We all love the feeling of the winter sun on our faces. With the cooler months rolling through, now is the perfect time to learn about sun protection for dogs during the Australian winter. 

Knowing about UV is important for people and dogs living under the Australian sun. It's widely recognised that we have one of the highest levels of UV exposure and highest rates of skin cancer in the world.

Sun damage is caused by ultraviolet (UV) radiation, not temperature. It's true, UV levels do change throughout the year in line with the seasons, but in many parts of Australia UV levels are 3 or above right through the winter months. That's when you and your pup need to be sun safe.

Taking your dog for a walk along the beach is the perfect way to warm up in winter. Not only is it great for your mental health (we love Hallie Gould's article on the Health benefits of going to the beach), your pup will love smelling the salty air and feeling the sand between their paws.

In addition to the direct UV from the sun, did you know you and your pup will get an extra 20 per cent of UV reflected from the dry sand? Quality sun protective clothing for dogs can help to protect your pup's belly from this kind of indirect UV. 

You can't see or feel UV radiation, so be a #sunsafesnoot and stay informed about UV levels for your local area. They're included in your local Bureau weather forecast and the BOM Weather app. You can also use the free SunSmart app to view sun protection times and current UV levels! 🏄‍♂️

Invest in premium sun protection for your dog year round! It's easy to slip on one of our certified UPF 50+ dog rashies and slop on some pup-friendly sunscreen for sun safe winter adventures ☀️ Our new season Wild Flower and Tropical Paradise rashies will take you back to those balmy summer days. 

We thank and acknowledge the information sources used in preparing this article for our Snoot Community:

www.cancercouncil.com.au

www.bom.gov.au