Danger Dog Exposure to Topical Creams

[F, Calla & Luca]

I saw this reference on another site today. I thought it was important to share here.
Hormone replacement skin products affect users’ pets, confound veterinarians

I sometimes get concerned about my doodles licking my skin after I've used sunscreen or mosquito repellent. I think we all need to be aware of what we use on ourselves, as well as in our homes and yards.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Like you, I share the same concern. As a result, I am now walking around with "alligator legs". Since Murphy I have not used any moisturizer on my legs (or anywhere else on my body). He is a big time "licker". He licks me dry every day as I get out of the shower.....I swear it's the highlight of his day. Throughout the day he continues to lick me....but he especially loves my legs. I am so paranoid that I'm afraid to moisturize. Every few weeks I have a pedicure, and they load me up with moisturizer. When I come home I won't let him near me until I wipe my legs with baby wipes. It's so funny, because this is just another one of those "pre Doodle" things that used to be really important to me....now I could care less. Interesting how our Doodles influence our priorities. The sunscreen is a different story though. I haven't been in the sun enough to have it be a big concern since we got Murphy, but as we spend more time at the beach I will have to use sunscreen. I'm definitely going to need to do some research. Has anyone found sunscreens that are "pet safe"?

[F, Calla & Luca]

I doubt there are any or studies about it.

[LG & Sadie]

Love the part about the shift in priorities! How true! Not sure about pet friendly sunscreens but I would bet they are out there! Perhaps the baby sunscreens might be researched thoroughly? I imagine babies would try to taste the sunscreen? I have no answers but just love the pre doodle reference! Smiles~

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I am concerned about sun screens causing problems with dogs. It just seems to me that if we aren't supposed to ingest it, neither should dogs. Yet they (whoever they are), say that light colored dogs need sunscreen or they will sunburn not even talking about licking it off of us.

[Leslie and Halas]

This link is a little off-topic, but it's a review of sunscreens, and it talks about certain ingredients to avoid. It doesn't specifically talk about anything being pet-friendly, as far as I can tell, but if certain ingredients are bad for us, they are probably bad for our dogs, too. It may at least help eliminate some brands.

http://www.ewg.org/2010sunscreen/

[Sharon, Boo & Cricket]

Wow, thanks so much for posting this article. I'm actually going to start using a hormone replacement cream in the next week or two, so the timing of this post couldn't be better. I'll make sure to be extra careful with it. And I'm going to print out this article and give it to my pharmacist/consultant so that she's aware of this risk. Maybe someone could crosspost this in the 50 Somethings group here on DK, since some ladies might find this relevant?

[Adina P]

I wonder about those dogs with major effects...did it take just a little lick now and then to do that to the dog? Or was it a case of a super licky dog?

[F, Calla & Luca]

I would think it was certainly a regular thing, in a place the cream was regularly applied, and not a once in a while lick.