Barkes Corner: 07 543 0026 | Brookfield Vets: 07 576 1818
Slip, Slop, Slap and Wrap
SLIP, SLOP, SLAP AND WRAP
It's summertime, summer holidays, summer sun and… summer skin. We need to be mindful of our animals as well as ourselves (not forgetting slip, slop, slap).
White areas on our animals are susceptible to sun damage just as our own skin is. Particular areas affected are eyes, especially the eyelids with bovines (all white faces) prone to eyelid tumours. Noses in white cats and collie type dogs with a pink or white spot on the end, white or predominantly white dogs with pigmentary light areas often on the abdomen.
There is a good range of sun blocks and filters available for these areas and if this is impractical then consider confining to shaded areas during the heat of the day and letting out in the evening. Remember that white reflects heat while black absorbs heat so a predominantly white animal can be cool lying out in the full sun while a black animal will be hot even in the shade. Writing of heat reminds me about heat stress or hypothermia. Dark coated animals particularly working dogs, eg pig or farm dogs, are very prone to this. Young keen dogs will suffer first because they do not know when to stop.
Try to exercise work animals in the cooler morning or evening conditions. Always carry water in the car-even when going to the beach and a location device on collars can allow distant working dogs to be tracked down more quickly.
Go Back to Peter's Corner
White areas on our animals are susceptible to sun damage just as our own skin is. Particular areas affected are eyes, especially the eyelids with bovines (all white faces) prone to eyelid tumours. Noses in white cats and collie type dogs with a pink or white spot on the end, white or predominantly white dogs with pigmentary light areas often on the abdomen.
There is a good range of sun blocks and filters available for these areas and if this is impractical then consider confining to shaded areas during the heat of the day and letting out in the evening. Remember that white reflects heat while black absorbs heat so a predominantly white animal can be cool lying out in the full sun while a black animal will be hot even in the shade. Writing of heat reminds me about heat stress or hypothermia. Dark coated animals particularly working dogs, eg pig or farm dogs, are very prone to this. Young keen dogs will suffer first because they do not know when to stop.
Try to exercise work animals in the cooler morning or evening conditions. Always carry water in the car-even when going to the beach and a location device on collars can allow distant working dogs to be tracked down more quickly.
Brookfield Vets
Brookfield Shopping Centre
Otumoetai Road, Tauranga
(07) 576 1818
