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Introduction
Last month, we went to the beach for the weekend. Max is a white Lab, right? He has that thin white fur, and his nose and ears are always pink, no fur to protect them. Last time we went to the beach, he got sunburned. His nose turned bright red, and he was in pain for three days, he wouldn’t let me touch it, he kept rubbing it on the couch. I felt so bad, I had no idea dogs could get sunburned that bad.
I tried to use my own sunscreen, but the vet told me not to. Human sunscreen has zinc oxide, which is toxic if dogs lick it. And Max licks everything, right? He would have licked it off immediately, and gotten sick. That’s when I found the Gentle Creatures Dog Sunscreen. It was SPF 30, it said it was safe for dogs, no zinc oxide, so even if he licked it, it wouldn’t hurt him. I ordered it immediately, because I was desperate to keep him from getting burned again. After using it for a month, I put together this full Gentle Creatures Dog Sunscreen review to share everything I learned, the good, the bad, and the annoying little things that no one tells you about.
Gentle Creatures Dog Sunscreen: A Gentle Creatures Dog Sunscreen Review of Its Protection
So, what is this stuff, anyway? It’s sunscreen, specifically for pets, right? It has SPF 30+, which is enough to block the sun’s harmful rays, right? It doesn’t have zinc oxide, or PABA, which are the things that are toxic to dogs, if they lick them. That’s the big thing, right? Because dogs lick everything, so you can’t use regular sunscreen.
It has vitamin E, and olive oil, and aloe vera, too, so it moisturizes their skin, not just protects it. It’s supposed to be good for their nose, their ears, their belly, all those places where they have thin fur, or no fur at all, that get sunburned easily. It works for cats, too, not just dogs, which is nice, if you have a cat that likes to lay in the sun.
It’s 4 ounces, which is a good size, right? And it’s only $16.75, which is cheap, compared to the other dog sunscreens that are $30 or $40. I thought that was a steal.
My Story: Putting Gentle Creatures Dog Sunscreen to the Test
When the bottle arrived, I was so excited. I opened it up, and it smelled like pineapple, honestly. Not too strong, not like chemical sunscreen, just a little sweet, fruity smell. That was nice, I thought. I squeezed a little bit on my hand, and it was a lotion, right? It was white, and it was a little thick.
I rubbed it on Max’s nose, his ears, and his belly, because his belly has no fur, right? That’s the place that gets burned the worst. The instructions said to wait 20 minutes before going out in the sun, so I waited, and then we headed to the beach.
We spent 4 hours out there, running around, playing in the water, laying in the sun. And when we got home? His nose wasn’t red! His ears weren’t red! No sunburn! I was so happy! I couldn’t believe it, it worked! He didn’t get burned, at all. That was the whole reason I bought it, and it worked perfectly.
But then, I noticed something. The lotion was so greasy. Oh my god, it was so greasy. His fur was all oily, and it was covered in sand. The sand stuck to the lotion, all over his belly, all over his ears, even his nose. I had to give him a bath, and it took me 20 minutes to get all the sand and the grease off. That was so annoying! I was covered in grease, too, because I had to rub it on him. My hands were greasy for hours.
And then, the expiration date. I looked at the bottle, and it expired in 4 months. 4 months! I just bought it! I had no idea, it was sitting on the shelf for so long, that it was almost expired. I can’t use 4 ounces of sunscreen in 4 months, that’s impossible. I’m not going to the beach every single day. So by the time I use it up, it’s going to be expired. That’s so stupid! Why would they sell me something that’s almost expired?
Also, if Max licks it, it comes off. I had to reapply it every 2 hours, because he would lick his nose, and lick the lotion off. And if he went in the water, it washed right off. So I had to bring the bottle with me, and reapply it, over and over. That was a hassle, because I had to stop playing, and rub the greasy lotion on him, again.
But the best part? He licked it, a lot, and he didn’t get sick. No diarrhea, no vomiting, nothing. That was the biggest worry I had, right? I was scared he would lick it, and get poisoned, but nothing happened. It was safe, just like they said.
What I Liked and What I Didn’t Like About Gentle Creatures Dog Sunscreen
After using this for a month, I’ve gone through all the pros and cons, and I checked out hundreds of other reviews to make sure I wasn’t the only one with these experiences.
What I Liked
- It stopped the sunburn: That first weekend at the beach, he didn’t get burned at all. His nose and ears stayed pink, no redness, no pain. That was the whole reason I bought it, and it worked perfectly.
- It’s safe if he licks it: He licks his nose all the time, he licked the lotion off, and he didn’t get sick. No diarrhea, no vomiting, nothing. That’s such a relief, because I was so worried about poisoning.
