Is Sunbathing Good for My Dog?

We all know our furry babies love sunbathing — lying down and taking long naps while feeling its warmth. The problem is they're not aware that too much sun or heat could even cost them their lives. Let's look at this in detail.

Benefits of the Sun for Dogs

Sunlight is essential for vitamin D synthesis. Contact between UV rays and the fat in the skin causes large amounts of vitamin D to be produced. Our dogs absorb this essential vitamin orally when they lick their paws and coat.

It doesn't matter whether your dog has a lot of coat or very little — it needs sun exposure to get adequate amounts of vitamin D. Vitamin D is essential for its body (just as it is for ours): it helps fix calcium and phosphorus in the bones, regulates blood pressure, relieves stress, supports muscle mass, and puts them in a better mood.

In mild or cold seasons, the sun also gives them extra warmth. They can rest or sleep very peacefully while the sun warms their bodies — they truly enjoy it.

Sun in the right doses strengthens our dog's immune system, and also helps regenerate dead skin, scars, and so on. In short, the sun has great benefits for our dogs, as long as it's taken the right way.

Dangers of the Sun for a Dog

The sun can be just as dangerous as it is beneficial for our dogs. In winter there isn't really much danger... but what happens in the hotter months?

Dogs love sunbathing so much that they aren't aware of the danger it can pose. If it's very hot, we shouldn't let our dog stay out in the sun for a prolonged time, as it could suffer heatstroke. Heatstroke can even cause death... it's nothing to take lightly.

We should always have fresh water available for them — in summer, the water in bowls heats up quickly, so we need to replace it with fresh water several times a day.

We also need to be careful with the ground: if you put your hand on the ground and it burns and you can't keep it there... don't let your dog walk on it, since it will burn its paws (pads).

When traveling by car, be careful that the sun doesn't shine directly on your dog. There's no fresh water to drink in the car, and the air from the window or the car's air conditioning can create a false sense of coolness while it's actually suffering heatstroke.

In short, we need to be very careful when it's excessively hot, mainly during the summer months.