The answer is yes. I have seen dogs that were suffering from skin cancers. Their fur acts as physical sunblock but there are some areas that are exposing their vulnerable skin.
There was this lady who LOVES the sun. She kept getting skin cancers...non stop! Some are simple ones like BCC (Basal Cell Carcinoma) which requires simple procedures. Some are as serious as melanoma - most harmful form of skin cancer.
One bright summer day - years ago, I was at a cafe with my partner then and the only tables available were outside. I tried to pick the one that was covered with some shade opposed to the ones with the full sun.
Then this lady comes with her dog and sits down next to us. We did not notice each other straight away. Then this lady stands up from her chair and speaks to her dog,
We're not getting enough sun here, are we?
Then she moves to the other side of her table where abundant direct sun is hitting on!
I could not believe what I was hearing so I looked to my right and ah huh!
XXX! (her name) This is why you & your dog keep getting skin cancers!
She was like "Oh~ hiiii Yuriko! :)))"
She loved her dog more than anything but unfortunately her dog died. I don't know the exact cause but the last time I saw that little dog, she was covered with skin cancers. Because of the breed, the dog only had short white hair and some of her pink skin was exposing.
So what can you do? It is really the same as human's sun protections.
But human sunscreen may not be suitable for your fur babies so I use doggy sunscreen like this.
I put this on their noses - they would lick it away though...!
Now my puppies and I can enjoy the sun together!
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