Sunscreen for Dogs – Dangerous Ingredients to Avoid

sunscreen for dogs - dangerous ingredients to avoid
★ 4.0 min read
In this article:
  1. Is Your Dog's Sunscreen Protecting or Harming Your Dog's Health?
    1. Sunscreen Can Help Protect, But Only If You Choose Wisely 
    2. Toxic Products, Risks to Your Dog's Health
  2. List of Ingredients To Avoid in Sunscreen for Dogs
  3. Natural Sunscreen [and Sun Protection] Recommendations for Dogs

1.0 Is Your Dog's Sunscreen Protecting or Harming Your Dog's Health?

1.1 Sunscreen Can Help Protect, But Only If You Choose Wisely
 
 
Most made-for pet sunscreens (lotions, oils and sprays) sold at pet stores, veterinarian offices and on-line contain toxins and carcinogens. These health threatening ingredients end-up in your dog’s body in several ways.
  • Absorbed into the blood stream through the skin
  • Introduced to the digestive track when a dog licks his/her fur and skin
  • Inhaled when vapors from a spray application become airborne.
The health threat caused by ingesting and absorbing these substances will be accentuated if your dog is already carrying a substantial toxic load (acquired from for example - processed dry or wet dog food, off-the-shelf and prescription flea, tick, heart worm preventatives, toxin-laden grooming products such as commercial shampoo, conditioners and, toothpaste, dental chews, over-vaccination, etc.

In addition to causing internal health issues - some of the carcinogenic ingredients found in sunscreen disrupt and/or destroy the skin’s natural defenses and subsequently trigger melanoma and other skin cancers.
1.2 Toxic Products, Risks To Your Dog's Health
 
 
Making matters worse - pet sun screens can contain endocrine disrupting ingredients that alter hormone levels and block vitamin D producing UVB rays.  
  1. UVB rays enable health by supporting vitamin D production
  2. Low vitamin D levels are a major contributor to chronic health issues and cancer
  3. UVA rays (Not UVB rays) are responsible for causing skin damage
  4. UVA rays cause damage by penetrating deep into the layers of the skin and damaging the immune system. 
If the pet sunscreen you are using contains toxins, carcinogens and, blocks UVB rays - the risk to long-term health is further increased.

If you are already using (or are thinking of purchasing) a sun screen product for your dog, check the product label for a list of ingredients. 

If any of the substances listed below show-up on the ingredients list for the product you are using - toss the product in the garbage.  

If you cannot find a fully disclosed ingredient list for the product, throw the product in the garbage.

2.0 List of Ingredients to Avoid in Sunscreen for Dogs

 
ingredients to avoid in sunscreen for dogs
 
The items listed below are common ingredients in sunscreen products that can harm your dog's short term and long-term health and wellness.
 
Don’t purchase products that contain any of the substances listed below...
2.1 Artificial Colour
Artificial color is cancer-causing, its also a common allergen.  
Examples include:
  • Blue 1, 2, 4
  • Disperse blue 1
  • Green 1,2,3
  • Red 4, 9, 17, 19, 22, 33, 40
  • Yellow 5, 6, 8
  • Disperse yellow 3
Artificial colors are typically listed in one of the following formats:
  • D =&C
  • FD&C
  • FD&C Red No.6, etc.
2.2 Artificial Preservatives
 
Artificial and many 'natural' preservatives are carcinogenic, this includes mixed tocopherols from undisclosed sources, such as 'vitamin e' or 'mixed tocopherols made from GMO soy.
  • Learn more about GMO soy here. 
2.3 Fragrances and Perfume
  • All fragrances and perfumes are a source of toxins and carcinogens.  
2.4 Benzophenone or its Derivatives Benzophenone-2, Benzophenone-3 
These compounds damage health resulting in a range if issues including:
  • Anemia
  • Endocrine issues
  • Disruption of healthy cells leading growth issues, melanoma, other skin cancers. 
2.5 Diethanolamine (DEA) 
  • DEA is a carcinogen. 
2.6 DMDM Hydantoin
 
DMDM hydantoin is a formaldehyde derivative.
This toxic substance can cause a range of issues for your dog including:
  • Allergic response
  • Asthma
  • Cancer
  • Chest pain
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Depression
  • Dizziness
  • Ear infections
  • Immune system damage
2.7 Homosalate
  • Homosalate disrupts your dog's endocrine system, its also a carcinogen.
2.8 Padimate
  •  A carcinogenic substance.
2.9 Retinyl Palmitate 
 
Retinyl palmitate reacts with the sun. This reaction causes:
  • DNA damage to your dog's skin.
  • Increases risk of skin lesions and tumors.
2.10 Simethicone
Simethicone is an anti-foaming agent, its also harmful to your dog:
  • A common allergen.
  • Immune system damaging.
It can also cause:
  • Chest pain
  • Insomnia
  • Joint pain
2.11 Titanium Dioxide 
Titanium dioxide damages a dog's gut bacteria, leading to:
  • Gut Issues
  • Cancer 
  • Dementia
2.12 Triethanolamine (TEA)  
TEA may be used with, or without nitrate.
  • TEA is carcinogenic. 
2.13 Octyl Compounds
 Octyl dimethyl PABA 
  • Cancer causing. 
Octyl-methoxycinnamate (octinoxate) 
  • Endocrine damaging.
  • Cancer causing. 
Octyl-salicylates 
  • Cancer causing.
2.14 Oxybenzone
This compound can cause multiple issues for your dog, including:
  • Anemia.
  • Endocrine issues.
  • Growth supression. 
  • Melanoma and other skin cancers.
  • Photoallergic reactions. 
2.15 Salicylates 
  • Salicytes can cause and contribute to a range of health issues by disrupting your dog's endocrine system. 
  • Salicytes are also cancer causing. 

2.16 Zinc Oxide 
If your dog licks the sun screen off, ingesting the zinc oxide [in large amounts relative to your individual dog's tolerance] can lead to zinc toxicosis.

3.0 Natural Sun Screen [and Sun Protection] Recommendations For Dogs

natural sun screen and sun protection recommendations for dogs
I recommend you use natural sun screen and natural sun protection for your dog.
 
Learn about:
  1. Natural sun protection dietary support.
    1. Species appropriate fresh foods that help support your dog's natural sun protection system.
    2. How to include these foods in your dog's diet. 
  2. Natural topical sunscreen protection for dogs.
  3. Recipes to make your own simple, natural pet sun screen.
Go to this article. 
 
Holistic Diet, Nutrition, Wellness Services Tailored to Your Individual Dog and Cat
 
For information about my holistic diet, nutrition, wellness services visit my:
 
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For information about my holistic behavioral services visit my:
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To set-up your holistic behavioral session get in-touch via email:
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Article and graphics by Karen Rosenfeld

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