Can Hot Pavements Really Hurt Your Dog?

April 25, 2016

Many dog owners do not realize that hot pavements can really hurt their canine friends. You must protect your furry friend from the intense summer heat as animals can suffer from a heat stroke or even sustain brain damage if they left outside unsupervised on a hot sunny day.

Walking your Dog on a Hot Day

According to this reputable website, if you planning to walk your dog always ensure that is not too hot out.  When the air temperature is reaches up to 86 degrees, asphalt, the material used to make pavements can reach a sizzling temperature of 135 degrees. This temperature is hot enough to fry an egg outside hence, it is incredibly harmful for your dog’s sensitive footpads.

On an incredibly hot day, asphalt can burn your dog’s paws, creating permanent scars within just a minute of contact. If you want to protect your dog from painful blisters and burns always walk them later in the evening. Dog owners must be conscious of hot pavements, parking lots and hot sidewalks.

Treatment of Summer Burns

If your dog has suffered from a burn on their paws, they might find it difficult to walk for a couple of days. It is imperative that dog owners immediately take their canine friends to the vet and seek treatment immediately. Some effective forms of treatment include:

• Giving your dog pain medications
• Giving your dog antibiotics in case of an infections
• Bandaging the dog’s feet to prevent further burns

Tips for protecting your Dog’s Paws

Materials such as sand, asphalt and metal have the potential to become blistering hot in the summer heat. To prevent your dog from suffering painful burns on their paws, follow some useful tips that will make exercise time more comfortable:

• Before you take your dog out for a walk, consider checking the pavement by resting your hand above it for a few seconds or by walking on it yourself barefoot. If the pavement is too hot and uncomfortable to walk on then it is surely too hot for your pet as well.
• Dog owners are advised to avoid walking their pets during the afternoon when the sun is shining at its peak. Consider walking your dog in an indoor air-conditioned area or simple take them out for a walk later in the evening or incredibly early in the morning.
• If you are walking your pet when it is hot outside, stick to shady areas and stay on grassy surfaces. Bare ground and sand can damage your dog’s paws.
• Invest in a pair of dog booties or socks for your dog to prevent their paws from burning.

You may be tempted to take your dog out with you everywhere you go on a hot summer morning but at times, it can cause serious damage to their health and paws. Protect your dogs from nasty burns by staying away from hot pavements. After all, you would not want to walk barefoot on it, would you?

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