Sunscreen for Pets?

Cancer is a disease that affects man and his best friends, his dog, and cat. According to the American Veterinary Medical Foundation, it is the number one natural cause of death in our companion animals. Skin cancer is only one of many types that can occur.

Skin cancers arise for many reasons. Though pets do not normally sun bathe, they can suffer the effects of the sun's damaging rays. Light colored areas on a pets' body, especially on its ears and nose are particularly prone to sun induced squamous cell carcinoma. You may first only notice a reddened area or a small wound that heals only to bleed and scab over again. The lesion may have been present for an extended period of time and suddenly start to grow.

Other types of tumors on the skin can be small wart like masses, to large expansive ones. The color and location are not indicators of the potential danger. Here are some of the warning signs:
1. Lumps or bumps that grow in size, especially very suddenly.
2. Wounds that do not heal.
3. Unexplained weight loss.
4. Loss of conditioning or vitality.

Early detection is the key to a successful outcome. . If you notice any of these problems bring it to the attention of your veterinarian, because it is "Your Pet…Health Matters".