Can Puppies Be in the Sun? (7 Facts: Good, Bad, & Sunburn)

The media is full of stories about the dangers of sun exposure and the need for natural daylight.

How does sunlight (or the lack of it) affect your puppy?

1. Does Your Puppy Need Sunlight?

You may wonder if your puppy must get any sun exposure; perhaps it is safer to avoid the sun?

Despite the risks of sunlight to human health, medical professionals insist that daily exposure to natural sunlight is better for your health than an indoor life.

Your puppy also needs natural daylight as a regular part of its life.

Sunlight through a window and artificial lights don’t provide the same benefits as being outside in natural light.

2. How Does Sunlight Benefit Your Puppy?

Apart from the joy of playing outside on a sunny day, chasing butterflies, and smelling the grass, daily exposure to sunlight means:

• Increased happiness – daylight promotes the release of serotonin in you and the puppy.
• Better sleep – light and dark are necessary to set the sleep cycle.
• Better health – sunlight boosts the immune system meaning cuts and scratches heal quicker.
• Stronger bones – although your puppy gets most of its vitamin D in its diet, it can make some amounts from sunlight.

When sunlight falls on your skin, your body makes vitamin D, and your puppy has the same reaction, but the puppy’s fur coat hampers the process.

Your puppy needs to get vitamin D in its diet.

Although humans can make vitamin D directly from sunlight, most people living away from the equator don’t make enough vitamin D regardless of how much time they spend in daylight.

Sunlight falling on your puppy’s retina in the morning triggers the brain to make different hormones to those triggered by evening light. This appreciation for the changing balance of light in morning and evening helps regulate your puppy’s body clock.

Recent studies show that sunlight improves a body’s ability to fight disease and infection by activating key immune cells.

Traditional wisdom has maintained that babies and older adults need to spend time outside every day, so science is catching up with instinct.

Exposure to sunlight benefits you and your puppy, so sharing time outdoors is good for both of you.

3. What Are the Risks of Too Much Sun?

The top risks to your puppy from too much sunlight are:

• Heat exhaustion.
• Sunburn.

Heat Exhaustion

Heat exhaustion is a significant risk in the hot sun because your puppy can’t regulate its body temperature as efficiently as you.

Your puppy has some sweat glands in its paws, but the only way your puppy can cool down is through panting.

Heat exhaustion can kill your puppy.

Tips for avoiding heat exhaustion include:

• Never leave your puppy alone in a car.
• Always provide shade or cool space.
• Keep your puppy hydrated with fresh water.
• Consider a cooling mat or jacket.
• Exercise in the cooler parts of the day.

Sunburn

Your puppy, like you, can get sunburnt with the risk of developing malignant melanoma in later life or infected skin in the short term.

Your puppy is at increased risk if it has pink skin, white hair, or a thin puppy coat. But any puppy can suffer sunburn with excess exposure to hot sunlight.

Tips for avoiding sunburn for your puppy:

• Use sunscreen on the face, belly, and ears – sunscreen designed for dogs doesn’t contain zinc oxide.
• Shade – opt to play in the shade and ensure that shade is always available.
• Avoid the hottest parts of the day.

If your puppy becomes sunburnt, visit the vet as blisters and other sores may become infected; preventative measures avoid misery.

On days that are hot enough to burn, hard surfaces and sand heat up, and these can burn your puppy’s delicate feet through heat transfer on contact.

Before walking or playing with your puppy on a hot day, touch the ground; if it is too hot for you, it is too hot for your puppy.

If in doubt, wait until later.

4. How Do You Know If Your Puppy Is Lacking Sunlight?

When your puppy is feeling down and not sleeping well, it can be hard to decide if a lack of sunlight is the cause.

But if your puppy feels sad and is restless overnight, it is worth increasing the amount of time you spend outdoors.

Perhaps the entertainment value, more social time, and physical exercise alleviate the problem.

Still, it may be increased exposure to light with the serotonin and immune boost that your puppy needs to feel happier.

One indication that your puppy may not be getting enough sunlight is if its nose is pink or brown rather than the familiar black.

Although we don’t fully understand snow nose (temporary change in nose pigmentation in winter), one potential cause is a lack of exposure to sunlight.

In cold climates, the color change tends to be seasonal, and the nose color restores to black over the summer.

Labradors are a breed with a propensity to develop snow nose, but it can happen to any puppy.

5. How Much Sun Does Your Puppy Need?

The optimal amount of sunlight for your puppy depends on:

• Your puppy’s age.
• Breed.
• Where you live.

Newborn Puppies

Newborn puppies’ eyes open around ten to fourteen days after birth and are super sensitive to light.

Under four weeks old, your puppies need to be in a warm (but not too hot) dimly lit place.

These conditions mimic the natural dens of wolves and wild dogs, where the puppies stay hidden safely underground until it is safe to emerge into the light.

Older Puppies

Provided your puppy gets its bathroom and exercise breaks mainly outside, the average puppy gets all the daylight it needs.

