Why do dogs sunbathe so much?

Happy labrador breed dog

The dog is a furry that has the ability to surprise us day by day. It is a very intelligent animal capable of learning things on its own to achieve a goal, such as catching the ball and taking it to its human to throw it at him, but it also has some very curious behaviors such as sunbathing for hours.

The star king is a source of life and heat, so if you are wondering why do dogs sunbathe so much, do not stop reading.

What are the benefits of sunbathing for dogs?

Dog on the beach

The benefits of sunbathing for dogs are as follows:

Source of vitamin D

It is a fat-soluble vitamin essential for the development of bones and muscles because favors the absorption of calcium and phosphorus. Both humans and dogs get it through food, but also through the star king. Dogs, having their bodies covered in fur, lick themselves when they have been lying in the sun for a while since their hair prevents the vitamin from reaching the skin.

Improve your mood

The sunlight helps produce more serotonin, the hormone of happiness. This substance is responsible for maintaining a stable state of mind, so that when your dog has been enjoying the sun's rays for a while, he will feel happier.

Sleep better

The dog, when exposed to sunlight, can regulate your sleep cycles. The star king favors the segregation of melatonin, so that the furry gets a better rest.

Heat source

The sun is an invaluable source of heat for humans and dogs, especially those with short hair. Especially during the coldest months of the year there are some dogs that need to sunbathe a lot To feel good.

Relieves joint pain

Over time, the joints of dogs wear out. The arthritis, Osteoarthritis and other limb-related diseases tend to appear from eight to nine years of age. What's more, the skin becomes weaker so they become more sensitive to cold as the pain increases. To reduce the discomfort they look for a natural remedy, which in this case is the sun.

The heat received warms the skin, which relieves discomfort.

Is the sun good for dogs?

Dog in summer

Yes, without a doubt, but without overdoing it. If it is a dog that is in the growing season, an excess of vitamin D could cause excess calcium to accumulate, which could end up developing alterations in its teeth or affections to the skeletal or muscular nervous system. This does not mean that you cannot sunbathe, but that you simply have to avoid doing it for many hours a day.

On the other hand, if you have short, very short or white hair, you have to be careful as you could suffer burns from a very long exposure to sunlight.

What to do to avoid problems?

There are a series of measures that we must take to avoid unpleasantness, which are:

  • Let him fresh and clean water always available.
  • During the summer, refresh him putting on a damp towel as a bed or on top. If he likes water, cool him off with a hose or sprinkler.
  • Do not cut her hair excessively. Too short a coat will make the dog more vulnerable to UV rays.
  • Don't let it sunbathe during the central hours of the day
  • Put a protector solar for dogs.

How do you know if you have heat stroke?

Heat stroke can be caused by being in a very hot environment (for example, inside a car that has been parked in the sun), for exercising too much: from prolonged exposure to the sun. When a furry suffers one, you must act as quickly as possible; if this is not done, you could end up losing your life.

How do you know if your dog is suffering from heat stroke? The symptom are:

  • Tremors
  • Temperature above 42ºC
  • Vomiting
  • Difficulty keeping your balance
  • Blue tongue and skin from lack of oxygen
  • Excess salivation
  • Increased heart rate
  • Accelerated breathing

To help you, we recommend reading this article.

White dog puppy

Was it interesting for you? 🙂


Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked with *

*

*

  1. Responsible for the data: Miguel Ángel Gatón
  2. Purpose of the data: Control SPAM, comment management.
  3. Legitimation: Your consent
  4. Communication of the data: The data will not be communicated to third parties except by legal obligation.
  5. Data storage: Database hosted by Occentus Networks (EU)
  6. Rights: At any time you can limit, recover and delete your information.