06/27/2019
How Does Summer Heat Affect Your Dog?
Most of us know that summer heat can be dangerous for our dog. We know not to leave them in a car. We know to make sure they have plenty of fresh water. In fact, most of us carry portable water dishes when we go for walks to make sure they are well hydrated.
Have you ever considered how the summer's heat affects your dog's paws?
If you are like most pet parents, the answer is no. Your dog's paws are exposed, bare skin. While the canine paw anatomy is different from that of a human, bare skin is bare skin -- and it can be burned by hot temperatures.
The biggest danger to your dog's paws during summer is direct contact with black pavement.
The color black absorbs heat. Pavement has a very density and retains heat very well. The combination of these two factors during the most intense part of the day in the summer can be painfully dangerous for any creature with exposed skin – including you and your dog.
At 5pm on a sunny 90 degree (F) day, the temperature of black pavement exceeds 145 degrees (F). Direct contact will cause burns. Unless your dog is one of the very few that will wear rubber-soled boots, do not walk or run with your dog on black pavement during the hottest part of a summer day.
Other surfaces get very hot as well -- ever walk on hot sand at the beach, or across a concrete patio? What about your back deck? Due to the color and density of these materials, they may not cause instantaneous buring like hot pavement, but they can leave your feet raw and sensitive.
Since summer is a very active time for your dog, please make sure to take proper care of his or her paws 🐾.