It is best if your puppy gets some natural light in the morning, middle of the day, and late afternoon as this helps regulate the natural cycle of day and night.

Your puppy’s eyes are sensitive to the whole spectrum of light.

Although the impact of sunlight on the body is not fully understood, it is the balance of blue and red light that triggers body hormones.

Breeds

Breed characteristics may mean your puppy has:

• A thinner coat – feels the cold and is susceptible to sunburn.
• A thicker coat – gets too hot and is at risk of heat exhaustion.
• Pink skin – more at risk of sunburn.
• Dark skin – more resistant to sunburn with some natural protection.
• Flat nose – challenging to cool down in hot weather as these breeds can’t pant effectively.
• Coat color – white and paler shades are more at risk from sunburn.

Although some breeds like greyhounds and dalmatians are more at risk for sunburn, too much sun can give any puppy sunburn.

Most puppies have a thinner coat than adults and more delicate skin; you need to be extra careful monitoring your puppy’s exposure to sunlight.

Climate Considerations

The strength of sunlight and its capacity to burn depends on where you live and the season.

Areas near the equator give you a sunburn risk all year; locations closer to the arctic circle give you issues in getting enough daylight in winter.

Apply the same level of care and protection to your puppy as necessary for a young child. Puppies and children have similar responses to climate and need protection from heat, cold and excessive sunlight.

Is It OK for Your Puppy to Sleep in the Sun?

Most adult dogs will choose to sunbathe, get too hot, and move to a cooler spot. When they cool down, they move back into a hot spot.

Your puppy is still learning, some sleeping in the sun is healthy and feels great for your puppy, but you need to supervise in case your puppy doesn’t move into the shade.

The most delicate areas for your puppy are the nose, ears, and belly.

Some breeds, like a chihuahua, have soft skin over their entire body.

If your puppy is going to sleep for a few minutes in bright, hot sunlight, it is worth applying puppy-specific sunscreen before sunbathing.

You need a canine-specific sunscreen because regular sunscreen may contain zinc oxide, which is toxic for your puppy.

Napping in the garden is pleasant for your puppy, but be cautious if it is hot and be aware that high humidity increases the risk of heat exhaustion.

6. Safe Fun in the Sun

Your puppy needs a daily dose of sunlight, but plan your activities carefully to avoid issues.

Beach Trip

Your puppy will enjoy a family trip to the beach but remember:

• Sand can get very hot, and your puppy doesn’t wear shoes – be prepared to carry your puppy to a cooler spot near the water’s edge.
• Take plenty of water for your puppy to drink and wash away sand and salt.
• Your puppy needs shade for a refreshing nap; take a parasol or a beach tent as your chosen beach may not have natural shade.
• Playing in the sea is fun, but water washes away the sunscreen.

Water Games

Your puppy may enjoy a sprinkler shower or splash around in a paddling pool.

Most puppies enjoy playing with water on hot days, and you can get puppy toys featuring water or playing in the water.

Keep your puppy within its depth (teach your puppy to swim), and remember that some breeds don’t like to swim but are comfortable with shallow water.

Cooling Treats

Your puppy may enjoy frozen watermelon chunks or ice cubes on a hot day. These are cooling treats that rehydrate and provide fun outdoors, chasing them around.

You can buy a cooling mat for your puppy or try a DIY version by soaking a towel in cold water.

Inside or out, ensure your puppy has a cool spot when the heat gets too much.

Avoid Getting Hot and Bothered

You may need to switch your walks to early morning and late evening when the temperature rises to avoid overheating on hard surfaces.

Plus, it is best to avoid activities that get your puppy hot – like running and chasing in the hottest parts of the day, because your puppy finds it hard to cool down.

7. Can Your Puppy Get SAD in Winter?

Your puppy’s brain works (chemically speaking) the same as yours, so conditions that give rise to SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) affect you and the puppy.

You can beat back the winter blues when the days are short and the nights are long by:

• Getting out more during daylight hours – if you can’t go for a lunchtime walk, consider a puppy walker to ensure your puppy gets a daily dose of sunlight.
• Boost your mood because your pup will pick up on your emotions if you are feeling down.
• Add foods rich in tryptophan to your puppy’s diet – fish, poultry, and eggs. Tryptophan allows the brain to synthesize serotonin and improve your puppy’s mood.
• Play more games and be social with your puppy – when it’s cold, dark, and wet outside, it’s better to play inside.
• Maximize natural light in the home by opening curtains while it is light outside.

If you live in an area where you can get the winter blues, your puppy may get SAD because of reduced sunlight.

Conclusion

Sunshine makes everyone happy, and your puppy will love playing outside in sunny weather.

You need to be mindful of sun exposure and overheating, but careful management reduces risks. If you have a puppy potentially susceptible to sunburn, consult your vet and use sunscreen.

Remember to apply the puppy’s sunscreen before switching to applying yours because your sunscreen probably contains zinc oxide.

Summer sun allows you to enjoy water games and makes walking and exploring more fun for you and your pup.