Posted on June 10, 2010 by: WayCoolDogs

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Understanding how approaching solar storms may affect our dogs may soon become a reality for dog owners. The world’s top sun scientists have recently met to discuss the best ways to protect Earth’s vital systems and satellites from the dangerously erupting sunspots, sending out charged particles which are capable of damaging all power systems and influencing life on Earth.

“The sun is waking up from a deep slumber, and in the next few years we expect to see much higher levels of solar activity,” said Richard Fisher, head of NASA’s Heliophysics Division. “At the same time, our technological society has developed an unprecedented sensitivity to solar storms. The intersection of these two issues is what we’re getting together to discuss.” Fisher and other experts met at the Space Weather Enterprise Forum on Tuesday (June 8, 2010), which took place in Washington, D.C., at the National Press Club. (Yahoo)

With the sun coming out of a deep slumber period after its 11-years cycle, its active period is on the horizon for Earth and its inhabitants with the approaching solar storms.

A tricky and highly unpredictable situation, the year 2009 ended with a flurry of sunspots but the past few years have had a decrease in sunspot activity while the CO2 has increased combined with a slowdown in increased temperatures. It is predicted that the approaching  solar storm will be 50% to 60% stronger than the previous one,  peaking around 2012.

Sensing the magnetic field of solar storms

In 1957 it was proven by Hans Fromme, a researcher at the Frankfurt Zoological Institute in Germany, that animals can tap into the magnetic field of Earth – bacteria, spiny lobsters, rainbow trout, sparrows, hamsters, and salamanders. “There’s no scientific evidence that humans have this “sixth sense,” though curiously, our brains do contain magnetite, the mineral thought to aid other animals’ brains in detecting the field.” (NOVA) In this sense, it seems plausible to watch and listen to animals for signs of an approaching magnetic storm from the sun.

Anyone living with dogs can easily recognize that dogs have a keen sixth sense, with a sense of smell approximately 1,000+  times better than our own with the intelligence and hearing to interpret that smell – even though their vision is less sharp as if they forgot their glasses.  With the world of the dog a highly chemical world,  it is easy to understand how our pet dog picks up on our bad moods, sad moods, lonely moods, angry moods, or if we are preparing to give them a treat before the bag is open.  However, dogs do not have  sonar or even the apparatus for it. Bats and dolphins are famous for their abilities to detect in an X-ray method, while sharks have dedicated organs for detection of magnetic fields. They use this detection like a compass to navigate, as well as to detect prey. This is when dog owners need to step up to the plate and protect their dogs from the approaching solar rays.

Solar dermitis on dogs

One of the things which can happen to dogs from solar storms is solar dermatitis, a dangerous situation for dogs who have prolonged exposure to the sun’s rays.  Also called “Collie Nose,” “actinic dermatitis,” or “solar rash,” solar dermatitis is a chronic sun damage to the dog’s skin.

Solar dermatitis mimics other skin conditions – especially those with short-coats of white fur and non-pigmented skin. Areas of the dog’s body which is vulnerable are the abdomen, nose and hind legs.

At risk breeds are primarily the pit bull terriers, Staffordshire bull terriers, bull terriers, boxers, Dalmatians, American bulldogs, and whippets, but during solar storms all dogs are at risk to some extent.

Symptoms of solar dermatitis

• Initial signs of solar dermatitis are redness of the skin and scaly lesions, which are tender to the touch.

• With prolonged exposure to the sun’s rays (1) actinic folliculitis will occur on the dog (development of pustules and inflammation of hair follicles a few hours after sunlight exposure); (2) follicular cyst formation, and (3) dermal fibrosis.

• Sun damage will occur on areas of the dog which are sun-exposed, especially for dogs that lie on one side more than the other when outdoors.

• With chronic sun exposure the skin of the dog with the most damaged area will become thickened and scarred with comedones, erosions, ulcers, crusts, and draining tracts.

• Secondary bacterial pyoderma is a common occurance at this time.

• The development of  skin tumors – squamous cell carcinoma , hemangioma, and cutaneous hemangiosarcoma may occur now.

• Some dogs with solar dermatitis may lick the damaged areas, but it does not itch as bad as dogs with allergic dermatitis.

Treatments for dogs with solar dermatitis

The best treatment for dogs, especially the breeds mentioned at risk for solar dermatits, is to keep them out of direct sun rays during the middle of the day when the rays are the strongest – starting as young pups. Once skin neoplasia has developed in the dog, aggressive surgical resection and screening for cancer  in the draining lymph nodes and internal structures need to be performed.

Dogs who have been diagnosed with solar dermatits should definitely be kept out of all areas of direct sunlight, taking them out for walks early in the morning or early evenings.

Dogs can use topical sunscreens which are waterproof and baby safe to prevent too many solar rays from entering their body, or placing a T-shirt on them if out for a short time to toilet in the afternoon.  Some dog owners also buy special dog sunsuits for dogs who need to go out more than normal in the middle of the day.

Explanation: In this picture, the Sun’s surface is quite dark. A frame from a movie recorded on November 9th by the orbiting TRACE telescope, it shows coronal loops lofted over a solar active region. Glowing brightly in extreme ultraviolet light, the hot plasma entrained above the Sun along arching magnetic fields is cooling and raining back down on the solar surface. Hours earlier, on November 8th, astronomers had watched this particular active region produce a not so spectacular solar flare. Still, the M-class flare spewed forth an intense storm of particles, suddenly showering satellites near the Earth with high energy protons. The flare event was also associated with a large coronal mass ejection, a massive cloud of material which impacted our fair planet’s magnetic field about 31 hours later. The result … a strong geomagnetic storm.

Credit: NASA/GSFC/TRACE

To learn more go to:

nasascience.nasa.gov/missions/trace

To learn more about NASA’s Sun Earth Day go here:

sunearthday.nasa.gov/2010/index.php

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