Should you apply sunscreen to your dog?

If anyone has ever read any of my blogs, I do have other interests besides politics and health/fitness. My absolute passion is animals, more specifically, dogs.
I have had dogs all of my life. I grew up with a Collie, a Schipperke, a Dalmatian, a Labrador,a multitude of Heinz 57 aka Mutt, and most recently a Beagle named Chula. People always ask me questions about their dogs concerning eating habits, exercise, allergies, and overall behavioral issues.
Recently, a friend of my husband asked a question about whether or not they should apply sunscreen to their dog. In short, yes, you should. Every dog should have sunscreen applied to the area closest to and upon their nose. Dogs that have brown or pinkish nose colors are most susceptible to a sunburn, but all dogs run the risk. Personally, my Beagle has a mostly white muzzle and that area is particularly subject to sun damage. She does not normally spend time in the sun for long periods of time, but if your dog does, no matter the breed, sunscreen should be applied.
If your dog has more lightly colored hair, or it's coat is sparse in nature, similar to that of a Pitt Bull, then a spray on sunscreen should be applied to the entire body as there is less of a buffer between the skin and the sun. If you have an albino dog, or a dog that is mostly white in color then it is IMPERATIVE that you apply sunscreen to your friend if you plan on spending more than fifteen minutes or more in the sun. The white hair provides nearly zero protection from the sun and your pet is far more prone to skin cancer because of this. The best correlation I can provide is that of a fair skinned human. No matter what, a very fair skinned individual cannot tan and yes, a dog can get a severe sunburn, which if you have ever had one, is extremely uncomfortable and there is no way to  explain the discomfort to a dog.
If your dog does indeed get a sunburn, the ONLY pain reliever that a dog can metabolize is aspirin. As in humans, if you see that your dog does shows signs of a sunburn, aspirin should e administered right away. It draws away the inflammation and immediately counteracts the pain (to a certain degree.) The dosage depends on the size of your dog.
My Beagle, Chula, weighs around thirty pounds. When she experiences pain, I provide her with a baby aspirin which I believe is 81 mg or so. If you have a Chihuahua or a breed that weighs 10 lbs or less, break it in half. If your dog is 100 plus pounds, consider giving them two or three baby aspirin, depending on size. Additionally, if your dog does indeed have a sunburn, utilize the common human antidotes such as Aloe Vera  straight from the plant or a concentrated gel and apply it generously every three to four hours until the pain appears to subside or peeling begins.
It is imperative, especially during the Summer months that we put the same amount of effort in preventing sunburn into our pets as we do our human family. PLEASE, remember, the ONLY pain reliever that a dog can digest and metabolize is ASPIRIN, nothing else.
So, if you are going to spend time with your canine in the sun for a few hours or more, it is essential that you apply sunscreen to areas that are susceptible to the sun's rays, such as the nose and the stomach.
Stay tuned for more dog tips and info.

Cheers