Even though warmer climates are great because you get to spend more time outdoors with your dog, when the weather is overly hot it will not just be bad for you, but for your pet too if you are not careful enough!
Namely, in addition to making sure your dog always has clean water to drink and gets regular physical activity, you should also know that you must not walk your dog on a hot sidewalk or pavement because the hot surface can seriously damage their paws.
Hot Pavement: No Good for Dogs!
During hot summer days, the asphalt and metal surfaces can become overly hot and even though you may not necessarily notice that your dog is feeling uncomfortable because he/she is probably trying to persevere through the pain so that he/she continues with the walk, their paws may be suffering. Even 5 minutes on a hot pavement can burn their paws and cause excessive pain and burns.
Symptoms Indicating that Your Dog Has Burnt Paws
- Blisters and red paws
- Darkened paws
- Limping or prancing
- The dog is excessively licking or chewing his/her paws
- Missing pads and patches
How to Treat Burnt Paws
- Moisturizers
- Ointments
- Protective layers
- Contact your veterinarian in case of severe burns manifested through blisters and open wounds
Let us check out several important tips on how to make sure your fluffy friend is safe during the summer and to prevent their paws from getting burnt:
- Go out in the evening
When it is summer and the temperatures are too high, it is best to walk your dog in the evening when the temperatures drop down or in the early morning when the weather is still cool and the pavements less hot.
- Walk the dog in the grass
If you are unable to walk the dog during the morning or evening and you need to do it when the temperatures are higher, make sure you stay in the shade as much as possible and walk on grass which is much cooler.
- Use protective methods
Have you thought about dog boots or paw wax to protect your dog from hot surfaces? They can be really beneficial and not very expensive.
- Be cautious when their paws are more sensitive
When the dog has spend some time at a river, lake or a pool, his/her paws will be much softer than usually and therefore, more sensitive, so, even if the pavement is not too hot, it may still be bad for the pet’s paws.
Sources: