Light-colored dogs can also get into trouble – especially if they like to sunbathe on their backs.

That doesn’t mean you need to keep your pet indoors all the time, but try to avoid having them outside during the peak mid-day hours when they’re going to be exposed to a lot of u-v light. Sunblock creams are also available for animals’ sensitive areas, like the tips of their ears and around their eyes.

– Dr. Larry McDaniel, DVM for the “Purina® Animal Instincts” Podcast Series

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