- It moisturizes his skin: The vitamin E and aloe vera, they made his skin soft, his dry nose went away. It’s not just sunscreen, it’s a moisturizer, too.
- It works for cats, too: My friend has a cat that likes to lay in the window, and she uses it for her cat, and it works, too. It’s not just for dogs.
- It’s cheap: $16.75 is nothing, compared to the other dog sunscreens that are $40 or $50. Even if it only lasts a few months, it’s worth it.
What I Didn’t Like
- It’s so greasy: Oh my god, it’s so greasy. It sticks to his fur, it sticks to sand, it sticks to my hands. It took me 20 minutes to wash it off after the beach. That’s the biggest problem, honestly.
- The expiration date is way too soon: A lot of people, including me, got bottles that were almost expired. I only had 4 months left, which is not enough time to use the whole bottle.
- You have to reapply it all the time: If your dog licks it, or goes in the water, it comes right off. You have to reapply it every 2 hours, which is a hassle.
- It’s not waterproof: If your dog goes swimming, it washes right off. So if you’re going to the lake, or the beach, you have to reapply it after they swim.
- It’s a little runny? No, wait, it’s thick, but it doesn’t absorb well: It sits on top of the skin, which is why it’s so greasy. It doesn’t absorb into the skin, like human sunscreen does.
Is Gentle Creatures Dog Sunscreen Right for Your Dog?
So, is this thing right for you? Well, that depends. If you have a light-colored dog, or a dog with thin fur, or a dog that gets sunburned easily, and you’re just going to the park, or the backyard, for a few hours? Then yeah, this is perfect. It works, it’s safe, it’s cheap. It’s exactly what you need.
But if you’re going to the beach, or the lake, for the whole day? Then it’s a little bit of a hassle, because you have to reapply it all the time, and it gets all greasy and covered in sand.
And if you don’t use sunscreen that often? Then the expiration date is a problem, because you’ll never use the whole bottle before it expires.
Also, if your dog has really sensitive skin? Be careful, a few people said their dogs had an allergic reaction, their skin got red. But most people, it worked fine.
Common Questions About Gentle Creatures Dog Sunscreen
I got so many questions from my friends after I posted about this, so I wanted to answer the most common ones here.
Can I use human sunscreen on my dog?
No! Human sunscreen has zinc oxide, which is toxic if your dog licks it. It can make them really sick, even cause anemia. This one is safe, no zinc oxide, so even if they lick it, it’s fine.
Does this work for cats?
Yeah! A lot of people use it for their cats, too. It works the same way, protects their skin, and it’s safe if they lick it.
How often do I have to reapply it?
Every 2 hours, or after your dog swims, or licks it a lot. Because it comes off easily, so you have to put it on again.
Is this greasy?
Yeah, it’s really greasy. It doesn’t absorb into the skin, so it sits on top, and it sticks to sand, and dirt, and everything. It’s not a big deal if you’re just in the backyard, but if you’re at the beach, it’s a hassle.
My Top Takeaways on Gentle Creatures Dog Sunscreen
At the end of the day, this stuff works. It really does. It stopped Max from getting sunburned, which was the whole reason I bought it. It’s safe, even if he licks it, which is such a relief. The moisturizing part was great, too, his dry nose went away.
It has a lot of flaws, though. The grease, the expiration date, the having to reapply it all the time. It’s not perfect, but it’s better than nothing.
The first weekend, before I figured out that I had to reapply it, it worked perfectly. Once I realized that, it was fine, I just brought the bottle with me, and reapplied it when we got out of the water. And the cleaning part? It was worth it, because he didn’t get burned.
It’s not a long-term solution, it’s not a professional sunscreen, but it’s a great way to get through the summer, to keep your dog from getting burned. If you’re like me, and you were completely desperate to stop your dog from getting sunburned, this is a great way to do it.
Final Thoughts on Gentle Creatures Dog Sunscreen
All in all, the Gentle Creatures Dog Sunscreen has been great. It solved my biggest problem—Max getting sunburned at the beach—and it came with a few annoying little problems, but nothing that was a dealbreaker. The grease, the expiration date, the having to reapply it, it’s all a little much for $16, but honestly, it’s still cheaper than the other options.
If you’re dealing with the same thing, your dog getting sunburned, and you’re worried about using human sunscreen? It’s worth it. Just be careful, check the expiration date when you get it, and bring the bottle with you, so you can reapply it.
If you’re interested in trying it out, you can check it out here: Check Price on Amazon
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A Quick Disclaimer
I’m not a vet or professional trainer. This is just my personal experience.