Can a Bichon Frise Get Sunburn? -

You might think that the Bichon Frise, with its unique, thick, insulating coat, doesn’t get much of a chance to absorb the sun’s rays.

After all, most Bichon Frises spend their Summers panting in a shady spot, or they go back into the house after only a few minutes of play.

So, can a Bichon Frise get sunburn? Or does their amazing fluffy coat protect them? These are just some of the questions we’ll be answering in this post:

What kind of coat does a Bichon Frise have?

Did you know that the Bichon Frise has an amazing and unique type of coat called a double coat?

This means that the breed has a dense undercoat that merges with their more noticeable coarse white outer coat to form that distinguishing puffy Bichon look.

You probably brush your double-coated Bichon Frise all the time and have by now noticed that your fluffball’s fur completely masks the dog’s skin most of the time.

However, a Bichon Frise’s white fur doesn’t actually protect their skin from the sun at all, even if it shields it a little.

BICHON FRISE PET INSURANCE

Injuries
Surgeries
Cancer
Prescribed Medications
Annual Checkups

LEARN MORE HERE

What kind of skin does a Bichon Frise have?

So, the Bichon Frise’s extremely fluffy fur often completely hides their skin from your view. What does a Bichon Frise’s skin look like, then, underneath all the fluff? And is it sensitive to the sun?

Well, a Bichon Frise’s skin is typically largely pink. However, it is just as common for a Bichon Frise to have pigment on part or all of their skin. This pigment is just like the dark coloring you might notice around one or both of your Bichon Frise’s eyes.

If your Bichon Frise was born with pigment on some or even all of their skin, this is something that will greatly help to protect your Bichon Frise from developing sunburn and even skin cancer, throughout their life.

But if your Bichon Frise has mainly lighter pink skin, this is something that puts your pooch more at risk of quickly developing sunburn.

Either way, if you want to prevent sunburn in your Bichon Frise, you may like to think about investing in a good quality bottle of canine-specific sunscreen, to optimally protect that sensitive Bichon skin when you’re out together on a hike in the sun all day.

The best canine-specific sunscreen

[amazon table=”2107″]

Should I shave my Bichon Frise in Summer?

As one of the more brachycephalic, flat-faced dog breeds, you probably notice your Bichon Frise quickly beginning to struggle with the heat in the Summer.

Almost immediately after setting foot outside, your Bichon Frise probably lies down and begins to pant. You may notice your pooch beginning to drink water more frequently or lie down in the nearest puddle.

When they are struggling with the heat so much, you are probably tempted to give your Bichon Frise’s thick, downy coat a bit of a trim, or even shave it off completely! But should you? To what extent is doing this a good idea?

As we previously touched upon, your Bichon Frise does have a certain amount of natural protection from the sun’s rays if they turn out to have a lot of dark pigmentation on their skin.

But whether your Bichon Frise has highly pigmented skin or not, completely shaving their coat is going to remove a lot of your Bichon Frise’s natural protection against sunburn.

But shaving your Bichon Frise, whether partially or completely, is always worth doing if it helps to cool your pooch down. Therefore, if you do go ahead and shave your Bichon Frise, it is imperative that you then provide them with more shelter.

Try placing your Bichon Frise’s bed or mat near a large tree, or by a shady fence. But if you can’t find any long-lasting shady spots like this, why not consider a shaded dog bed or tent? You could cover the top of their crate with an old blanket too.

Best shaded dog beds

[amazon table=”2110″]

Can a Bichon Frise get sunburnt in Winter?

You might think that with less sunny weather and thicker fur, your Bichon Frise would be at much less risk of getting sunburn in Winter, right? But how true is this?

With less shelter around from bare trees and the sun being very low in a cloudless sky on the days it is out, your Bichon Frise is actually still at a pretty high risk of getting sunburn if your pooch spends long periods outside chilling out, even in Winter!

In fact, even if your Bichon Frise spent the entire day indoors, this pearl white-coated dog could still get quite badly burnt if they decided to settle down on the windowsill all day or on the back of the couch.

So, what can you do about this? What are some ways you can help prevent your Bichon Frise from getting burnt in Winter?

If you’re going out for a long walk in the snow or cool weather, why not have your Bichon Frise wear a UV proof coat?

It may seem like a shame to cover up your Bichon Frise’s naturally gorgeous fluffy fur, but a dog coat does have the added benefit of keeping your pooch warm and dry and keeping the dog’s coat in clean, pristine condition for when they are back indoors.

Can I put sunscreen on my Bichon Frise?

Many people wear sunscreen all the time, all year round. After all, it is one of the best and easiest things you can do for your skin’s health. But when it comes to your Bichon Frise, is it actually safe to use sunscreen intended for humans on your pooch?

Well, yes and no. One of the main ingredients you absolutely need to avoid, in a sunscreen you intend to use on your Bichon Frise, is zinc oxide, an ingredient that is found in many human cosmetics, but which causes anemia and toxicity in dogs.

As well as this, there’s also the ingredient para-aminobenzoic acid, or PABA, an acid that’s also regarded as being toxic to canines. You should also be on the lookout against the sunscreen having any artificial scents, just like with dog-toxic candles or air fresheners.

You may find that it is more common for a sunscreen intended for children to fulfill these criteria, so go for one of these if you can’t swing by the pet store before a Summer hike or picnic with your Bichon Frise, obviously checking the ingredients first as aforementioned.

These days, there are some great sunscreens on the market that have been developed especially for pets! These should be much more trustworthy.

If you want a good, effective FDA-approved sunscreen, why not go for the highly recommended Epi-Pet Sun Protector Spray for Pets? This is a sunscreen that is still supposed to be safe for your Bichon Frise even if they lick a little off.

Or, check with your vet to find a sunscreen that makes the best solution for your Bichon Frise.

Whatever you choose, watch your Bichon Frise, like a hawk, to make sure they don’t just start licking all of this new, unfamiliar substance off. Even pet-intended sunscreens are not supposed to be ingested, especially not in large quantities.

And always, as with all substances that are new to your Bichon Frise’s skin, be sure to test a little of your chosen sunscreen on a small area of your Bichon’s body for skin irritation, or an allergic reaction.

Even the most innocuous of substances can cause a surprisingly bad reaction.

For more about Bichon Frise see my other articles below

By Michelle McDaid