I have 2 nearly white dogs at the Sanctuary at the moment and what really strikes me as odd is the fact that they drink a lot less then their darker counterparts. They are both healthy etc, but they drink 50% less than the other dogs. Anybody else out there who has a comparison?

Taylor

Only thing I can think of Taylor is if they are eating diff, foods to the others?
Christine, Spain.

No, all my dogs BARF, no exception. Could it be that they don't get so *hot* as they have white fur which reflects rather than absorbs the light?

Taylor - puzzled

That was my next thought :) Only, I can understand that theory in warm weather but isn`t it a bit cold at the moment for that to work????
Christine, Spain.
PS hows the little one with the skin prob doing?

Nay, we have 30 degrees and the palmtrees sweat :D. In earnest, it has been fairly warm and sunny these past few days. Hazel is doing fine, between your Aloe and Mr. Murphy's tipp it seems to get better. But I reserve judgment until the end of next week. Just in case ;).

Taylor

Well in that case I go with the white doesn`t absorb heat theory! At the mo I have a very very pale elderly retriever staying & he is drinking hardly anything (raw fed) & I was actually thinking just last night if I should try to tempt him to drink a bit more & the theory did flash thru my mind. We had glorious day yesterday, now it`s bucketing down with thunder, know who`s nicked our sunshine now don`t we?? :)
Say no more about H then, know what you mean!
Christine, Spain.

Hi, i've got westies, and when I think of it, they really don't drink a lot, it can vary, I always have water down for them, but the pup just loves playing in the bowl and upturning it, water everywhere. MIne are fed part barf diet, I dont give the bones but are on raw tripe and minced chicken with vitamins.

Taylor, when I was breeding persian cats, I always had to be very careful of ears and noses in the sun and would use sunblock in the summer - it did look comical to see these cats with green or pink ears and noses - rather like cricketers - but the problem of skin cancer from the sun is a serious one with light coloured cats - and I should imagine that the same would apply to white dogs as well, IMO.

Regards

Margot

Sorry - should have said White persians!!

I've heard on TV that only humans and pigs get sunburnt.....tosh! Dalmatians love to lie in the sun and toast...many's the time I've had to dab calamine lotion on an overexposed canine tummy. I imagine other pale-skinned animals are the same.

Fat chance of getting a sunburn in Ireland :D. But I know where you are coming from, I had an albinohorse once and she sun burnt. I just think it's strange that they don't drink half as much as the others at the same exercise and health level. Hm.

Taylor

I got sunburnt five years ago in the sunny Irish Midlands Taylor :)

HarHar, but you are IRISH :D. I still look like cottage cheese when my neighbour has sunburnt ears :D.

Taylor