UV radiation in Central Europe has increased unexpectedly sharply in recent decades. This is primarily due to climate change and changes in cloud cover. Sunburn is a serious issue—and not just for us humans. UV radiation also causes skin damage in animals.
When animals with light-colored fur and skin are exposed to the sun, there is a risk of sunburn. In dogs and outdoor cats, for example, this can occur on the white edges of the ears and on the nose. Many animals also enjoy lying on their backs and letting the sun shine on their bellies. However, because the fur on the belly is not as thick as on the back, sunburn can develop quickly. Hairless cats or dogs are affected throughout their entire bodies due to the complete lack of fur protection (see the article on cruel breeding practices).
Horses, too, can develop sunburn—sometimes severe—when grazing or spending extended periods outdoors on sunny days. The areas most commonly affected are those on the face that are lightly pigmented and have little hair, such as the white skin around the nostrils and eyes.
Intense UV radiation—more specifically, high-energy UV-B rays—leads to solar dermatitis (i.e., skin inflammation), commonly known as sunburn. As in humans, this is accompanied by redness and scabbing, and in some cases, blisters. It resembles a burn.
In addition, UV-B rays cause mutations in skin cells that can lead to the development of skin tumors (see related article). Premature aging of the skin, characterized by thinning and a parchment-like texture, is rare in animals but does occur.
Wild horses also exhibit light coat colors and white markings. Although they live primarily in steppe regions, they are not particularly sensitive to sunlight. Studies suggest that feeding wheat and alfalfa can cause photosensitization (i.e., hypersensitivity of the skin to UV light) and thus increase the risk of sun damage. Since many commercial feeds contain wheat or wheat products as well as alfalfa, there may be a link to photosensitization in our domestic horses. Herbs, such as St. John’s wort—which grows in pastures and hayfields—are also known for their photosensitizing effects.
To soothe the skin after a mild sunburn, you can use after-sun lotions for sensitive skin or calendula ointment. For more severe sun damage, use aloe vera gel or quark. Both have a cooling effect, which draws heat away from the sunburn and thus prevents further, deeper damage to the skin. Also, make sure to keep your pet in a shady, cool place. To compensate for fluid loss from the skin, it’s important to provide your animal with plenty of water. The affected area of skin should not be exposed to the sun until the sunburn has healed.
In cases of severe burns accompanied by fever—which can occur particularly in fair-skinned foals or young horses—fluid replacement via IV may be necessary, or, in severe cases, intensive care at a veterinary clinic may be required.
On sunny days, apply sunscreen with a high SPF to your horse’s vulnerable, lightly pigmented, and sparsely haired areas before any time spent outdoors. There are now special products available specifically for animals.
You can also protect your horse’s head from sunburn with a fly mask that extends over the nostrils and offers UV protection. Or, on sunny days, only let your horse out into the pasture or paddock during the night. Also, check your horse’s diet for wheat, alfalfa, and herbs such as St. John’s wort, and adjust the feed if necessary.
In the garden, on the patio, or on the balcony, your pets need sun protection such as an umbrella or a sunshade. The best sources of shade in the garden are dense trees and bushes. If your cat has sunburn, consider allowing it to go outside only at night during the summer. For dogs with very short coats or those that have been clipped for the summer, there are special sun-protective dog T-shirts. When the sun is strong, it’s best to take your dog for a walk in a shady forest. That’s more pleasant in the heat anyway—for both you and your dog.
Diabetes insipidus is a hormonal disorder in which the kidneys excrete excessive amounts of water. This results in the production of large volumes of very watery urine, often several liters a day. The loss of water causes intense thirst, leading affected animals to drink extremely large amounts of water.
Pyelonephritis (inflammation of the renal pelvis) is a bacterial infection of the renal pelvis that involves the kidney tissue. It is usually caused by bacteria that travel up through the urinary tract into the kidney. For this reason, it is usually accompanied by inflammation of the ureter and the bladder. In rare cases, pathogens reach the kidneys via the lymphatic system or the bloodstream, leading to what is known as excretory nephritis.
An ectopic ureter is a congenital malformation in which the ureter does not empty into the bladder as it should, but instead empties into another location, such as the bladder neck, the urethra, the vagina, or the uterus. Affected dogs cannot voluntarily control urination and experience continuous dribbling.
Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of heart rhythm disorder. It occurs when uncontrolled electrical impulses are generated in the atria. The atria no longer contract rhythmically, the heart rate increases, and a condition known as fibrillation develops.
Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is one of the most common heart diseases in dogs. It involves dilation (enlargement) of the left ventricle or both ventricles, along with a reduction in the heart muscle’s ability to contract.
Zoonoses are infectious diseases that can be transmitted naturally from animals to humans. They pose a health risk, especially for children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. However, zoonoses can be transmitted not only from animals to humans, but also vice versa, from humans to animals.
Infection with Angiostrongylus vasorum was first described in the 19th century in southern France, which is where the name “French heartworm” comes from. It commonly affects foxes and, less frequently, dogs, and is transmitted through the ingestion of snails. In Germany, French heartworm has only recently come under increased scrutiny, as the consequences of infection can be severe.
